It’s been my tradition to recap my year of running with highlights, yearly mileage, PRs, and places I’ve run over the last several years. So here’s a look at 2025!
2025 was a great year of training. I made some significant jumps in fitness as I entered the year. I was running paces I had never run before and went into the racing season excited to showcase my fitness. Unfortunately, almost all of my races were hot (70-80+ degrees F), so I wasn’t always able to show my fitness in a lot of my races. But I stuck with it and did end up running three new PRs this year.
There were quite a few ups and downs throughout the year. Some incredible memories were made, but I also had some low points throughout the year. The biggest low was my “failed” marathon at the McKirdy Micro Marathon. It was a big-time struggle to get to the finish line that day, and for several months afterwards, I wasn’t sure I wanted to run another marathon. I also definitely had my fair share of workouts that went poorly, weather challenges, doubts about my fitness, and a calf flare-up during my current marathon build.
But even with these low(er) points, I am still walking away from the year with many good and happy memories. I got to run with so many different friends, I did a trail run in Alaska, ran along the beach in Hawaii, went to Colorado with my sister for a running trip, I did my first run with Cullen, and just enjoyed the process and being fit because I know it won’t last forever.
A look at my running stats from 2025:
Total miles: 2900 miles
Average daily miles: 7.9 miles
Average weekly miles: 55.7 miles
Highest weekly mileage: 81 miles
Longest run: 23 mile training run in Hawaii, 26.2 mile race
States I ran in: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Alaska, Colorado, and New York
Races I ran: 9 races from the mile to the marathon
PRs: 5K, 10K, and half marathon
Top places at a race: I won my age group a couple of times, but now that I live in a much more populated state with a lot more fast runners, I don’t place as high as I used to, and it honestly doesn’t bug me.
Favorite race: Garry Bjorklund Half (aka Grandma’s Half) wasn’t a stellar performance for me, but it was a fun weekend with my sister and running in the elite wave.
Biggest high: Still being able to set new PRs at the age of 42!
Biggest low: The McKirdy Micro Marathon was a really big low. I felt so fit going into that race, but the day ended up bringing 80*F weather (at the end of March in NY!), and my EILO kicked in, and there was no redeeming myself with that happens. It was a fight early on, and I ended up walk/running the last 8 miles. That stung for several months afterwards.
Hardest workout: Some of my most challenging workouts were really due to weather extremes: really hot or really cold weather, the never-ceasing Midwest wind, or ones where my mindset wasn’t in a good place.
Favorite memory: sharing miles with friends, summer runs, seeing the boys at the end of my races, and the high after achieving a PR
Coldest run: -27*F (real feel) in Minnesota in January
Hottest run: 90*F in Minnesota in July
3/29/ 25 – McKirdy Micro Marathon (Valley Cottage, NY) – 3:08:19
5/26/25 – Brian Kraft 5K (Minneapolis, MN) – 18:13 (PR)
6/21/25 – Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon (Duluth, MN) – 1:26:43
7/4/25 – Freedom Run 5 Mile (Waseca, MN) – 32:32
7/12/25 – Cookie Chase 5K (Denver, CO) – 21:23
7/20/25 – Hopkins Raspberry Run 1 Mile (Hopkins, MN) – 5:32
9/7/25 – City of Lakes Half (Minneapolis, MN) – 1:23:59 (PR)
10/5/25 – Twin Cities 10 Mile (Minneapolis, MN) – 1:11:36
10/18/25 – Victory 10K (Minneapolis, MN) – 37:50 (PR)
Overall, I’m really happy with how the year went despite the bumps. I am the fittest I have ever been, so I can’t complain about that. I have so much to be thankful for and never did I image where this silly little hobby of mine would have taken me. Now let’s hope I can show off this fitness on Sunday at the Houston Marathon!
