It’s hard to believe that it’s been 2 years since Covid became a virus “of interest”. It was a few more weeks before we started hearing about it and a little over two months before the US shutdown, but the growth had already begun. 2020 went from a year with amazing plans to a year of just trying to make things work in a heartbeat. 2021 has been a different sort of challenge – if 2020 was locked in an escape room trying to get out, 2021 was more like riding a roller coaster. At one point, things seemed to be returning to normal, but then Delta. And then we seemed to be getting that under control with vaccines and boosters and then Omicron. In some ways, the ups and downs have been harder than the consistent down that was 2020, but there have definitely been some highlights.
Since I’m choosing to go into 2022 with a positive mindset, I’m going to focus on the good that came in 2021. I promise that in 2022 I’ll have some more real runfessions for you, but I runfess that my runfessions are all positive for now. Yes, the very definition of only showing my highlight reel on social media. Hope that’s ok, Marcia!
At the beginning of the year, I purchased a Bowflex C6 bike. This comes right after my treadmill in the category of “best purchase ever. I still have not used any guided workouts, but I create my own and ride at least 2-3 times per week. My old body thanks me for the low impact but high effort option.
In June, before Delta came, we managed an in person relay race. I love the VA Momentum Growler races and it was awesome to spend the day with close friends running from brewery to brewery. It was the first time in a while being mask free close to people outside my immediate family.
In September, I had the opportunity to be the Race Director for ZOOMA’s Cape Cod race. It was an amazing experience and it felt almost like the world was normal. Obviously we had Covid protocols and travel was definitely weird, but it was so nice to be back at a race. You could feel how excited everyone was to be there.
I also got to run my first in person half marathon since 2019! I went up to Michigan to visit Jones for a weekend and it just happened that there was a half marathon in Ann Arbor that weekend. I’m never one to turn down a race opportunity, so I made it happen (despite being slower and less trained than I would have liked.) It was a great race on a gorgeous course, so I may have to make that a habit while the kid is up north for school.
Another highlight of my year was the Marine Corps Marathon. I was chosen to be a Diplomat for 2021, which was a huge honor. Despite the live race not happening due to Delta numbers and DOD regulations, I still loved the race. I ran the Trifecta again, which meant a marathon and 50k in my neighborhood (something I NEVER want to do again.) But even more fun was getting to volunteer at the “live” virtual race and meeting the race director. I’m looking forward to a live race in 2022!
We closed out our year with a trip to a beach in North Carolina to celebrate Christmas with my parents. Throughout the pandemic, we have rented houses with my parents to get a break from our house and to see family. I loved getting a break from work and we lucked out with amazing weather most of the week.
I’m looking forward to 2022 and hoping that we continue to find joy and fun in a world that’s not quite normal yet. There are some big changes ahead for me, but I’m excited that we are talking about some new adventures that include racing in new states. The countdown to retirement is on, so I’ll be focusing on different things in the coming years, but the one constant will be my continued striving to stay fit and strong as we age.
Happy New Year to all of you! I hope to “see” you more (in person and on the blog) in 2022!
I am A-OK with a highlight reel!
It’s been a nutso year for sure and I’m glad you had plenty of highlights in spite of everything.
All the best with 2022 and the new adventures to come!
Thank you! Here’s hoping we can actually meet in person again this year.
I am all for accenting the positive these days! Glad you had the chance to run some in person races and sounds like you have some exciting stuff ahead this year. Happy new year
Hopefully some of my changes will allow me to run more in person runs with MRTT. And yes, I’m excited for the coming year.
So happy to read some positives.
We all know that 2020 was awash and 2021 was in many ways still a downer.
Hopefully in 2022, things will continue to improve and at least not another variant to cope with.
At some point hope to run another ZOOMA. Bermuda was amazing.
I highly recommend Cape Cod. It’s a gorgeous course and a lovely resort.
Yes, “roller coaster” is a good way to describe 2021. I’m more than ready to get off!
Sounds like you had a good year in spite of everything. NC looks amazing. I hope 2022 is a more calm year and you get to experience the adventures you have planned!
Thank you! And I feel like at this point, my husband and I have figured out how to travel safely and there have been no super spreader races, so I feel like I can at least run in person again.
Maybe next year. I have a racecation booked around the same time in Maine.
Hello Erica! It’s nice to see that you had such a great year. I hear Ann Arbor is such a beautiful place. Is it better than Madison?
I haven’t signed up for a lot of races for 2022. I’m going to just kind of feel my way forward. I don’t want any disappointments.
Ann Arbor is pretty – the course was beautiful, but I really only got to spend a couple of hours there since my kid goes to that “other” Michigan school. LOL
Thanks for the positive vibes as we encroach on 2022 😉 I hope all goes well, and we do get to see more of you!! Happy New Year!
Let me know the next time you are going to be in DC or East Lansing. Hopefully we can meet up sometime.
I’m all for focusing on the positives!
Cheers to new adventures in 2022! Hoping to make it to a ZOOMA race. Happy New Year Erica!
Yes, despite its challenges, 2021 does have a highlight reel!
No surprise yours included running and beer. 😉
A marathon and 50k? Wow! Kudos for getting it done. Hopefully 2022 will be the year of more races. If not that then definitely joy and fun. We do need that.
Zenaida Arroyo recently posted…Fit Five Friday and December 2021 Runfessions
You’re already thinking about retirement – congrats! I think that when I’m ready (I’m certainly old enough now) that I’ll let my client load dwindle through attrition by not taking on new clients. Of course, as we start traveling more, my clients might not like for me to be away so much and I’ll help them find a new trainer.
Here’s hoping we see each other at a live race this year!