Wow! What an incredible running year I had in 2017! I ran 22 Half Marathons in 11 different states and the District of Columbia. My goal of completing a Half Marathon in every state (plus DC) was completed in Colorado in August.
Let’s do a quick review...
In January I braved the cold temperatures and completed 2 (chilly) Half’s in Ohio...The Liberty Half Marathon, in East Liberty, on New Years Day and the Brokeman's Winter Warm Up in Columbus in the middle of the month.
In February I traveled to warmer places (California) and did back to back Half Marathons in Death Valley (Saturday) and Huntington Beach (Sunday) followed by a trail Half in north eastern Ohio late in the month. Running in Death Valley was way cool (insert temperature joke) and the contrast between it's desolate beauty and the very different, but breathtaking Pacific shoreline the next day in Huntington Beach was amazing! I was able to meet up with some friends in Huntington Beach and this was my friend Cris's 100th Half Marathon!
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| That's Cris...on your right! |
March: Rock N Roll Half Marathon in Washington DC. A lot of protests going on that day...didn't affect the race, but prevented us from doing some sight-seeing. Ran with my bud Kevin and his dad.
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| Kevin and I |
In April I conquered my first 2 "new" states for 2017 as I ran the New Mexico Half in Albuquerque and the Ocean City Island to Island Half Marathon in Maryland. Part road and part dirt trail...The New Mexico Half was an interesting race, but not one that I feel the need to do again. Contrast that with the very scenic and enjoyable Half Marathon I did later in the month in Ocean City, which started along side wild horses on Assateague Island and featured ocean-front boardwalk running...a race I will return to someday.
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| Getting near the Ocean City Boardwalk...and the end of the run |
May started out with the Flying Pig Half Marathon along with a 5K and 10K in Cincinnati...the next weekend was the very hilly River City Half in Missouri. The following weekend I did a race on Martha’s Vineyard...The family really enjoyed it there, tho the logistics of getting on and off the island can be cumbersome. Finished off May with a local run in Medina, Ohio...whew, I’m tired just thinking about that month!
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| Jackson and I on the Purple People Bridge...post race |
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| Running like a Kennedy on Martha's Vineyard |
In June I ran the unforgettable Kona Half Marathon. The running wasn't enough tho, to burn all the calories from all the Loco Moco I ate!
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| Post race in Kona...I wore that shell lei the entire race cuz I'm cool like that |
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| Loco Moco - White rice topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg and brown gravy...so many calories, but so good |
In July I did the Missoula Half Marathon (along with a 5K run and another 3 mile run in 100 degree heat!) in beautiful Montana...there were mini-donuts at the end of the race...heavenly! We did our family vacation in this area this year...beautiful country...I cannot recommend Glacier National Park enough!
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| Mmmmm...mini donuts! |
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| Jackson and I...post 5K |
In August I finished up my 50 state quest at the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon in Estes Park, Colorado...beautiful scenery! We got to spend some time in the National Park exploring too. Later in the month, I met my bud Cris in Parkersburg, WV and we ran the News and Sentinel Half Marathon.
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| Pre-Race...50th state |
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| I just like the background in this picture! |
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| Cris and I...past race...Rocky Mountain Half |
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| The family...post race |
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| Cris and I...in West Virginia |
September saw hometown running at the Akron Marathon. I did the Half this year. I’ve ran this one several times and even ran the Full Marathon a couple years ago...never disappoints! If you are looking for a fun first race or milestone race, the stadium finish at this one is hard to beat!
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| Running into the stadium...and the finish line |
October featured a pair of local runs with the super flat Towpath Half Marathon and the Buckeye Half...both in the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
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| That's me...running! |
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| Finish area for the Buckeye Half Marathon |
November: Ran the inaugural Joshua Tree (nighttime!) Half Marathon with my bud Kevin. This was the most difficult (mentally and physically) run of my life. I look back fondly on it now, as a great challenge that I was able to overcome! Did a local run in Massillon later in the month at the Made in America Half and ran into my bud Tama and her running buds.
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| Myself, Kevin and Joe (Kevin's father) |
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| Soooo glad that one was over! |
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| Myself and Tama |
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| Some great runners...and me! |
In December I was originally planning to run a race in the Everglades in Florida but Hurricane Irma caused extensive damage in that part of Florida leading to the race being cancelled. Instead I ran a Half in West Palm Beach, which was fun, but no ocean front running which I really enjoy. ☹️
Finished out 2017 with an arctic 5K on New Years Eve and a 3rd place age group finish!
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| Palm Beaches Half Marathon |
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| The end of another great year of running! |
In addition to all this, I completed the Summit Metro Parks Running Spree, Biking Spree and the Fall Hiking Spree. I put a few hundred miles on the bicycle this year too...hope to up that a bit in 2018.
Oh yeah...In December I got my awesome trophy for completing the 50 State Challenge!
Falling Short...
After all that, it seems silly that I'm bummed out over 26 miles...but that is the number of additional miles I needed to run to hit 1000 for the year. So I fell a bit short. I can probably blame a lot of factors, but, at the end of the day, I just didn't run enough. I did not do a Full Marathon this year either...that would have put me right at 1000.
Well, we are on to 2018...and now I will need to change the name of this blog to 'The Journey of 1026 Miles' so that I can make up for 2017...who am I kidding...I only post about once every 2 years anyways! But I will attempt the 1026 miles.
Things will be a bit different this year...I have to get a hernia operation that will probably cause me to lose about a month of running...but I'm tired of being in various levels of pain every day. I don't know how much traveling I can do...things get expensive and life happens, but we are lucky to have a great running community in Ohio with a lot of cool and fun races...and the Towpath is a true gem to train on.
As I write this, on January 5th, I have already ran 18 miles for the year...so almost 2/100 of the way there!
Everyone have a wonderful, active 2018!
