On the last day of 2025, I broke my year of running down into a few numbers on social media: 1,010 miles run, 77 ESRC group runs, six states, 14 races and 211 days. In my year-in-review blog post, I’ll go a little more into detail about my 22nd year of running.
It was my lowest-mileage year since 2013, but more isn’t always better. I got to spend plenty of time running with friends and exploring, and I ran a marathon in my 14th state (even though it was really hot). I also got to run with my nephew, Huey, for the first time! He turned 1 year old on that trip — I visited for his birthday.
I served as the Eastern Shore Running Club president for another year, and also served on the committee for the second annual Pirate’s Wharf 5K and volunteered at several events. Like last year, I thought I was behind on getting this year-in-review post out, but also like last year, I’m ahead of the previous year!
Goals: Looking back
- Go to the gym at least 52 times. I did not meet this goal, but I did go to the gym 29 times during 2025, which I think is probably the most I’ve gone in a year.
- Run a 10K under 1:00. I also did not do this. My fastest 10K of the year was the Mike Sterling 10K, where I ran 1:02:53.
- Run a marathon under 5:29:15. And, same here — I did not meet this goal. My only marathon of the year, the Space Coast Marathon, was my slowest marathon to date, at 6:07:51.
I also said I planned to do lots of fun runs and keep up my fifth year of monthly 1600-meter runs, which I did do! I participated in ESRC’s new 25 Group Run Challenge, and I did three of the four races required to place in the Maryland-D.C. RRCA Grand Prix (so I did not place for 2025).
Races
Here’s how I did in my 2025 races.
5Ks
Fastest time of 2025: 29:34 at the Crouse Family Christmas Day 5K (not an official race)
Faster than 2024? No
10Ks
I only ran one in-person 10K in 2025 — despite really liking this distance — because of the weather cancellation of the in-person Bay Bridge Run. My time at the Mike Sterling 10K was faster than my virtual Bay Bridge Run and a 10K I ran during the ALQ 12 Runs of Christmas Challenge.
Fastest time of 2025: 1:02:53 at the Mike Sterling 10K
Faster than 2024? Yes
10 Milers
Maryland-D.C. RRCA Club Challenge
Fastest time of 2025: 1:55:56 at the Shamrock Shuffle 10 Miler
Faster than 2024? Yes
Half Marathons
The only half marathons I participated in during 2025 were ones I paced. I met my goal time (2:45) at both. So, of course I did not run faster than my fastest in 2024, since I raced half marathons in 2024. I love pacing, though!
Coastal Delaware Running Festival Half Marathon
Rehoboth Seashore Half Marathon
Marathons
As I mentioned, I ran one, and it was my slowest to-date. However, I finished marathon No. 19 in state No. 14.
Other distances
Fast & Furriest Run for Rescues 15K
ALQ Ultras 12 Runs of Christmas Challenge
This was a total of 14 races and three other challenges. I don’t really do the Tour events for speed, and the 12 Runs of Christmas Challenge included some faster runs for me, but it wasn’t really a race.
Who did I run with, and where?
I got in at least one run with several groups in 2025:
- Eastern Shore Running Club (of course!)
- Delmarva She Runs this Town
- Fellow healthcare marketing professionals at the Mid-Atlantic Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development Annual Conference (I love it when a conference includes a run!)
- Friends during the Winter Tour/Tour de Salisbury/12 Runs of Christmas Challenge
- 11:30 Club
- Baltimore Road Runners Club Trail Run Group
This was the first year of the Eastern Shore Running Club’s 25 Group Run Challenge, and I logged 77 group runs during the year as a group run leader. (Learn more about the 2026 challenge here.)
I also ran in the following places, in addition to all the race locations and where I live — Salisbury, Maryland. I ran in six states in 2025 — Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Florida.
- Pittsville, Md.
- NCR Trail (Baltimore County, Md.)
- Dewey Beach, Del.
- Philadelphia
- Ocean Pines, Md.
- Pemberton Park (Wicomico County, Md.)
- Delmar, Md./Del.
- Fenwick Island, Del.
- Dagsboro, Del.*
- Seaford, Del.
- Naylor Mill Forest Trail (Wicomico County, Md.)
- Nashville, Tenn.**
- New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
- Pirate’s Wharf Park (Wicomico County, Md.)
- Michael N. Castle Trail** (New Castle County, Del.)
- West Ocean City, Md.
- Lewes, Del.
- Trap Pond State Park (Laurel, Del.)
- Cromwell Valley Park** (Baltimore County, Md.)
- Parsonsburg, Md.
- Hebron, Md.*
* I had never run in these locations before. I had run in the Hebron ZIP code before.
** I had never run in or been to these places before.
On the same trip to Florida where I did my first run with my nephew, I also got to run with my Aunt Julie’s dog, Lola. I also celebrated some holidays with runs. I ran the tough course at Hereford High School in memory of Pfc. Tyler Butler, who was killed in action at age 21 on Feb. 1, 2007, as part of wear blue: run to remember’s Memorial Day event.
We took a trip to Nashville for my fiance’s birthday in June, and then for my birthday in October, I got in 3.5 miles for 35 years in Lewes. As I mentioned earlier, I ran my fastest 5K of the year at the Crouse Family Christmas Day 5K. I also participated in the annual Reindeer Run, which is in the shape of a reindeer.
In addition to my 29 gym visits, I also got more into a regular routine with yoga, regularly doing Power Vinyasa classes at Sacred Society Studio in the last few months of the year. I also tried something new with Pilates classes at Eastern Shore Core (I had tried a class on occasion previously, but now this studio is close enough to go to more regularly) and got out on the water for my first SUP Yoga class with Sandbar Yoga and Pilates. I kept up my monthly 1600s, and my fastest of the year was my December one — 8:31.
The 1,010 miles I ran in 2025 were filled with fun runs with friends, exploring new places and pushing myself. I also calculated the number of days I ran in 2025 — 211. I enjoy my rest days, too. Looking forward to what the rest of this new year will bring!
She Runs by the Seashore 