As 2021 draws to a close, we can say with certainty this year has been a marathon, not a sprint. We wanted to take the month of December to look back at the milestones, miles, and memories that shaped the past twelve months. We put a call out to our staff and the AMR community, asking for their highlights—from PRs to first races to life changes. Here are just some of their inspiring responses.
For this first roundup of highlights, we’re focusing on the comeback! And nothing says comeback more than a #motherrunner. Sometimes it’s picking yourself up after a terrible race, dusting off your dreams, and finding the courage to try again. For others, it’s regaining health after battling disease and long treatment plans or reentering the workforce after years of raising children. One thing is for sure: There’s no shortage of you who made 2021 the year of the comeback!
Jennifer Harrison, Triathlon + Heart + Soul Coach: After a disappointing DNF at IRONMAN Wisconsin, I turned my energy into finishing out the season on a high note. I decided to race USAT Age Group Draft Legal Sprint Nationals (Triathlon) and ended up getting 2nd place, having a great race, and most importantly, I had fun!
Jen at the start of her comeback race after a DNF.
Jessica G.: In 2020, I ran a marathon in my hometown, and temps were in the high 70s at the finish. I was MISERABLE. When my husband asked how it was going when I stopped for his carefully laid out refreshments (Sprite, pickle juice, Gatorade, etc.), my reply was, “Not good.” I was so excited to get into Chicago, but when I saw the weather forecast, with temps in the 70s from start to finish, I panicked…until I decided to reframe my mindset and just have fun. I never thought running a marathon could be fun, but I ended up with so many good race pics and had a smile on my face for most of the 26.2 mile journey.
Karyn R.: I ran the Detroit Half with my daughter—her first! She had 2 major hip surgeries at the age of 19 and 20, so this was an emotional accomplishment for us both! So proud of this girl!
A sweet comeback after hip surgeries!
Christy K.: With my husband at my first 5k after 11 months of cancer treatment. Beautiful local trail run! It was a great morning.
Christy is all smiles after her comeback 5K.
Melissa H.: Getting back to in-person races was definitely the highlight of 2021!! Getting to cross a starting line at Disney with fellow runners made things feel almost back to normal. And crossing that finish line reminded me how strong I am!
Michelle San Antonio, AMR Community Supporter: The comeback of 2021 came just last month for me, when I re-entered the workforce for the first time in 15 years. I was delighted to see that our local bookstore was hiring for a few daytime shifts per week—shifts that would allow me to still be home with my youngest son for the crucial before and after-school hours. I started the job three weeks ago, and I am loving having something in my life that does not involve kids, cooking, cleaning, and carpooling. I am very fortunate to have been able to stay home for so long, and to still mostly be there for my kids, but it’s also fun to be back out in the world again as something other than “Gabe, Dante, and Carmine’s Mom.” I get to talk to other adults, and I am immersed in the world of books for several hours a few times a week. It’s about as perfect a job as this avid reader could have asked for at this moment in time. It feels good to be ending what was otherwise a pretty rough year on this high note.
Michelle heads back to work!
Tish Hamilton, AMR Podcast Host: Two of my dear running friends and I all ran the New York City Marathon in November. It was our comeback to Big Races, our first in two years; the last one had been the NYC Marathon in 2019. That racing gap and return felt a bit like a wrinkle in time–both weird and wonderful. It was friend Jodi’s 10th NYC marathon and 100th (!) marathon overall. Wow, right? None of us started together, so it was a double thrill-joy to find Susan right before the 8-mile mark in Brooklyn (see photo). New York in November always feels like a capstone to me—whether I’m running or watching. This year in particular felt like a celebration of the wider running family as a prelude to the upcoming food and family holiday season.
Big races made a comeback, and Tish (left) was there with friends.
Emily M.: We celebrated my son’s 4th Tumorversary with some hiking—over two four-thousand footers in the White Mountains. He fought brain cancer with grit and courage and determination for almost an entire year. To see him thriving and strong and enjoying being outside is more than I ever would have dreamed as we sat in the hospital for over 80 nights. Running helped me so much that year. And running and this community are such a gift of self care and support.
Emily hiking with her son.
Sandra L.: I decided lockdown was the best time to get back to running, so January 1st I started tracking my kilometers. I’m still at it (15k yesterday!) with the longer goal of my first FULL marathon sometime in my 60th year—next year. Wish me luck!
I love reading these comeback stories! I was primed to run marathon #4 in March 2020. I’d had a horrible, miserable fall race, at the Marine Corps Marathon in 2019, and was hoping to “regain my footing,” marathon-wise, in this spring marathon. The race was cancelled 5 days from the starting line because of Coronavirus. I was crushed, and also completely lost. My motivation to run ebbed and flowed, and over time, my confidence in my running ability decreased as well. This past summer, I started getting serious about the Richmond Marathon. I had an incredibly good training cycle, the best one to date. On race morning, Goal A was to PR. Goal B was to Boston Qualify. And Goal C was to enjoy the race. I’m thrilled to say I met goals B and C, (I missed a PR by 14 seconds, which I stubbornly know I could have achieved if my watch had been working properly) but more importantly, my confidence in my training and in myself was restored. Indeed, it was my Comeback in November 2021. And in 2022? I’m determined to PR, in March at Tobacco Road, and to run my fastest mile to date. Here’s to all the Comeback Mamas!