On a personal note, I returned to my previous job in January, which introduced some stress in my life but was positive overall because I missed the work. Then, in mid-April, I sold the townhouse where I lived for 12 years and moved to my boyfriend’s apartment building, which disrupted my training for a few weeks.
During the summer, I had more flexibility in when I could train because I was teleworking. I focused on going to my local track and getting some speed back. I also bought a bicycle for cross-training. I struggled with swelling in my feet and riding the bike took some pressure off of them. For competition, I participated in the RunWashington Strava Segment Challenge. In the United States, the murder of Ahmaud Arbery rocked the running community and caused many – myself included – to examine “running while black” and racism in the larger culture.
In August, I returned to work one-day-a-week and bike-commuted until the weather became too cold. In the meanwhile, my partner and I started looking for a home to purchase together. At year’s end, I was hopeful again for good things to come in 2021!
2. 2020 DCRRC JFK 20K. It was so cold the day of this race! Even though running 20K was a big leap from doing a 10K two weeks before, I finished in 1:45:49 (8:31 pace).
1. 2020 Reston 10 Miler. This was my first real tune-up race before the 2020 Boston Marathon. After finishing the race in 1:21:32 (8:10 pace), I was optimistic about how the marathon would go. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to find out as the event was postponed (and then ultimately cancelled.)
Most Memorable Training Runs
3. Easy Run in Catharine, New York, July 21, 2020. My partner and I took a vacation to update New York during the summer. Even though I felt uneasy running on country roads, there were some idyllic views.
1. 2020 Runners Run Marathon, April 11, 2020. After the 2020 Boston Marathon was postponed to the fall, I decided to run 26.2 miles anyway. I created a three mile stretch that I could run eight times. Unfortunately, I had to stop and walk a few times but I finished!
Coldest Run: 21 degrees during an interval run on January 21st, which I ran early because I had a doctor’s appointment and was starting a new job!
Most Memorable Weather
3. October 29, 2020. Hurricane Zeta. Rain from Hurricane Zeta entered the region overnight and I was in for a wet 5 miles at marathon-pace run.
2. November 1, 2020. Soaking Rain in Washington, DC. It started out as a pretty good day for a run – 48 degrees and overcast. But, midway through my 10 miler, the skies opened up. When I came off the Mount Vernon Trail to Crystal City, I saw a downed tree!
1. January 18, 2020, 2020 DCRRC JFK 20K. On the morning of this race, there was a thin layer of ice on the ground when I woke up. And when the race started, it was only 28 degrees!
Clothing
Notable Products
3. Neck Warmers (“Buffs“). When I suddenly had to find a way to cover my nose and mouth in public, these became indispensable. Over the years, I’ve bought several buffs for winter running and was able to wear and wash them frequently. However, my favorite neck warmer is actually one that I got from Stridebox.
2. Title 9 Invincible Sports Bra/Anita Momentum Pro Sports Bra. Brooks discontinued the Juno bra so I was on a hunt for another supportive sports bra. (I tried their Rebound Racer in the past and their new Dare Racerback Run Bra but neither of them fit.) I tried this bra despite some questionable reviews and it’s great. It fits well and the fabric is smooth. My only issue with it was the straps. It’s a bit expensive for a sports bra, though. Price: $119
1. New Balance 1080 Fresh Foam. I wouldn’t have thought another shoe could tear me away from my Mizuno Wave Riders but I loved this shoe! As I dealt with swollen feet this summer, the extra cushioning really helped me keep my mileage up. Price: $149.99.
3. Caterpy No Tie Laces. When I visited my local running store last month, I bought these laces. Getting the laces just right was hard – the nubs keep them from moving at all. However, once I found the tension I liked, my shoes fit snuggly. They also come in lots of colors. Price: $78.
2. Custom Wood Design – Marathon Medal Display. After all these years, I finally purchased a medal rack! I found this model on Etsy and loved its simple design and message. I bought the 30 nobs option and just hung my marathon medals. Price: $59.95.
