2025 Running Year in Review

Wrapping up the year in Mesquite, NV

The Numbers

Total Miles Run: 1677

Races:

5K: 14
10K: 9

Half Marathons: 5 (1 was a DNF) 

Introduction

Wow, 2025 was a challenging year to say the least.

The year started off promising with a wildly successful Sun Half Marathon.  It wasn't as fast as 2024, but I ran it well and finished strong.

From there, though, it went downhill.  

I usually judge my year by my race times, but this year I have to take a step back and acknowledge some of the errors I made and some of the successes.  Sometimes it isn't about the races, even though this year stung -- a lot.  I had set up some goals in 2025 in hopes of building off the end of the end of the year's successes.

Goals From 2024

I set the following time goals [FAIL]:

5K: 24:30

10K: 51:00

Half Marathon: 1:55

I came close to the half marathon but the rest, not even close.  As the year went on my times got slower or were stagnant.  Every time I felt like I was due for a breakout, I seemed to slip back a bit.  Pretty much every race I did was destined to failure.

Core Work [SUCCESS]

Another goal of mine was to continue to do my physical therapy work and core exercises.  I was successful at this until life got busy.  Now that things have calmed down, I am back at it.  It wasn't 100% successful, but I was committed to it for most of the year.

Destination Race [SUCCESS]

I traveled to Illinois to do the Bob Blazer Run for the Arts 5K.  The purpose of the trip wasn't to do the race, but since I was there I might as well do one.  It was one of the highlights of 2025 and I'll be honest, I ran pretty well.  Although, I think the sense of the goal was to do a new race in a new place.

Training on the bike trail in Mesquite, NV

Training

I did log nearly 1700 miles.  For not really training for anything further than a half marathon, let alone, a full marathon, that is a healthy amount.  I generally ran 6 or more times a week and, knock on wood, I wasn't hindered by any "do not run" orders from doctors or any major injuries.

I was also very consistent with prioritizing workouts / speed sessions.  I generally did them at least once a week if I was racing, twice (or more) if I wasn't.  There was a time in my life that I disliked hard workouts; now I embrace them.  I've also found I generally dislike the long run now.

I also felt I was successful at keeping my easy runs, easy.  My harder days were definitely focused on the task at hand: getting the workout done.

The year wasn't without some failures though.  As mentioned before, I think I failed at my (time) goal because of the following:

1. I ran too much.  During the summer I was running two, even three times a day. Yes, most of the secondary runs were beyond easy-paced, but they just added additional strain on my already worn down system.  It was nice to achieve (or overachieve) my mileage goals but it came at a cost.  Now that I am 56 and well in my masters years, recovery / cross-training should become more of a priority.
2. I raced too much.  I couldn't say no to a race.  And even during some weeks where I meant to take a break, someone would invariably want to go to a race or I'd get a free entry.  Going all out in races was just taking a toll.
3. I moved.  Starting in September, we decided we were going to leave the Salt Lake Area. Ultimately, we decided on Las Vegas.  When I moved to Utah in 2012, it was a lot of work, but this one took a toll.  The Salt Lake house sold in 4 days and the new owners took possession before our new one was built.  So we had about 2.5 months of doing the Airbnb thing.  Living out of a suitcase was challenging.  Also, I was busy packing, moving boxes from Point A to Point B on a weekly basis.  It just beat me up pretty badly physically.  My resting heart rate averaged 10 beats per minute faster than normal.
4. I am getting older. There isn't much I can do about this. It is natural. Some people seem to grow older and never seem to be bothered by it.  Me: I am sore, my muscles ache, I don't move as quickly as I used to, and avoiding creeping weight continues to be a challenge.  I used to think I'd dodge this fact of life -- I eat pretty well, I exercise and I take care of myself.  But I don't think I have the genetics for it.

Best Races

Sun Half Marathon  Unarguably my best race of the year in terms of performance (1:55:38). I just love this event. It is a solid course and it was an out of town event -- so lots of new scenery.  I trained fairly hard for this one and I was happy with my time.  This race has made my list two years in a row and I am planning on being there in 2026.

Bob Blazier Run for the Arts 5K: This race wasn't my fastest time (25:33) but it was perhaps the best time at a race I had all year.  I didn't really tell anyone I was showing up.  I hadn't race it in well over a decade and a half.  It was amazing how many people I knew there and how familiar the course. was.  My PR at the 5K was on this course.  It made me homesick, but I really enjoyed this one and the subsequent training runs I did out on my old stomping grounds.

Lamoille Canyon Half Marathon: Another one of my favorites and I want to say I ran pretty well here.  How could one not run well?  With over 3000 feet of drop, this small boutique races is always one of my favorites. I am to make it in 2026

Upcoming Races

01/04: 2026 Chilly Willy 5K - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

01/24: 2026 Sun Half Marathon - Santa Clara, UT (Confirmed)

02/22: 2026 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

03/26: 2026 Mount Charleston Half Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)