Wellllll this has been a pretty unbelievable year in my running world.
It has been a year of learning to believe in myself and learning to trust in my training.
And I would have totally not believed you if we spoke one year ago and you told me that I was going to do the following in 2011:
- run a marathon in 3:30:41 (race report)
- qualify for the Boston Marathon with a buffer of 4 minutes and 19 seconds
- run my first and second marathons ONE month apart (Richmond race report)
- win 1st overall woman in a 4K (race report)
- win my age group in an 8K (race report)
- win my age group in a 5K (race report)
- run a 10K in 44:38, a five minute PR (race report)
All this considering my first 10K of my life was in May 2010.
.....It's all surprising, especially to myself!!
FUN Running Facts of 2011:
Total Miles Run: 1355.4 (as of 12/30)
Total Time Spent Running: 188 hours (7 days and 20 hours)
Highest Mileage Month: October (175.2 miles)
Highest Mileage Week: 47.7 miles
Here are pictorial highlights of my running year, in order or sentimental importance:
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Rehoboth Beach Marathon Dec 2011
3:30:41, average pace of 8:02
My 2nd marathon (one month after my first)
26 minute PR
Qualified for Boston Marathon!
1st in age group
This experience was of another world!
Read about it HERE.
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Richmond Marathon November 2011
My first marathon
3:56:41
Had leg cramp issues and was sick as a dog the week leading up to it :(
Read about it HERE
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I got to run with Caroline Rotich in Santa Fe, NM
(she won 4th place Boston 2011)
Read about it HERE
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44:38
Monument Ave 10K March 1011
5-minute PR
Less than 1 year after my first 10K in May 2010
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Shamrock 4k March 2011
First race after taking off 5 months for a pelvic stress fracture in 2010
1st woman overall (tiny race :)
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| My first age group medal that I've ever earned. |
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| Oh and PS: Who remembers this old header from early 2011??!! |
And the Gnu Bar Giveaway Winner (based on Random.org #6) is:
Heather from Just A Colorado Girl!
Go check out her blog! She's a fabulously adventurous girl who is majorly entertaining.
Heather, please e-mail me at katherine.hopper @ gmail.com with your mailing address so that I can send your info to Gnu Bars!
Thanks to all of you for participating, I wish there were enough free bars to go around to everybody.
If you had your heart set on winning some Gnu Bars and you still want to try them, you can go to the Gnu Bar website and order a 5-bar Sampler Pack for $7.95 (and free shipping!)
Last but not least...THANK YOU ALL for being so supportive of all my running adventures over this past year!
What's your favorite year of your running career thus far?
Well, this is certainly my favorite so far. It ended on a high note. I may have reached my peak early haha.
That was a heck of a year and sure 2012 will be great as well. I'm of the mindset that each year just gets better and better!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a rockin' great year! PS- I think it was you that used your goggles to protect you from onions while cutting. I totally tried it the other day. Worked like a charm :)
ReplyDeleteI'm absolutely LOVING how versatile your running apparel is! Especially those neon green socks-- how appropriate with your blog title ;)
ReplyDeleteIm utterly shocked by you! Congratulations on all your achievements of 2011!
ReplyDeleteDamn damn damn! I am soooo sooooo proud of you! Especially knowing that you've barely been running for 2 years! You inspire me :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful year! In such a short time running you have accomplished so much, incredible. Your neon clothing rocks my world:) lol
ReplyDelete- Hey ?... remember when you bought into a race that was sold out. How did you find the person that sold you the bib? I think I need to sale mine and don't know how to go about doing it without getting in trouble:):)
what a fabulous 2011 you had! i will be looking for you in April! i had a pretty decent 2011; PRed in a marathon and some triathlons, and wound up on the podium a few times!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your awesome running year! I look forward to hearing about your upcoming races.
ReplyDeleteThis year has been my ONLY running year and I'm really looking forward to an awesome 2012, with my first two half marathons already scheduled!
Wow, you are seriously AMAZING! You totally inspire me to get running again.
ReplyDeleteI ran a 10k in October and I was so excited to do more races but I've hurt my knee and haven't been able to run since :( I'm really missing it!
Congrats on a great year, hopefully next year will be just as good or better!
ReplyDeleteGreat year! This is my first year in my running career so by default it is my favorite, but I am very much looking forward to 2012.
ReplyDeleteWOW!! What an awesome year. I need to run some more races. This was definitely my best running year -- up to 1689 miles so far. But I have moved 6 times this year so I just haven't been in good training mode/known where I was going to be. Now I'm trying to choose my first marathon!! I want to run some small races like you so I have a prayer of placing in my age group!!! That's got to be so motivational! As always, I love seeing all your racing outfits!! So cute!
