My 2012 Running Lowlights

Not everything that happened to me running-wise in 2012 was a highlight. I did not make the leader board every time I raced! In fact, I had my share of running struggles and hardships. The trying times really made me appreciate the few times when things all seemed to click. So, with that in mind, here are my bottom five running 2012 lowlights, ranked in order from mild to major:

5) Rock and Roll Half Marathon Chicago (July)
I love this course, but it was hot. I wore a wool technical shirt for the first time in my life, which got soaked within the first two miles. I started too fast and paid for it with a painful, fatiguing final 3.1 miles. This was my worst half marathon result since, well, March!

RnR Chicago 2013. Sweaty hot.

4) Dennis Krzykowski 5k (July)
I like this race, it's hilly, it's in Wisconsin and I usually do well. This time I didn't. It was hot. My worst 5k finishing time in over three years.

This finish line pic really says it all..

3) North Shore Cupid's Dash 10k (February)
It was the second year in a row that the race organizers got the course distance wrong. This year it was 6.1 miles, last year it was 5.6 miles. The 5k runners actually ran 3.6 miles. Lots of unhappy campers. Also, I had cleaned my camera before the race and it was taking purple pictures. I had to buy a new one after this.

I just ran a short 10k, and I'm purple!

2) March Madness Half (March)
Yeah, everyone said this would be hilly. But come on, 75 degrees + lots o' hills in mid-March makes it feel like a 95 degree day. I wanted snow for this race, not heatstroke! Started the first half too fast and had difficulty breathing the second half. I also parked in a place where I had to wait until the entire race was over before I could leave! Worst half marathon finishing time in three years despite being near the end of my Boston Marathon training.

Hot and waiting to move my car after the race...

Drumroll please....and now, my lowliest lowlight of 2012, goes to...
1) Boston Marathon (April)
After 16 weeks of training, I flew to Boston just to hear that it would be 90 degrees for this puppy.  I hadn't yet completely recovered from a bad cold, and I had an ankle that could probably only make it 5 miles. I picked up my bib, but did not start and took the deferral. I rested about 4 weeks thereafter, missed two races and lost most of my fitness. Looking forward to next year's installment to be my #1 highlight of 2013. :-)

My spectator's view of the Boston finish line

Honorable Mention: I signed up for (and paid) but did not start: Indy Mini Marathon (May) and the Soldier Field 10 Miler (May). See #1 above.