Happy New Year!
It’s that time of year again (well, a few days late, but considering how neglectful of this blog I’ve been in the past few months, a few days is nothing!), when we all gaze back on our accomplishments and/or struggles of the previous year. 2016 was certainly an interesting one. Let’s get down to it, shall we?
2015 Goals Recap
A-ha! I had no specific goals for 2016, other than staying healthy and running to enjoy it. Health-wise, well… the start of the year saw me still recovering from a dodgy metatarsal and related bursitis, then I learned that I don’t breathe in the best way possible, which led to a reprise of dodgy ribs, and my knees bothered me off and on. And, while not an injury, I got pregnant a few months into the year and that made running a bit more interesting than usual. On the whole, I think I enjoyed running. For the most part.
In spite of my lack of goals this year, though it took an extra trip around the sun, I did meet 2 of my goals from 2014, namely beating my 5K and 10K PRs (huzzah!). More on that below. I also managed to add one new town to my race map, plus a new country, so that was pretty cool.
Celebrating a new PR and starting off 2016 happily!
My 2016 in Numbers (Running)
Total miles: 106.84*
*Closest estimate I could get given that I lost my training log from the start of the year and Simon died on me without saving some data
Races completed: 8 (up from 7 in 2015; 3 5Ks, 1 6K, 3 10Ks, 1 half marathon)
States raced in: 3, none new (Massachusetts, Maine, and California; up from 2 in 2015)
MA towns raced in: 3, 1 new (Dedham (new), Lunenburg, and Worcester)
Countries raced in: 2, for the first time! (US and UK)
PRs beaten: 3! 5K, 6K, and 10K
DNSs: none! for the first time!
Firsts and Milestones (Running)
- First international race: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10K
- First time running in Dedham, MA (James Joyce Ramble)
- Related to above, first “bucket list” race completed
- First year with no DNSs… this blows me away
- First time winning a prize at a race (15th overall in a 5K… not placing, but perhaps as close as I’ll ever come to that!)
- New 5K PR: 30:26 (previously 30:49)
- New 6K PR: 38:14 (previously 43:44)
- New 10K PR: 1:07:53 (previously 1:14:52)
- Though not a PR, I ran my second half marathon without really training properly and survived
- I was in the presence of both Uta Pippig and Joan Benoit Samuelson at races this year
I unofficially placed first in the Pregnant American division at the QEOP 10K
Firsts and Milestones (Personal)
- Traveled to my first international conference and visited two new-to-me cities (Dundee and Glasgow)
Enjoying a cheeky Clarkies pie in Dundee
- Sneaked in one last match at White Hart Lane before they started tearing the stadium down (our seats from that match are now a gaping hole in the ground)
- Had tea and Turkish Delight at C.S. Lewis’s house
- Found out I was going to have a baby… that was a pretty big moment*
Already a Spurs fan
- Attended my second international conference and got to bask in the glory that is Wembley Stadium
- Had a mini-reunion with some of my study abroad friends in Colorado, visiting Denver and the new-to-me Fort Collins
*The whole baby thing continues to be a pretty big moment! Sometimes it still feels completely unreal, despite the Alien situation that’s nearly always happening in my growing bump. And speaking of the growing bump…
August 16
August 29
September 3, post-QEOP 10K, when I realized I had officially outgrown my clothes and had to make an emergency Primark run for a shirt that wouldn’t expose my belly
October 3
October 22, bump buddies!
November 19
December 23
I look absolutely HUGE in that last picture… I don’t think the angle helps š
So, yeah. 2016 had a lot going on. And that’s not even taking into account the state of the world with Brexit, Syria, Standing Rock, the US election, and all the seemingly endless other things that gave this year a general feeling of despair. If I’m honest, I’m finding it hard to be hopeful about 2017 as a whole, and it’s all a bit overwhelming. So in light of that, here are my goals/things to focus on for the year:
- Get this baby out safely and make his little world as cozy, safe, and full of love as possible.
- As soon as I get the OK from my midwife, jump back on the running wagon. I’ve been missing running like crazy, and the new jogging stroller is all assembled and ready to go!
- Related to above, I’m hoping to be fit enough to run the Worcester Firefighters race in June. I’d like to keep that streak going!
- Read. Read for fun, read to learn, read fiction, read non-fiction, read newspapers. Try to balance staying informed with staying sane.
- Do good, no matter how small, whenever and wherever I can.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy, hopeful 2017!
How was your 2016?
What was your favorite thing that happened last year, running-wise or not?
Slow and Steady(ish) 
OMG – love all the pics from everywhere! So used to seeing you with some sort of hair-wrap and shades, that is just fun seeing you in a variety of settings. And LOVE the bump pics – the December selfie with your husband is great! You guys have so much to look forward to this year!
This was the year we got both kids in college, and thoroughly enjoyed the transition to ’empty nest’. Loved running and stayed healthy, my job is going well. So a pretty solid year.
Thanks! š It’s kind of fun seeing how my hair decides to behave when I don’t have it tamed with a headband.
High five for a solid year! Those are all good things š
What a great year. Love your growing baby bump. I never liked the pictures of me during the last month of my pregnancy but it’s also fun to look back at now. You’ll get back to running in now time. All the best with the birth and in 2017!
Thanks! I’m trying to rally my tired brain to write things down in a pregnancy journal so I’ll remember later, and I should get better at taking pics too. Maybe I’ll aim for one more giant picture before the wee one arrives š
I love your goals so much, especially numbers four and five. I read a lot of fiction, but I really need to get on the non-fiction bandwagon, particularly history and news. By the way, when are you due? So excited to meet your little dude!
Ditto! My non-fiction choices tend to be memoirs or travelogues, which are great, but I could use some more substance in there too. I’m excited to meet the little dude too! š He’s due early February (yikes!)
Yay, pictures!! You had a great year! It may not have included a lot of running but check out all you did! You traveled, saw friends, ran and have a baby on the way. Those are all awesome things! When are you due?
It was a pretty sweet (and shiny!) year š Lots of good moments! I’m due early February… not long now!
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