Running in 2025

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In 2025, I got back to running longer distances after a period of illness at the end of 2024. I also did the fewest number of races since I started running, and I'm okay with that.

My mom and me with racing medals standing in front of an outdoor brick fireplace.
A 2025 highlight: running a 5k with my mom.

A goal to build my strength back

I had a long period of illness at the end of 2024, so my goal in 2025 was to build back my strength, specifically to do longer runs.


It was easy enough to get back into the long run habit because my partner, John, ran the Edinburgh Half Marathon in May, and I trained alongside him. Our longest run together was 11 miles before he ran the full 13.1 on race day.

We then both ran the Seven Hills of Edinburgh in June, which ended up being 16 miles. That didn't feel so much like running, though, as we were walking up the hills. Still, it was a vigorous physical endeavor.


John and me before Seven Hills race with Salisbury Crags in the background.
Running the Seven Hills with John.

I wasn't running long distances towards the end of the year, though. The last four months of the year were quite busy, and I got out of the habit of doing a long run each weekend. 

I also wasn't necessarily doing my usual three runs a week. Sometimes it was just two. And that's okay. Previously, I would have pressured myself to keep up with three runs, but this year, I'm fine with doing less. I just need to feel like I'm doing enough.

I enjoyed USA running

Where I did increase my running this year was while visiting my family in the US. I got in the habit of running as many days as I could, usually not skipping more than a day off either due to plans or poor running weather. 

I really enjoyed running more in the US. When I'm with my family, I tend to eat more and move less and dread the inevitable weight gain. Near daily running kept me more active and in shape, which allowed me to enjoy my time (and my food!) more.

The big highlight of USA running this year was getting to do a 5k with my mom at a Maryland vineyard. It was a gorgeous day and a gorgeous location. I never thought my mom and I would participate in an athletic event together, so it's special that we got to have that experience. 

I ran the fewest races since I started running

In addition to being okay with running less toward the end of the year, I was also okay with running only two races in 2025. That's the fewest number in a year since I started running. 

It's not that I set myself a goal each year of how many races to run, but in recent years, I did find myself not enjoying some of the races I ran, especially in 2023.


So I'm happy I didn't put pressure on myself this year to run more than the two races I ran and feel happy with the ones I did participate in.

My one disappointment was that I had hoped to do Edinburgh Half Marathon with John, but it was sold out by the time I went to register. Even so, training with him was just as satisfying, and I enjoyed getting to support him at a race for a change, something he has often done for me.

Build up my upper body strength in 2026

Next year I want to focus less on my running and more on something that will help me run better: building up my upper body strength. 

I can do cardio fine, but I have the weakest arms. It's often been a goal of mine to build up my upper body strength. I even asked for weights last Christmas. But I've barely used them, so I want to get more serious about it this year. Writing this on my running blog is a greater incentive to hold myself accountable.

Let's see how this goes.

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