After surviving my first Ironman last year, I wasn't sure how I was going to top it for this year...so I didn't really try. However, it was still a very good year for racing and improving as a mediocre age-grouper athlete!
Here's the short version.
- 8 half-marathons
- 4 marathons
- 3.5 half-iron triathlons (one was shortened due to weather)
- 1 30-mile trail run
- 4 triathlons of assorted distances (two winter indoor tris not listed below)
- 1 olympic-distance duathlon
- 3 assorted running races
I used one half-marathon as a long recovery walk/jog, and took advantage of the opportunity to walk it with someone dear to me. That was a nice break and a welcome chance to relax.
This year saw my first "double" -- two longer races in two states in one weekend. I survived, and actually had a good time. Saturday was the Mississippi Blues Marathon in Jackson, MS, which turned out to be quite hilly. After the race, I drove to Mobile, AL, and mingled over dinner with a lot of other crazy people who were also doing both races. Sunday morning was the First Light Half/Full Marathon. I opted for the half, but many people were doing another marathon. It was an interesting experience, and I learned a little bit more about pacing and recovery. Much to my relief, AL was also flat.
An enjoyable 15K trail run in March became a bittersweet reminder of how precious life truly is, and how important it is to live in the moment.
My second ultra, a 30-mile trail run in April, resulted in a new friend and running partner. We have plans to try our first 50-miler together next April.
I became more comfortable with the half-iron distance, doing three-and-a-half this year (one, Muncie, was shortened due to extreme heat). Kansas saw winds like I've never experienced combined with some impressive hills. Steelhead felt more like a reunion between old friends, and was a perfect day, if tinged with a hint of sadness. Augusta was a mini-vacation that ended in a personal best and a thoroughly enjoyable visit to a little town in Georgia.
Instead of a full Ironman this year, I tested my ability to recover. In the span of six weeks, I did two half-marathons, a half-iron tri, and a marathon (in that order), took a week off, then did another marathon. I survived unscathed, save for a few hours of aching feet and legs. I consider that a "pass".
Perhaps the most unique marathon of all was the Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey in Nashville, TN. This is a small race (300 or so), completely irreverent, and highly sarcastic. In short, it was loads of fun. It was also quite challenging, with 7500 feet of elevation change crammed into those 26.2 miles. I highly recommend it.
Next up: Starting 2013 with a marathon on New Year's Day. Doesn't get much better!
Below is a more detailed list of the year's events.
| Santa Hustle Half Marathon | Dec 16 | 2:19:47 | Indianapolis |
| Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon | Nov 18 | 5:17:01 | Nashville TN |
| Detroit Free Press Marathon | Oct 21 | 5:10:31 | MI |
| Chicago Marathon | Oct 7 | 5:07:23 | IL |
| Ironman 70.3 Augusta | Sep 30 | 6:32:39 | Augusta GA |
| Quad Cities Half Marathon (walked with Paula) | Sep 23 | 3:45:07 | Moline IL/ Davenport IA |
| USAF Half Marathon | Sep 15 | 2:14:04 | Dayton OH |
| Ironman 70.3 Steelhead | Aug 19 | 6:45:59 | St. Joseph MI |
| Eagle Creek Sprint Triathlon | Jul 21 | 1:26:03 | Indianapolis |
| Buckhead Border Challenge | Jul 15 | 3:34:24 | Jeffersonville IN |
| Ironman 70.3 Muncie (shortened due to heat) | Jul 7 | 3:48:01 | IN |
| iChallenge Indy Tri | Jun 24 | 2:11:11 | Indianapolis |
| TNT Trail Run 10K | Jun 19 | 1:08:41 | Indianapolis |
| Eagle Creek Sprint Triathlon | Jun 16 | 1:27:40 | Indianapolis |
| Ironman 70.3 Kansas | Jun 10 | 7:57:40 | Lawrence |
| Geist Half Marathon | May 19 | 2:19:03 | Fishers IN |
| Muncie May Duathlon | May 12 | 3:17:09 | IN |
| Wisconsin Half Marathon | May 6 | 2:17:37 | Kenosha |
| PA Winona Lake Trail 30 Mile | Apr 14 | 6:48:53 | Warsaw IN |
| Opossum Creek 10K | Apr 7 | 1:04:24 | Granger TX |
| North Carolina Half Marathon | Mar 25 | 2:18:21 | Charlotte |
| DINO trail run 15K | Mar 10 | 1:39:01 | Indianapolis |
| Rhythm & Blues Half Marathon | Feb 19 | 2:16:00 | Houston TX |
| Bop to the Top 36-floor Stair Climb (Triple Challenge) | Jan 21 | 31:28 | Indianapolis |
| First Light Half Marathon | Jan 8 | 2:28:21 | Mobile AL |
| Mississippi Blues Marathon | Jan 7 | 5:13:14 | Jackson MS |