1. Giant FastRoad SL 3. Like a lot of people, I bought a bike during the COVID-19 pandemic. As I dealt with swelling in my feet over the summer, I sought an aerobic cross-training activity. I also bicycle commuted to work for about a month. Price: $59.95.
3. Clif Bloks Energy Chews. When Ire-publishing my 2012 Boston Marathon race report, I remembered that I used to be an energy chew person but switched to gels because they took up less space. This summer, I went back to these chews on some runs. Three squares are 100 calories and 24 grams of carbohydrate.
2. PowerBar PowerGel Original. The consistency of this gel won me over – it goes down like water and was easy on my stomach. The packet is a little larger thana Gu, though. Each gel has 100 calories and 26 grams of carbohydrate.
3.Thomas Jefferson Park. For easy runs that ended in strides, I modified my new easy run route so it ended at this park. There’s a synthetic turf field surrounded by grassy areas, and a water fountain so I can re-hydrate.
2. Wakefield High School Track. When I first moved into this neighborhood part of Arlington 12 years ago, I went to this track and it didn’t feel very safe – it was isolated without many lights – but several years ago, it was renovated. The track wasn’t very crowded and it was exactly 2 miles from my new apartment building, which made for a perfect warm-up.
3. Smithsonian Castle, March 9, 2020. The Smithsonian Castle is easily one of the most picturesque buildings in Washington, DC. On my run home from work, the blooming cherry blossom trees caught my eye and really made the rich color of the building stand out.
2. Tidal Basin by Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, November 8, 2020. After a fractious election year that saw the first Vice President who was a woman – and a person of color, I paid a visit to this memorial on a cloudless winter day. The autumn foliage was a stunning contrast with the blue sky and water.
1. Senate Side of the United States Capitol, September 4, 2020. On my bike commute to work, this red flower bed was the perfect foreground for the sun shining above the U.S. Capitol Building in the distance.
2.Skid Row Marathon. This year, I finally got around to watching this documentary that chronicles the relationships between Craig Mitchell, a judge on the Superior Court in California, and former criminals who have lived in Los Angeles’ “Skid Row“. The show follows several members of the Skid Row Running Club as they prepare for marathons in Ghana and Rome. But ultimately, it’s a tale of second chances and redemption.
3. Don’t Look Back in Anger, Oasis. Despite thinking the band was a bit obnoxious, this song helped me find a faster pace during so many runs this year. The drum line before the final chorus of “And so Sally can wait” gets me moving every time.
2. Cleopatra, The Lumineers. This song led me to think about death during my runs, which ordinarily would probably be a bad thing but as someone who has lived alone for most of her life and dealing with health issues in the past year, it helped me realize that I didn’t want to die alone.
1. Good as Hell, Lizzo feat. Ariana Grande.This song brought a smile to my face many times this year despite all the disheartening news. On several runs I imagined Lizzo asking me, “Baby how you feelin’?” and me responding, “Good as hell!”
JT Running DC
This year, I thought I’d add the top features on this blog (excepting the home page).
3. My 2020 Boston Marathon Training Plan. It came as no surprise that this was a popular post on this site. I think readers were curious to know how I planned to train for this race and what my goals were.
2. Thoughts on the Hudson Plan. Even though I wrote this piece two years ago, it’s consistently the most read post on this site! My best guess why is that it may be the only search result that comes up on the internet on this training plan.
1. Guide to Washington DC Area Running Routes. With 577 views, this was the most popular page/post on this site last year. I put a lot of thought and time into this page so I was happy to see it top the list.
Training [dropshadowbox align="center" effect="raised" width="875px" height="" background_color="#ffffff" border_width="4" border_color="#d0021b" rounded_corners="false" outside_shadow="false" ]Mileage Total: 2,634.5 miles Days of Running: 281 days (84 days off) Time Spent…
Training [dropshadowbox align="center" effect="raised" width="875px" height="" background_color="#ffffff" border_width="4" border_color="#d0021b" rounded_corners="false" outside_shadow="false" ] Mileage Total: 2,481.8 miles Days of Running: 277 days (88 days off) Time…