It is done

Well, 2012 is about over.  My running goal of hitting 2,012 miles is complete.  Though I have left so many things undone (yes, I’m a perfectionist and expect way more from myself than I can deliver), I did deliver my running mileage.  Friends and family have been overly congratulatory for my success.  Funny thing is, I don’t feel especially successful over this mileage.  But I won’t get into all that psychology right now.  Success of the 2,012 miles isn’t what I take to heart.  What I love most about the 2,012 miles are the experiences, the times spent in the moment, and most of all the friends I’ve run with and met on the run. 

I ran my fewest races this year in my short running career.  But what a year it has been – a blessed running year.  I ran with Steve, Conrado, Dave, Hank, Alison, John, Janine, Jeremy, Mark, Greg, Daniel, Robert, Michael, Sherree, Jessica, Cody, Cris, Kelly, Judi, Matt, Lisa, Patty, Kurt R., Kurt E., to name just a few.  I ran in the desert, on the beach, in the mountains, in the coastal hills and I bushwhacked.  I ran in 107 degree weather, in the snow, in freezing weather, in hail and in rain.  I ran on dirt, on sand, on rocks; I ran on asphalt, and in the mud.  I’ve fallen at least half a dozen times.  I’ve broken skin, nails, even a crown, but thankfully no bones.  I had plantar fasciitis, throbbing toes.  I’ve been lost, I’ve run off the trail and I’ve broken at least three cameras.  I’ve gone through hundreds of dollars in Nuun tablets and gels.  I discovered KT tape.  I DNF’d for the first time since 2010, and I lived through it.  I ran up on bobcats, weasels, tarantulas, beetles, snakes, birds like Blue herons and Road Runners, scrawny coyotes, and big scary ones, deer, and even prior students.  I’ve cried on the trail, I’ve laughed, I’ve cussed and threw mini-tantrums, but best off all I’ve hollered with joy.  (I’ve also written too many blogs to count, but I am oh, so VERY thankful to the 12,000+ visits in 2012 from 75 countries – love you! and all 50 states plus the District of Columbia in the U.S. – how lucky am I?)

Oh what a running year 2012 has been – all 2,014 miles of it.  Yes, I ran 2 miles past my goal.  I woke this morning feeling like I was in a car accident.  Though I felt fine after my running fall yesterday, this morning, my shoulders throbbed.  Heck my upper body overall ached.  So, I skipped out on an early morning mountain group run that I very much wanted to attend.  The aches and pains nearly vanished by the afternoon.  At two o’ clock, I finally made it out for my last run of the year.  I drove to the closest trail head and ran a 6+ mile out-and-back up one of my favorite trails – Meadows.  This trail was perfect to end 2012.  It reminded me of my old running friend, Tom F., who taught me so much about trails, and without his urging I would have never attempted to actually RUN up Meadows.  And yes, today, I RAN up Meadows, despite the elevation gain you see below.   (Thanks Tom!)

Trails open, despite “wet & muddy conditions.”  Wood Canyon:

This year’s last pose at the Meadows Trailhead:

Meadows turning green in the wintertime:

Climbing Meadows:

Still climbing Meadows, Saddleback Mountains in the far background:

A quick pose over the Pacific Ocean (top of Meadows Trail):

Precisely on the trail when I hit 2,012 miles:

Today’s profile: