2018: It Was a Very Good Year

As a runner, it's always fun at the end of the year to reflect back on the year of running. At last year's end, I wrote that for 2018, I was going to "dial back the intensity a bit" and "be a little kinder to myself". I didn't set any goals for 2018, instead deciding to let the year unfold as it would. Still adjusting to living with RA, I didn't want to set myself up to fail and I sure didn't want any DNS. I also wanted to continue to practice yoga and work on strength via CrossFit.

Regular readers of the blog know that 2018 was a very good year for me. I've shared my triumphs, which were many, as well as my trials, which were few. For the most part, RA was pretty quiet. I had a few flares which always freak me out but were well-controlled with a burst of steroids. I did have my knees injected during the summer. My most recent bloodwork shows low RA activity. I still agonize over my loss of speed and endurance, but I've come to the conclusion that instead of blaming RA, menopause and aging are the more likely culprits. I can blame them for my thickening midsection too!

It's been a fun year, with less of a focus on the destination and more on the journey. I've had a lot of company--on my runs, at my races, and off the road too. I'm so grateful that I have been able to continue running! Here's my year in review. I'm not going to share specifics about races--you can find links to this years' races under the tab above.

Running
As of this writing, I'm at 990.2 miles for the year. So much for dialing it back. Since I hadn't set a mileage goal for 2018, I hadn't been paying attention to my cumulative mileage until I sat down to write this post. Midway through the year, I cut back to running 3 days per week, but I kept my weekly mileage around 20 miles per week. I struggled with the heat of summer but kept on going, using those damn 4:1 run/walk intervals. I don't love them but they work. I had hoped to break 2 hours for my final half of the year, but my body doesn't seem to want to let me just run. So run/walk it is. In spite of slowing down, I am very pleased with my running miles this year.

Two sweaty AGs after a hot, hilly late summer half.

Over the year, I ran 5 half marathons, a 10 mile race, an 8k, and a 5k. There was one DNS at which Steph and I made the game time decision to pull out due to weather. I snagged age group awards in one of the halfs (my 2d slowest!) and the 5k. I set a new personal worst in February at Mercedes, when the 3 H's--heat, humidity, and hills-- were just too much for me. My fastest half was in November at a local race that I run every year. I placed 15th in my age group. Like I always say, it depends on who shows up.

Personal worst? Or just happy to be done?
Same skirt, worn to my hottest, slowest halfs. Coincidence?

For the first time ever, this year I joined a running club. The newly formed Busse Woods Running Club is a low-key super supportive fun group of runners. I've done a couple of group runs with them. Marcia and I also co-hosted a Global Running Day event with them. Even though for the past couple of years, I've been an ambassador for Rock'N'Roll races, I've decided to let that go. ZOOMA too. This year, I've been selected as an ambassador for All Community Events, which sponsors a bunch of local races.

Marcia and me at the Busse Woods Running Club's Global Running Day Event

Cycling
Riding my bike has always been my favorite way to cross train. I rode just 129 miles this year because I just couldn't find the time. I also can't deny that riding on the road is really starting to scare me. Drivers have become more aggressive and intolerant of cyclists. While I mostly rode on the paved paths in the forest preserves, I did have to ride on the road to get there. On one such ride, I was spooked by a motorist and dumped my bike in front of another car. While I was pretty banged up, I didn't let that stop me from riding again, but it's just not as enjoyable as it used to be for me.

Safe and sound on my street

CrossFit
I've gotten stronger while working with my coach Sammy Jo this year. For a while, my running friend Steph and I were doing twice weekly strength sessions. Due to life circumstances, both of us dropped our strength sessions to once weekly. We don't work out together anymore, which was hard at first but now has turned out to be a good thing since we've changed our goals. I started going to bootcamp once weekly and now my time with Sammy Jo is all focused on strength. I also wanted to work more on upper body strength. I've really benefitted from the changes we've made in my training.  I do believe that the work I do with Sammy Jo has kept me relatively injury free once again this year!

The highlight of my year at CrossFit!

Yoga
I continue my home yoga practice using videos on YouTube. I stumbled upon Five Parks Yoga and have been hooked on Erin's classes ever since. I like her delivery--I think if I took a live class with her, I'd really feel comfortable. I mostly have been doing restorative and stretching classes but started adding vinyasa back in.

Tree pose on the bluff at Cave Point in Door County Wisconsin

Waterskiing and Watersports
This was a great summer for waterskiing! I traveled to Alabama to visit Holly and waterski behind her new boat. I also was able to ski in Wisconsin several times with my sons. Summer extended into September and we did a spontaneous trip to the lake, where we skied the latest in the season that we ever have.

Late September on Lake Wisconsin

I also enjoyed kayaking and SUP. Holly and I kayaked the Coosa which was a really fun adventure. I kayaked with my high school friend on the river where I grew up. There was SUP in my 2 favorite places in the world--Anna Maria Island doing SUP yoga with my friend Mary Beth and in Door County playing with my son and his girlfriend. If I could do nothing else, I would be content spending ALL my time on the water.

Me with my sister from a different mister.
We like getting wet!

What's Ahead for 2019?
I've already got a couple of races on the calendar. In a couple of weeks, I'm heading to Alabama to run the Mobile half marathon. At the end of the month, I'm running an indoor marathon relay with my running club at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee. I've never done a marathon relay, much less an indoor one, so I'm excited about that event. In April, I'm planning a trip to Washington DC for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler and another blogger meetup.

Tentative events include some All Community Events races: St Paddy's Day 5k/10k in March and the Chicagoland Spring Half Marathon in May. Although it is a long way off, I'm also penciling in the Naperville Trails Half Marathon for September as well as the Schaumburg Turkey Trot Half Marathon that I always run in November.

So much for winging it! I couldn't be more happy with how my year of running and fitness has gone. It just goes to show you that you should never give in to perceived limitations. I was scared of what RA might do to my running--it would have been so easy to give into that chronic illness mindset, focusing on what I can't do. Instead, I've adapted, pushed forward, and did way more than I thought I could this year. I am looking forward to another year of fun, friendship, and miles!

How was your year? What was your greatest accomplishment? What are you looking forward to in 2019? Thank you to all of you for coming along with me on this fun ride this year! And yes, the blog got an updated look for the new year! I hope you like the clean header and fonts. I'm getting used to it but it was time...

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