Oh, that we could all have running year’s like Mandy’s. We asked for your highlights of the year on our Facebook page, and it lit up like a Christmas tree. But Mandy? Well, check her out.
My whole year was a running highlight! My first 10K, 25K, 2nd half-marathon, first full, 3 5K PRs (breaking 25 minutes when I had never broken 27!), and running every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning with a running group consisting of family and friends who are like family! [Take a breath, friend, take a breath!] Started a runner support group on Facebook and reached 1,000 miles for the year! Crossing the finish line of that marathon with my dad was the icing on the cake! I get teary eyed looking back on all my running memories from 2012! I know 2013 will be great too!
2012 was pretty great for you guys too; here’s a small compilation of achievements and pics to remember the miles that will remain on your brains for many years to come.
January 2012
Susan rocked the finish line of the Walt Disney World Marathon. SUCH a great pic…you can just taste her victory.
Highlight from Barb: January 18, 2012. I did 6 miles in the pouring down rain on the morning of my Dad’s funeral. I cried the entire run, but it was exactly what I needed: being outside with my thoughts and prayers to ready myself for the emotional day.
January started on the ‘milll for Maxine, who won the NordicTrack we gave away in late December 2011. Love her interior decorating skills.
Highlight from JoEllyn: My running highlight was just running. I was suffering from post-partum depression for almost two years, started to run, and it helped immensely. I was also finishing up my master’s degree while working full-time with a babe so I was proud I did ANY of it. The benefit to my mental health has been immense!
Laura also finished her first marathon in January. ” It was so much harder than I thought it was going to be!” she admits, “My best running friend (and also a mother of 4) ran the half and came back to run the last grueling 6.2 miles with me. She got me through it and I finished. What a day!”
Highlight from Janelle: I conquered the early morning run. Having tried for two years to make it a habit, I now work out 3 to 5 days a week in the 5 a.m. hour! People ask how I can get up so early: I don’t think I just go!
Saving the worst for last: one of our tribe, the lovely Sherry Arnold, a mother, teacher, and runner, went missing in early January. Her remains were found months later, and it seems that the trial of her accused killers will start in early 2013. She was one of a handful of mother runners who were killed while running this year; Sara Hart of Kentucky and Suzanne Seeman of California were, unfortunately, two more.
February 2012
Highlight from Heather: I finished my first half-marathon, which was my first long race after getting a DNF (did not finish) in my marathon attempt in May 2011. Crossing that finish line was huge for me because I proved to myself that the DNF was just a bump in the road and didn’t define me as a runner. It was also my first half-marathon in Brazil! I went on to run three more this year and I’m getting ready to take on the marathon again in 2013 in Rio!
Thousands of runners worldwide ran in honor of Sherry Arnold on February 11th. Strength and love abounded through many heartfelt miles.
Highlight from Jennifer: On February 20, I ran five miles with one of my 12-year-old old triplet nieces, came back to my sister’s house and picked up the other two nieces for the last four miles. These girls are great runners and could easily run 3 min faster a mile than I can. But, for this day they slowed to my pace. It meant so much to me to have them with me and talking and laughing. By far my favorite run of 2012…maybe ever!
March 2012
Rhonda debuts–at least on AMR–her starfish finish line photo. I–Dimity–am instantly envious (I’ve never jumped that high *ever*, let alone after a race), but can’t stop smiling when I look at it.
Highlight from Deb: Having my daughter in March, then starting up couch to 5K late July as a way to get rid of the last few pounds. I have never been a runner and now I’m training for the Princess Half!
Deborah nails the Big Apple and a half-marathon; her marathon dreams in NYC were delayed thanks to Ms. Sandy, havoc wreaker on the East Coast.
Highlight from another Jennifer: I found a new running partner in March! We were chatting at a teacher-of-the-year banquet where we were seated next to each other. (She was there as her school’s nominee, I was there supporting the teacher from my school where I’m an administrator.) Anyway, we realized that we ran the same loop at almost the same time 3x per week. We started running together and have run almost all our miles together since. We’ve seen each other through my son leaving for college, the passing of her grandma, and all sorts of day-to-day mom stuff. She is a great friend and I am so grateful for her!
Oh yeah, and an orange book with 9 (9!!) training plans for busy women debuted. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? Jolene has. (And nope, I’ve never jumped that high either.)
Highlight from Rebecca: March 27, I ran the Bataan Death Memorial March Marathon, side by side active military, veterans, wounded warriors, and at the finish, was blessed to shake hands with survivors of the actual WWII death march. My hat is off to all of them, I cannot express my gratitude.
April 2012
Here’s Maggie, a runner we met at ZOOMA Texas; and no, we are not standing on chairs. (“You’re so tall!” might be the refrain we hear most at expos.) Despite feeling like a giant in many pictures, we love meeting and chatting with all of you.
Highlight from (a different) Maggie: I started running in April and was doing a 10:50 mile. Eight months later, I have cut 1 minute off that!
This is Tracy’s daughter, who had be a person who had an impact on history, for a school project. “She picked Kathrine Switzer,” says her mom, “How awesome is my daughter?” Awesome.
Highlight from Sally: I ran my first half-marathon in April. It was even in my hometown, a place filled with doubt about my athletic ability. I cried as I ran past my middle school and high school, leaving behind my memories of being the “non-athlete” of my childhood friends. I felt on top of the world at the finish line!
