My Year of Running 2017.

Uh oh, I’m getting spunky today y’all…not one but TWO posts in one day! I thought before this year was up I’d do a quick recap of my fabulous 2017!! Oh and what a WILD RIDE it has been in the world of running. I’m actually kind of excited to recap this year because it really has been quite eventful. Without further ado…let’s hop right to it!

Best race experience? This is a tough one. Simply because I’ve had so many of my best race experiences all wrapped up in ONE YEAR. Longest ultra (Rocky Raccoon 100), a marathon PR and placing first overall female at a 100k trail race. I think what has to top it all would be running my very first 100 miler. This race was so special to me and it meant so much to have some of my favorite trail runners out there along for the ride as my crew and a kickass pacer. When it was all said and done it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. But I would do it again in a freaking heartbeat. Yes, that buckle was the icing on the cake.

Best run? Probably running with the wild mustangs out at Mowdy Ranch in Oklahoma. Literally, it is a mustang ranch and some of my trail buds know the owners so we went out there to do some running on their property. They own a ton of land and it was oh so beautiful running along the country dirt path.

Best new piece of running swag? Probably these sassy Ghost crop leggings courtesy of Brooks Running. Because they are oh so colorful and fun. I’m not sure if they even still have them in stock anymore but I just love ‘em. I never get tired of new runner swag.

Best piece of running advice you’ve received? This always remains true. Now and forever.

Well that, and this. Just because I love it.

“Perhaps the genius of ultrarunning is its supreme lack of utility. It makes
no sense in a world of space ships and supercomputers to run vast distances
on foot. There is no money in it and no fame, frequently not even the
approval of peers. But as poets, apostles and philosophers have insisted
from the dawn of time, there is more to life than logic and common sense.
The ultra runners know this instinctively. And they know something else that
is lost on the sedentary. They understand, perhaps better than anyone, that
the doors to the spirit will swing open with physical effort. In running
such long and taxing distances they answer a call from the deepest realms of
their being — a call that asks who they are …”
– David Blaikie

Most inspirational runner? Honestly?! I have to say, probably each and every one of you. All of my readers who run, and the blogging community to me is a special one. Each and every one of you inspire me, all in different ways. I’m inspired by seeing my running friends get out there, day after day and crank it out. It’s a beautiful journey we are all on and what I learned is I could not have been so successful this year without the help of my running family. EVERY runner has a reason. Never forget that.

If you could sum up your year of running in a few words, what would they be?
Humbling
Eye Opening
Adventurous
Wanderlust
Wild
Unstoppable
Relentless

How has your year of running been!? Answer any or all of the questions?