I’m pretty much up for most challenges that Trent Swanson comes up with, so when this year’s winter challenge was announced — the ALQ Ultras 12 Runs of Christmas Challenge — I signed up.
The challenge began Dec. 7 with a 1-kilometer run. Then, each day for the next 11 days, a kilometer was added, until participants were running 12 kilometers Dec. 18. People could participate from anywhere — and did so from as far away as Guam and Romania. For those of us running locally, there were added challenges around Delmarva where people could compete for a podium spot for the 1K, 5K and 10K runs. Participants logged their runs via UltraSignup, and I also posted each day on social media.
The challenge started with the 1K — just 0.62 mile. I had paced the Rehoboth Beach Seashore Half Marathon the prior day, so I would have normally taken that Sunday as a rest day. However, it was the first day of the challenge, and it was less than a mile. Because it was such a short distance and there was a specified location where people could run the 1K that wasn’t too far from my house — Pemberton Park — I decided to try to run a fast 1K there.
My first segment time was 5:40, a 9:11/mile pace, but I figured I could get a pace that started with an “8” for less than a mile, so I tried again, and ran 5:29, an 8:53/mile pace. I ran into some others who were also kicking off the challenge.
The next day, I ran an easy-paced 2K (1.24 miles) from my house and snapped a photo with some fun Christmas decorations. The following two days — 3K (1.86 miles) and 4K (2.49 miles) — were both Eastern Shore Running Club group run days for me, so I just took note of my time when I hit the amount of kilometers for the day and ran the full group run, which is about 3.5 miles.
For Day 5 — the 5K — on Dec. 11, I decided to get up early and head to Pirate’s Wharf Park for one of the segments. I had shared this segment with Trent from the Pirate’s Wharf 5K that the Eastern Shore Running Club put on in October.
There were four options for places to run a 5K course for a podium spot, so even though I’m not the fastest runner out there, I figured I could have a shot with 12 potential podium spots for women. I arrived to the park just as it was starting to get light out, and it was nice to see Joe there, too. In addition to wanting to run a fast 5K, I was also encouraged by the fact that I actually really needed to run fast so that I could get to work.
I was able to run a segment time of 30:34, which was my second-fastest 5K of the year at the time (on Christmas, at the Crouse Family Christmas Day 5K, I ran faster).
The next day, it was time to slow down a bit for the 6K (3.73 miles). I did a post-work run at my go-to location when it’s dark — around the lit Salisbury University campus.
The following day was the Run the Reindeer event at Mike and Melissa’s house, an annual tradition. The course, a 7K (4.35 miles) in the shape of a reindeer, was factored into the plans for the 12 Runs event. Earlier that day, I also ran my fast 1600 for the month at the Parkside High School track — I do one every month and I hadn’t done December’s yet.
For day eight of the challenge, Trent had posted about a group run at the Salisbury City Park at 8 a.m. I decided to meet the group. It was supposed to snow, and since the group was meeting at the park, I knew I could run to the run. That’s what I did, running to and from the 8K (4.97-mile) snow run. It was fun! While I was and am in the process of training for the Algonquin 50K, I knew I had a busy week of running ahead and I didn’t want to overdo it. So, I opted not to do a long run that weekend, and instead, I built on my runs by running a significant amount (five to seven miles) each day instead.
For day nine, I’d posted in the Tour de Salisbury Facebook group to see if anyone was interested in running the 9K (5.59 miles) by Salisbury University at a 12-or-13-minute-per-mile pace. I had some takers, and completed the run with Christina, Anna, Diana and Jacob.
All the running was starting to add up, and I took off work for day 10 of the challenge, a Tuesday. This allowed me to run one of the 10K courses, make some cookies I’d agreed to make for a couple events, and get things done at home.
I waited a little to do the run since it was cold out, and I started at 12:17 p.m. I ran the Schumaker course, which started at the Y in Salisbury, went into the Salisbury City Park and continued into farm and residential areas before returning along South Schumaker Drive. I went into this run trying to beat my virtual Bay Bridge Run time of 1:07:54, and I did. My time for the segment was 1:06:30. Chelsea finished the course not long behind me (but much faster; she’d started later) and we headed back to the Y together.
I didn’t end up with any podium placements, but I was happy with my times.
The next day, Wednesday, Dec. 17, I ran 11K (6.84 miles) with Janet before and during the Eastern Shore Running Club group run. We ran some in the neighborhoods, which was a nice change of scenery, as I’d been running a lot near SU.
Until I got to the last day, I’d run all of the distances in one go. Of course, I included walking as needed, but I hadn’t split any of the runs into parts yet. But on the last day, I ran 8K in the morning and 4K after work to complete my 12K (7.46 miles). I had plans after work and I was hoping to get the entire run done in the morning, but I didn’t get up early enough.
Twelve days of running — and 78K (48.5 miles) — were complete! I enjoyed the challenge more than I expected — and while I did get tired, I felt better than I thought I would. I normally take off about two days from running per week, but I felt like running 12 days in a row made me stronger. I used this challenge as inspiration to pump up my midweek Algonquin 50K training by adding on to the running club runs or working in some additional running during the week.
As part of the challenge, runners received a ceramic ornament — which I think is an awesome swag item. There were also prizes given out to random winners each day — ranging from a pair of shoes to pieces of a broken mug to golden bananas — but I didn’t win any of those.
I’ve already signed up for the next crazy challenge — The TransDelmarva Race, which is a run from Cove Road Beach to Assateague Island across the Delmarva Peninsula. However, like I said at the beginning, I’m up for most challenges — not all. Participants can run across Delmarva in one run or choose the segment challenge, which breaks up the nearly-60-mile-run into nine segments. I chose the segment challenge. Stay tuned!
She Runs by the Seashore 