My 2022 year in review post started out with “another busy year of running,” but since I’m just now writing this in mid-February, clearly it’s been a busy start to 2024, as well. Last year, 2023, was a fun year that included 1,175.6 miles of running (as always, I do count — and love — run-walks).
A few running highlights were running my fastest 5K and 10K since 2019; finally running my sub-8:00 1600-meter run; visiting my last East Coast state, Rhode Island, to run Marathon No. 16; and hanging out in person with Brooks friends at the Brooks Hype Fest in Santa Monica, California.
Another highlight was taking a break from longer distances after that marathon — I needed it. I served as the Eastern Shore Running Club president for the second year, too.
Goals: Looking Back
While I didn’t 100% meet my goals in 2023, I did pretty well. Here they were…
- Finish the Algonquin 50K. After two years of DNFs, I did finish the Algonquin 50K in 2023 — even though my time was just barely an unofficial finish. I finished the race in 8:02:54. The race cutoff is 8:00, but since I made all of the other aid station cutoffs, I was able to earn the coveted mug. Read all about my experience here.
- Beat all of my standard distance times from 2020-2022. I did well with this when it came to the 5K and 10K, but my goal half marathon — Ocean City — turned out to be a super hot day, and I couldn’t beat my time. My only marathon of the year, Providence, was also warm, and I did not have the time I wanted there, either.
- Get that sub-8:00 time for a 1600-meter run. After running monthly 1600s for years, I finally ran sub-8:00 in June, with a time of 7:52. After that, I wasn’t able to do it again, but I did do it once in recent memory. I wrote about the experience here. Hopefully I will be able to get my time back under 8:00 in 2024.
Races
Here’s how I did in my 2023 races.
5Ks
Fastest time of 2023: Firecracker 5K — 27:41
Faster than 2022? Yes, fastest since 2019
10Ks
Great Wyoming Buffalo Stampede 10K
Fastest time of 2023: Mike Sterling 10K — 1:00:33
Faster than 2022? Yes, fastest since 2019
10 Milers
Maryland-D.C. RRCA Club Challenge
Fastest (only) time of 2023: 1:53:59
Faster than 2022? Yes
Half Marathons
Coastal Delaware Half Marathon – 2:45 pacer
Ocean City Running Festival Half Marathon
Rehoboth Seashore Half Marathon – 2:45 pacer
Fastest time of 2023: Salisbury Half Marathon – 2:29:51
Faster than 2022? Yes
Marathons
Fastest (only) time of 2023: 5:53:58
Faster than 2022? No
Other Distances
Tour de Salisbury – 12 courses around Delmarva
I also started the Winter Tour in 2023 — to be recapped later (December 2023-January 2024)
I ran in some fun places with some fun people.
In 2023, I ran with the following groups:
- Eastern Shore Running Club (of course!)
- Algonquin training groups
- Tim Kennard training groups
- Delmarva She Runs This Town
- 11:30 Club
- A group of runners at a shake-out run in Providence before the race
- Tour de Salisbury groups
- Brooks friends in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California
- NCR Trail Snails
And, I ran in the following places (in addition to all of the race locations and Salisbury, where I live):
- Trap Pond State Park (Del.)
- Cross Island Trail in Kent Island, Md.
- Fruitland, Md.
- Delmar, Md. & Del. (tons of fun shapes with DSRTT!)
- Ocean City, Md.
- Millsboro, Del.
- Asbury Park, N.J.
- Dover, Del.
- Los Angeles, Calif.
- Santa Monica, Calif.
- Inglewood, Calif.
- Tuckahoe State Park (Md.)
- Oregon Ridge Park (Md.)
- Pirate’s Wharf Park (New – Md.)
- Parsonsburg, Md.
- Paint Branch Trail (Md.)
I ran in six states during 2023: Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Rhode Island, New Jersey and California.
I celebrated multiple holidays with runs. I ran an “I Love U”-shaped run and a turkey-shaped run with Delmarva She Runs This Town. Eastern Shore Running Club had a Mardi Gras run and a Fourth of July run (I hosted the Fourth of July run with my boyfriend, Mike). I ran for Pfc. Richard Coleman on Memorial Day. I ran the Turkey Trek 5K on Thanksgiving and the Crouse Family Christmas Day 5K on Christmas. I did a reindeer-shaped run, and I ended the year with a Champagne Mile and “Tipsy Two” on New Year’s Eve. I also ran 3.3 miles on my 33rd birthday in October.
Other Highlights
In addition to being president of the Eastern Shore Running Club and enjoying runs with the other groups, I got in many great runs with friends during 2023. It was fun to represent the club and make an impact at races with our new branded tent.
I really enjoy pacing and was glad to successfully pace two half marathons with Beast Pacing. In 2023, I was again a BibRave Pro and member of the Brooks Run Happy Team.
I put more effort into working on my speed and was able to see the results of my work in my 5K and 10K times and my sub-8:00 1600-meter run.
I participated in Angie Maske-Berka’s 100 Miles in November for the sixth year.
I also kept up my DribbleUp (weighted ball) classes and today reached a 41-week streak of at least one class a week. I also did yoga throughout 2023, along with a few barre classes. I did my longest bike ride ever at 20 miles with my boyfriend, Mike (with a pizza and beer stop in between). I also got to support runners by volunteering at IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman, the Pemberton 24 and the 5K Hero Run for Wor-Wic (as well as supporting ESRC’s scholarship fund by volunteering at the Good Beer Festival).
It was a good year, and I’m looking forward to continue much of what I did in 2023 in 2024!
She Runs by the Seashore 