Speaking of Boston, our own SBS took on the crazy temps and humidity and 26.2 miles and made us all proud. We’re just bummed she missed seeing Jessica and her custom sign at mile 6!
Highlight from Anna: I had a comeback year. Not from an injury, but I lost some weight the end of 2011 and my race results this year have been pre-baby & better…and the “baby” is almost 7. So 2012 has been my year!
We’ll leave you here–and Sarah suspended with her arms up–until tomorrow, where we take on 4 more months.
Before you go, though, rewind the first third of 2012: tell–or remind us–of one achievement you hit in the comments below. Strut your stuff, mother runners!
I set a quiet little goal last January 1 – at least 10 miles a week. That essentially meant no back-sliding from what I was doing. Not a big goal. I ended the year doing an average of 22 miles a week, and am eying a “finish it” marathon plan for Spring. Raising my standards that much seems a big achievement to me!
One achievement? How can I narrow it down?! This was my most consistent year of running. 3 half marathons, 2 10-milers, multiple 5k’s, over 1000 miles. It was truly a year of ‘mile’-stones. Ready to go farther in 2013!
Started Mothers Day 2012 with 5k PR (never thought I’d break the 30minute mark, finished in just over 27!). Learned how to better care for my ‘whole’ self as a way to prevent injury. My favorite memory? Running with my friend Dollie. She gets me up and out. She makes me laugh. Sometimes she makes me swear. She always gets me to the finish.
This has been a fantastic year for me! I just started running in September 2011 and in 2012 I ran a bunch of races including five half marathons, and managed to run over 1000 miles. I am hoping to do a full marathon next fall using your Marathon: Finish It plan!
I have finally committed to running a marathon. I ran my first half in 2011 and my second half in 2012. I finally learned to embrace the long run and not fight it!
This time, last year, I was working in losing weight but sedentary. I decided to try a Couch to 5k program in March, ran my first 10K in July, and my first half marathon two weeks ago. I love the saying I may not be the fastest, but I am lapping everyone on the couch because it fits me. I am doing things I didn’t know I could do and teaching my daughter to live a healthy life and lifestyle. The sky’s the limit!!
I ran 6 half marathons in 2012! Four of those were in the first 3 months of the year (and that’s not including the one I ran on New Year’s Eve). While I’m very proud of my accomplishment, it also led to a bit of burn-out that I’m still trying to get over. 2012 was a difficult year for me personally and running became a form of therapy. I’m still deciding what 2013 will bring in terms of running goals but you can bet it will include several half marathons and maybe another full marathon. Happy New Year!
My achievement for the first third of 2012 was starting to run again with the couch to 5k program…and actually enjoying running for the first time in my 32 years!
I ran a PR of 4:16 in the Phoenix Rock N Roll marathon in January, and to cap the year I challenged myself to run daily or one month. Some days it was 1 mile, others 10, but I ran 31 days in a row for a total of 130 miles. I feel like a badass mother runner today!
I started out 2012 with the realization that yes that pain in my leg was significant,yes, the limp was noticeable (by everyone), and no I would not be doing my first half this year. I spent several months not running or barely running, going from doctor to chiropractor to PT, but finally found someone who got me on a program that helped (PT). Now I am ending 2012 with a “really strong butt”, and arsenal of exercises to keep it that way, and I just registered for my first half for March 2013. No pain, longer runs, and miracle of miracles, sub 10:00 miles for the first time EVER. Feels good to be a BAMR :)
I ran my first 26.2 May 6, 2012!!!! I was so proud of myself! I’ve never been an athlete, and after running for 3 years finally feel like one!
Thanks for including my photo!! Last year I ran NYC marathon in 6:06. This year I ran Harrisburg PA instead of NYC because of Sandy…in 4:59:19. My goal was to finish in under 5 hours and I did it!
I ran my first 8k in April and dare I say that was the first time I felt like a “real” runner. It was a PR in distance for me at the time and I ran the entire way.
I ran in the Phillipines in April. Not far (a few hill repeats) but I ran in another country. :)
I allowed myself to race again! I have been running for 20 years, most weeks hitting 35 miles or more, however it had been 17 years since my last race. I was scared I would disappoint myself, but I signed up for a half. I finished in 1:46:12. Yes, I can still do this racing thing! 2013 has at least 3 half marathons in it for me!
I have had a highlight-filled year… my second full year of committed running (I started running at age 47 and I’m now 51). Two halfs (halves?) – both PRs, a 10K (PR! 57:15), 1,033 miles total after this morning’s run (hit the 1,000 mile goal!), both low and high altitude (I live at the latter) 5K PRs, and running dates with BOTH SBS and Dimity!!!! I am so blessed.
But the highlight for me was that my mom, an athlete in college long before Title IX, was in town for a visit and got to see me race for the second time (both 5Ks) in May. I ran it 8 minutes faster than the previous race a mere 18 months before. Little did we know at the time, that this occurred 5 days before her sudden and unexpected death. I am so grateful that she got to see this and to know that her chubby little girl could accomplish big, hairy, audacious, athletic goals.
10k PR in March, which was my first 10k in four and a half years; first time ever clocking a sub-10 pace.