ReplyDeleteHoly cow, hooray!! Emailing you now...
ReplyDeleteSince you did so well this year, I imagine AWESOME things for you this coming year!!!!
Congrats to Heather!
ReplyDeleteLove all your pics... still wondering if you got the black or the white bike?
Wow! You are amazing. :)
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you!! This was by far my favorite running year as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your words of inspriation. I cannot wait to see what 2012 has in store for all of us!! :) :)
You've had an amazing year, Katherine! I can see why this is your favorite! I'd say this is my favorite, too. Finally believing in myself as a runner has been huge for me! I know not every race will be a great one, but I know that I have the capability of being great, and that's a pretty big deal! :)
ReplyDeletekudos to you! that's nothing short of amazing.
ReplyDeletei can;t wait to see what 2012 brings.
Wowza,seriously amazing. My best running year so far was 2010, because I stopped being so hard on myself and just ran. I did my 3rd Boston Marathon that year and actually had fun, which I had never done before when running. I can't wait to do it again (hopefully faster!) in 2012.
ReplyDeletegreat year-end running review. you totally inspire me to make big running plans in '12. happy new year!
ReplyDeleteWell, of all two years of it, I give 2010 the spot over 2011...I went from lazy jogger to BQ marathoner in 2010!
ReplyDeletewhat a phenomenal year of accomplishments! So great to read about all of the honors you have earned and the hard work put in for those!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great year you had!! May 2012 be even better for you...I am not sure how much better it gets!!
ReplyDeleteGreat re caps! You have accomplished so much girl.....I'm so proud of you!
ReplyDeleteYou've had an amazing 2011, can't wait to see what 2012 brings in your neck of the woods!
ReplyDeleteWow! Such a great year for you! Congratulations, its so inspiring to read! I totally understand the not believing it if you had been told one year ago where you would be now, so congrats again and be proud of all you've accomplished.
ReplyDeletewow what a year! fantastic!!!
ReplyDelete2011 is my best year..
I wish you all the best for 2012!
you should be so proud of all that you accomplished this year!
What a year you have had, you have come so far in your running accomplishments..you have so much to be proud of!!
ReplyDelete2011=my fav year!!
ReplyDeletelove your highlights! you had an awesome year!
goodluck to you in 2012! xoxo!
Great post!!! You had an awesome year and I'm sure 2012 will be even better!
ReplyDeleteNuts! I don't think I even entered that giveaway, life has been so crazy busy lately!
ReplyDeleteYou had an awesome year and I am so glad to have "met" you in the blog world.
Here is to another rocking year in 2012 for both of us little running nurses :)
great recap. Love you in all the photos and the colorful shorts ;)
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful 2012!
A great 2011, indeed! I'm not sure if I have a favorite year. I haven't been running for that long. There are different things that I like about each year...starting to run, figuring out I could run faster if I wanted to, starting to train rather than just run, etc etc.
ReplyDeleteJust came across your blog... what an awesome year you've had! Isn't it crazy how much can change in the course of one year? You've had some huge milestones--congrats on a BQ on your 2nd marathon!
ReplyDeleteGreat review and what a year! I really enjoyed the links to read about what happened before I started following you! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWow, you are amazing. You did have an amazing year (and it kind of sounds like you were born to run). Congratulations on all of your accomplishments. Happy new year!
ReplyDelete*Erin
You had a fantastic running year in 2011! So many PRs and new race distances! I probably should have included you as one of my runners of the year!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite running years are 1998 when I ran a 4:58 mile as well as some other fast track times, and 2010 when I ran my first marathon.
Congrats on a great year! We need to get together for a run soon!
ReplyDeleteYou will always be an inspiration to me! You seriously rocked your runs this year and to think your first race was in 2010 is just bananas! You are amazing! I can't wait to read about your running adventures this year!
ReplyDelete2011 was a good running year for me too. I placed 2nd in a 5k and ran my first obstacle race! I haven't done any long races since 2010 so 8'm hoping to get more under my belt this year!
Happy new year, girl!!
I LOVE the advice you left on my blog earlier--and after reading about your year I'm hoping it carries some kind of special pixie dust that will rub off on me in Houston. What a year for you! You've discovered a gift! And I know you will continue to enjoy its fruits in 2012. So glad I "met" you. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing running year!!! I'm a beginner runner, who was just happy to complete a 5k this year : ) What an inspiration you are!
ReplyDeleteCan I steal some of your accomplished goals from last year and make them my own? Awesome 2011!
ReplyDeleteoh no...i'm bummed because for watever reason none of the pictures will load. :( BUT, i loved reading the quick stats and it looks like u've accomplished SOO much this past year and i kno it's only the beginning for u!! super stoked to see all u kick butt in for 2012. hope u had a great new years. :)
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