The Much Anticipated, Highly Requested, Award-Winning 2018 Review

It took me a while to get rid of the dust and cobwebs from the world's loneliest blog, but here we are deep (well, maybe not so deep) into 2019 and I can finally deliver my 2018 recap...I'm sure one or two of you is excited about this fact!

The Medals

2018 started off slow due to my impending hernia operation that was to take place on February 2. I did some running in January, but didn't push things to hard. After my operation, I could not do any exercise for 4 weeks. On the 5th week, I was allowed to start walking.

By post op week 6, I was back into shape, well, a slower, fatter, shape, but shape nonetheless, and I signed up to run the Caesar Rodney Half Marathon in Wilmington, Delaware with my California friend Cris. It was good to get out and test my fitness after an extended period off.

Back at it!

Six days later, I was again with Cris, this time in Agoura Hills, California for the Dole Great Race Pacific Half Marathon (say it 3 times fast). This was fun...it started in a western movie set at the Paramount Ranch and ran a somewhat hilly course (Agoura Hills...duhh) and finished at a park, where they were serving pancakes...yummmy! Sadly, the movie set was destroyed in the recent wildfire...glad that I got to see it. Jackson ran a 5k at the same race.

The (sadly, former) Western Movie Set at Paramount Ranch aka Race Start

Fatter me with Jackson and Cris

Two weeks later, on April 8th, I ran the Towpath Half Marathon in Cleveland. I will say, FLAT IS GOOD! (sometimes)...At least in distance running. I've done this one a few times and it is always enjoyable.

Towpath Half Finish at Harvard Road...across the street from a former Uranium Plant...you might say the sweat radiated from my body as I crossed this finish line.

At the end of April, before the month of May kicked off (see what I did there), I ran the Pro Football Hall of Fame Half Marathon in Canton (first time I've done this one) I did not enjoy the early part of the course much, as we ran thru neighborhoods and over pothole-filled roads. The ending was cool as we ran into Fawcett Stadium (yes, I still call it that, sorry Tom Benson, whoever you are) and across the field. There is a course change for 2019, so I may give it another go.

That's me...running into the endzone more than the Cleveland Browns did all season in 2017

In the middle of May I had to go out to Iowa for work and found a small Half Marathon in Rock Island, Illinois on the way out. This run featured some miles along the mighty Mississippi, which is always fun.

Kickin' it...Huck Finn-style on the Mississippi

The next weekend started with Jackson and myself participating in the Akron Portage and Paddle where we paddled a kayak about 4 miles, then had to get out and carry it another mile. Unfortunately, we had an extremely heavy 2-person kayak, so the 'Portaging' or carrying part was a bit of a challenge...but we made it!

Ran into my co-worker Scott!

The next day I ran the Half at the Cleveland Marathon. First time for this race as well. It was ok. Big race, I'm not much into the big ones anymore.  Rained for the first few miles. I would end up doing a lot of running in Cleveland this year.

At the finish...only a mile walk back to the car (Bonus Mileage)

Early June saw me running the Half at the Youngstown Marathon. I got sub-2 hours for the first time in 2018 here. I hit a deer on the way to the race, that pissed me off...I took my aggressions out on the course, I guess...LOL. (Stupid deer) Jackson ran a 5K at this race and really enjoyed it.

A bit thinner and faster

Future Marathoner in training

June 22nd I ran the Matchstick Half Marathon in Wadsworth. This was an evening race and it was delayed for over an hour due to rain and thunder. The wife asked what would happen if the rain and thunder did not stop, I replied that continuing thunder would cancel the run, rain would simply cause me to get wet. The thunder stopped, and I got soaked. Also, who knew that Wadsworth was so hilly?

Not feelin' it

On July 21st I took Jackson to run his first Warrior Dash! He has done some 'kid's mud runs' before, but this was his first 'grown-up mud run'...he had a blast!

Tuff Guys

Early August began a 3 weekend stretch of Half Marathons beginning with the Hofbrauhaus Half Marathon in Cleveland on August 5th.

Humid morning made for a sweaty run. They offered me a braut and beer when I finished, but it was 9:00 am and I was hot (not like good-looking hot, like slightly dehydrated hot) so I declined.

No sausage, please...just the medal

The next weekend was the Goodyear Half Marathon in Akron. This has a fun start as you do a lap of the Goodyear Test Track while they crank Motley Crue's 'Kickstart My Heart'.

Finish is at Goodyear World Headquarters with Swenson's hamburgers and ice cream.

