Here goes nothing.
Races run: 10 (see the complete list here)
Races volunteered: 1 - the ZOOMA Great Lakes Half Marathon
Races cancelled: 1 - the Mad Dash to Madison. Curse the NHL lockout.
DNFs: 0
DNSs: 0
Races during which I told myself I would never run again, ever: To be honest, I can only remember 1. You only remember the positive, right? But this may also mean that I am not pushing myself hard enough during my races...?
Races which caused me to question my own sanity for any reason (usually due to being jolted awake by an early-morning alarm clock): 9. Not surprisingly, the only exception was the Strike Out ALS 5K with its 7:00 PM start time.
Races after which I started crying, for whatever reason: 2. The PAWS Run For Their Lives 8K, for seeing dozens of pets that needed homes; and the Chicago Marathon, for so many reasons but mostly for the sheer relief of finally being able to accomplish a lifelong goal.
Races during which I actually got to line up at the very front of the pack instead of in the very back by all the portapotties! 1 - the CARA Ready to Run 20-Miler. It was nice to feel like an elite Kenyan runner for 10 minutes!
Distances:
5K: 1
8K: 1
5-mile: 1
10-mile: 1
Half marathon: 4
20-mile: 1
Marathon: 1
I was a little surprised to realize that I didn't run any 10Ks in 2012. Up until this year, the 10K had always been my favorite distance.
New to me distances: 8K, 5-mile, 10-mile, 20-mile, marathon. The 10-mile distance has become my new favorite racing distance!
States raced in: 2 - Illinois (9 races) and Pennsylvania (1 race).
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| The Roberto Clemente Bridge in Pittsburgh from the PNC YMCA Turkey Trot 5-miler |
I am looking forward to adding more states to the list soon. (Adam and I are going to Las Vegas next month, and I am very strongly considering trying to run a race out there. Decisions, decisions...)
Months run in: 7 - March, April, June, July (2), September (3), October, November. It was a little surprising to realize that I didn't run any races in May, which is considered one of the best weather-months in Chicago.
Hottest race: Chicago 13.1 Half Marathon. Sunny, with temps in the mid- and upper-80s that day.
Coldest race: The Chicago Marathon. The temperature started out in the 30s. I certainly can't complain about that being my coldest race of the year!
Windiest race: CARA Lakefront 10-Miler. Nothing like running a lakefront race in 20-mile hour winds!
Wettest race: CARA Lakefront 10-Miler, which was the only race I ran with any precipitation at all. I got very lucky with precipitation during my races this year.
Most ideal race-day weather: PAWS Run For Their Lives 8K. Sunny, clear, and crisp, with temps in the upper 40s and no wind.
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| This has absolutely nothing to do with any of my 2012 racing statistics, but aren't these cute!?!?!? (Would people stare at me if I wore Mickey Mouse sneakers around town?) |
Races I ran for free: 3 - Chicago 13.1 Half Marathon, Strike Out ALS 5K, Chicago Half Marathon.
Total spent on race entries: Approximately $450. Ouch. And with my ambitious race plans for 2013, it's not going to get any better next year.
Average cost (total cost/total races run): Approximately $45 per race. This is probably going to increase in 2013.
Most affordable race: On base price, it was a tie between the PAWS Run For Their Lives 8K and the PNC YMCA Turkey Trot 5-miler, which were both $30. However, the PAWS Run did not charge any additional transaction fees, whereas the PNC Turkey Trot did. So the winner is the PAWS Run!
Most expensive race: The Chicago Marathon ($150). And they didn't charge any transaction fees! =D
Participation medals received: 6
Favorite medal: Chicago Get Lucky Half Marathon
Favorite cause: PAWS Run For Their Lives 8K. I am not one who is comfortable soliciting people for donations and fundraising needs... but if there was ever an exception to this rule it would be for animal shelters.
Best spectators: The Chicago Marathon, without a doubt. The unbridled support from thousands of complete strangers, spanning dozens of the city's diverse neighborhoods, was one of the most incredible experiences I've ever had.
Favorite Post-Run Party Event: Strike Out ALS 5K. Runners and their friends and family had US Cellular Field all to themselves to watch the MLB All-Star game on the Jumbotron. Awesome.
Best Post-Run Party Food: Rock N Roll Chicago - chocolate milk, Jamba Juice smoothies, Dole fruit cups, popsicles, chocolate protein bars, and Chobani yogurt, in addition to the usual bananas, pretzels, Gatorade, and water. Yummy, yummy!
Favorite shirt: Chicago 13.1 Half Marathon. I'll post a picture later but it's a gorgeous blue color and it fits me very well.
Favorite pictures:
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| Kim and I at the Chicago Half Marathon |
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| The Chicago Marathon, with my alter ego |
Cheers to a great year of running and racing in 2012, and cheers to an even better year to come in 2013!!!
Nice statistics list! BTW, I forgot that the Chicago Marathon did not charge any transaction fees and nowadays that is unusual. Why do races charge transaction fees anyway? It used to be you could mail in a check to avoid credit card fees, but since that's not an available option for most races, why don't they just include the transaction fee in the price? Oh yeah, they can make the race look cheaper until you get to the final checkout screen when a $70 race suddenly becomes $77! Anyway, I like your favorite pictures. The first one looks like you guys are having a ball and the second one is hilarious! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pete!
DeleteI totally agree with you regarding races charging transaction fees on top of their registration fees. I always get really irritated anytime I see that a race's registration is being handled by Active.com because I know that it'll mean extra fees. It's annoyingly deceiving and I really do wish that more races would build the fee into the price. I know at the end that it's all psychological, but even so - I am happier when I don't feel like I've been baited and switched!!!
Aww, I love your list! Much more personal than mine. I totally think you should find a race to do in Las Vegas when you go!
ReplyDeleteI don't like asking people for money either, but bet I would for animals as well. That is a very important cause to me! :)
Someday, someone will have to explain this NFL Lockout thing to me ;)
Thanks, Kim! I am probably going to write a post about the Las Vegas race considerations in the coming weeks... to be continued!
DeleteBe careful what you wish for regarding an explanation of the NHL lockout. If you get either Adam or me started, we could go on a rant about it that would last for days! =D
What an awesome year!!! Can't wait to see how 2013 unfolds for you!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maggie! Likewise, you've had the most amazing 2012 with ALL SORTS of new PDRs and PRs. Can't wait to see how 2013 unfolds for you, too!!!
DeleteYou had a great racing year! So many great races and milestones achieved. And this was your marathon year - can't beat that!*
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy! Indeed, 2012 will go down in the record books as the year of the first marathon, something that for years I thought I would never accomplish. Likewise for you, too, what an incredible year you've had, too, with all of your running and marathoning!!!!
DeleteI'm going to have to do something like this now... but then again i'm scared to think of total cost for just race entries.. let alone clothing and stuff... Really neat post :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Xaar!!! I can't wait to read your 2012 race stats recap, I know yours will be awesome!!!
DeleteAnd oh my gosh, I don't even want to think about how much I spent on running clothing, shoes, and gear this year on top of race fees... ARGH!!!!
It looks like you had a great racing year! I may totally steal this post idea - it's such a great way to look back and analyze the year in running. I actually recently started tracking my expenses and was shocked to see how much I spent on entry fees (about the same as you)! Oh well...we gotta embrace our healthy habits right? Based on this survey I think 2013 will be an even better year for you, you're on a roll!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Irina! Please do post on your 2012 racing, you've had an absolutely amazing year of running as well so it would be awesome to read! And 2013 is going to be an even better year for you, as well!!!
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