Sometimes our goals cloud our progress. - Jen Kirkpatrick, Team Dirt & Vert
What's Jen saying? It's easy to look at a goal that you're struggling with or even missed altogether & completely forget about the progress that you made. I often have to be reminded of that. I'm a goal-focused person and as you've noticed if you been around my blog much, I reflect a lot. I have to remind myself that I'm making progress with every step. It's like "they" say, it's about the journey not the destination.
Months ago I decided to sign up for my first marathon. I had come off a great running year & was feeling strong. I was feeling confident. I cut my race pace back to tackle the extra distance... mistake. Now I'm slower than I've been in a while. I have got up to 17 miles, but I was running farther faster in the last cycle. That in itself has been tough on the ego. Don't get me wrong I'm still having fun. So let's look at some good times! Half Marathons #6, #7, & #8 for 2021.
Big Ole Medal Half with Stud Nation
My teammates from AR joined me for this race. We signed up for one reason. That big ole medal! Winding through parks and neighborhoods of McKinney, TX makes for a nice run. We earned that medal for sure! Texas has a way of turning a cool start into a blazing inferno. So, by mile 7 or 8 we were cooked. Which made my idea of doing threshold intervals at the beginning an even worse idea. Nonetheless we pushed through and collected that metal mammoth!
Look at the size of that thing!
Hope for the Holiday Half in Memory of Garrett Yeager.
I've ran this race 5 years in row. It's a nice small-town race. If you're looking for a change of scenery, check out this half in Arkansas. You won't get bored! It’s a mixed terrain course. Street, technical trail, & gravel. It’s small & challenging with a finish that will leave even the most seasoned runner with a feeling of accomplishment. It's nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. If you're looking for a race with a huge heart this is the one! It benefits Overdose Awareness, local recovery groups, & local charities. Can't make the drive they have a virtual option as well! Check them out on Facebook!
If you’re a fan of Nascar, it’s also the hometown of Hall of Famer Mark Martin. He has a sweet museum there to visit while you’re in town.
Dallas Marathon Half Marathon
So, I signed up for the Dallas Marathon. I did not meet that goal. I ended up getting Covid and didn't recover until 6 weeks before race day. So, I decided it was best to back down to the half. I still had a great time! The course ran by Dealey Plaza. Being a JFK buff, that was the reason I signed up in the first place. The coolest moment for me happened when we were passing Dealey Plaza! A runner in military fatigues and carrying a US flag left the course, ran across the grass median to the spot where JFK was assassinated. He then stopped, saluted, and ran back onto the course. I made sure to catch up to him, thank him for his service, & give him a fist bump. So how was the race? First off it was cold. It had been in the 70s earlier in the week, but not today. Upper 30s were on the menu for the start. Once I got warmed up, I really enjoyed the course. I love running through skyscrapers! The course meandered around downtown Dallas. It was a challenging course, but it had a ton of crowd support. I'll plan to do it again!
Some of our training group! #werunfrisco
I plan to squeeze in one more 2021 post to recap my achievements & plans for 2022. It was a huge year for me & I'm excited to see where these roads lead me.
Come back & check it out!