Jackson ran his first 10K here this year and did awesome finishing in just over an hour.

Ready to Burn Rubber!

August 19th I ran the Rock Hall Half Marathon, again in Cleveland. Great medal for this run, and free admission into the Rock & Roll Hall, of Fame, but it covers a lot of the same roads and landmarks as other Cleveland races, so it was a lot of same old, same old for me. For out-of-towners, this would be a cool one...cause 'Cleveland Rocks'...or so I've been told.

I'm cool...lol

Heavy Medal

In early September I traveled out to Minnesota for work and was able to 'Party Like it's 1999' as I ran the City of Lakes Half Marathon in Minneapolis. This may come as a shock to my readers, due to the name of this race...we ran around a couple lakes!!!

Met up with my cousins for lunch afterwards (hi Lori and Derek).

Also took a tour of Paisley Park (recommended!)

I had to chase away a couple doves to get this photo locale...they cried. At least I know what it sounds like now

In the middle of September  I rode the Towpath 50 (50 mile cycling ride) on our local multi-purpose trail with my cuz Becky.

Fairly flat course and good support made this a fun ride and a good way to test my cycling endurance.

Our training paid off!

The Akron Marathon was held in late September. I was definitely not ready for this race. I started having IT Band issues about 16 miles in and this would stay with me through the end of the race and beyond. The important thing is that I was able to finish the Marathon...my time sucked, but I crossed the finish line. I will be more prepared next time! 

Tough day at the office!

One week later I ran the Towpath Half Marathon. I had to wear my garter (aka IT Band Strap) because I was still having some discomfort, but was able to finish slightly over 2 hours at a sub-10 minute-mile pace...so I was pretty happy.

Sexay! A lovely lady tipped me that money too...well actually not, it was me...I put that dollar in there.

In the middle of October I signed up to do the Fondo Cycling Half Century Ride...another 50 mile cycling ride...this time on roads instead of a bike path. I must admit that I do not enjoy riding on roads as much, due to the threat of distracted drivers.

This was a challenging course, as we started in downtown Akron, did a lap around the Goodyear Test Track, rode thru Barberton, Rolling Acres, Sharon Center, Merriman Valley and uphill! back into Akron. Hilly ride and rough roads made me feel the vibration (Marky Mark-style)

Ready to ride the Highway to Hell

In late October I went to Duluth, Minnesota for work and stopped on the way to do the Haunted Hustle in Middleton, Wisconsin. This was just a race that fell into place with my work schedule, so I wasn't expecting much. It was a decent run.

Me

November began another 3 week stretch of Half Marathons with the Buckeye Half Marathon on the 4th. I've run this one a couple times before, but they had a modified course this year that made it more enjoyable than the double-loop course they had previously.

I do think that this race takes place a week or two too late to fully enjoy the fall colors in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Why do I look like a giant? Oh yeah. I set my phone on the ground against a rock to take this picture

The next weekend was the Made in America Half Marathon in Massillon. This is a decent low-cost Half Marathon that begins a bit hilly and finishes flat. My finish time was about ten minutes slower than the previous year so I opted to skip the shuttle and walk the 1.25 miles back to my car at the end...must need the exercise!

Love running on the Towpath!

On November 18th I ran the Fall Classic Half Marathon in Strongsville, Ohio.

Nice course that ran on roads through Bonnie Park and the Mill Stream Reservation. This was a nice final Half Marathon for 2018 and Half Marathon number 98.

Chilly day and some light rain at the start, but luckily, as I've heard...nothing lasts forever, even cold November Rain.

Foxy! (the Medal, that is)

Finally, on December 31st Jackson and I ran Great New Year's Eve Race in Stow, Ohio. This was a 5K (3.1 miles) and it rained the entire time! I finished sub-30 minutes which made me happy, but overall I seem to have lost some speed...hope to work on that in 2019.

Overall I finished the year with 827 running miles...well short of the 1000 mile goal, but given the fact that I was on the shelf for a month and a half, I'm not too disappointed.

I had about 500 cycling miles in 2018...hope to at least double that this year.

So what is the plan for 2019?

I will be finishing my goal of running 100 Half Marathons in February. Beyond that, I'm not sure.

I have some cycling goals that I hope to achieve this year.

With running, there are always cool races to be ran, so I plan on doing some of those, plus hopefully have a better Full Marathon than the one I ran in 2018.

That's all for 2018...happy running or cycling or yoga-ing or Cross Fitting or couch-potato-ing in 2019!