Year in Review: Top 13 Races and Top 13 Posts of 2013
Finished! (Photo: Marathon-Photos.com)
Oh, 2013. Without setting out to do it, I ran 13 races in 2013. And I wrote a whole lot about them. Welcome to my year in review.
I started the year with a bang at the Walt Disney World Marathon. And I’m ending with a bang with the Runner’s World Holiday Running Streak.
In between, the year was filled with a roller coaster of highs and lows.
There was the thrill of a new 3-mile PR after the low of a hip injury. I’m the klutz that fell off a horse. It knocked me out of the game for a few weeks and sent me into physical therapy.
There was the high of running in Hawai’i and the low of getting sick for my fall marathon. And there was the redemption of a 5K PR after marathon season was over.
If 2013 taught me anything, it’s that you can’t win them all. But you can still have fun trying.
This photo of me with my finisher’s medal at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is proof of that. I was sick, failed to run a marathon personal best like I wanted, but still managed to enjoy the race. My smile says it all.
And you know what? When you give a goal your best and fail, it makes the successes even sweeter. I ran 6 of the 13 races either as fun runs or training runs and I ran 7 of the 13 races as races, pushing with everything I had. I managed to PR at three of them, and scored a few PRs in workouts without even trying, too. I’ll save those for my Goals of 2014 post.
So here are my 13 races of 2013.
Running the Kaua’i Half Marathon (Photo: Sport Photo)
Year in Review: 13 Races of 2013
1) Walt Disney World Marathon, Florida | January 13, 2013
2) City Parks Foundation Run for the Parks 4 Miler, New York | April 21, 2013
3) UnitedHealthcare Providence Half Marathon, Rhode Island | May 12, 2013
4) Montauk Point Lighthouse Sprint Triathlon, New York | July 21, 2013
5) Wild Dog Triathlon, Rhode Island | August 11, 2013
6) I Ran The Farm 5K, Rhode Island | August 17, 2013
7) Kaua’i Half Marathon, Hawai’i | September 1, 2013
8) Direct Edge Newport Liberty Half Marathon, New Jersey | September 22, 2013
9) Yonkers Marathon, New York | September 29, 2013
Hi Joe! (Photo: Joe Taricani/The Marathon Show)
10) SHAPE Diva Dash, New Jersey | October 5, 2013
11) Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Ontario, Canada | October 20, 2013
12) Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon, Florida | November 9, 2013
13) Trot Off Your Turkey 5K, Rhode Island | November 30, 2013
Top 13 runDisney Posts of 2013
With all that running came a lot of writing. Here are my Top 13 most-read posts of 2013. I’ve got two Top 13 lists: runDisney posts and all my other posts. These lists tend to be a bit biased toward posts from earlier in the year or even previous years, as they have more time to accumulate views, so you won’t see much from Disney Wine & Dine Half and fall races. But c’est la vie!
Running up Main Street USA (Photo: Marathon Foto)
1) Race Report: Disney’s Princess Half Marathon 2012
2) Race Report: Walt Disney World Marathon 2013
3) Win New Balance Glass Sneakers & runDisney Trip With Zappos Happily Ever Excellent Sweepstakes
4) Easy Cinderella & Prince Charming Disney Running Costumes
5) Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Gets 10K, Glass Slipper Challenge, Pink Coast-to-Coast Medal
6) Walt Disney World Marathon 2014: Run the Marathon, Half, 10K or Dopey Challenge for Charity
8) Walt Disney World Marathon Changes For 2014 Race
Kissing my Prince Charming after Disney’s Princess Half Marathon. (Photo: RunKarlaRun.com)
9) Tinker Bell 10K Joins Disney Tinker Bell Half Marathon
10) Sorcerer Mickey and Pink Polka Dot Minnie Inspire 2014 New Balance Disney Shoes
11) Cinderella & Goofy Inspire New Balance Disney Shoes
12) runDisney Character Profile: Cinderella
13) How To Make Cinderella & Jacques Running Costumes
Top 13 Running Posts of 2013
My rundown on obstacle races for women was a top read. (Photo: Mudderella)
1) Team Sparkle Helps Runners Look the Part in Costume
2) Obstacle Course Races For Women: A Run Down
3) Radical ’80s Music Running Mix
4) Best Gifts For Runners 2013: Karla’s Favorite Things
5) Half Marathon Training: Fun Run & Training Run Races
Pausing for a photo opp just before a PR finish at the Philadelphia Marathon.
6) Why Every Race Needs Women’s Cut Running Shirts
7) Race Report: Philadelphia Marathon 2012
8) Nike Just Do It NYC ‘House of Innovation’ Is Running Art
9) How Do You Get Your Running Motivation Back?
10) Marine Corps Marathon Snafu Shows Lotteries Are Best
“On The Run” at the NYC Marathon was my favorite project of 2013. (Photo: On The Run/NYRR)
11) On The Run At The 2013 ING New York City Marathon
12) Running Races To Remember 6 Years And Counting
13) Review: Hickies Elastic Lacing System For Shoes
Thank you to everyone who stops by my corner of the internet. Here’s to 2014 full of amazing runs and races. Happy New Year!
About Karla Bruning
Karla Bruning is a race announcer at the TCS New York City Marathon & other major events, TV host for the Panasonic New York City Triathlon + regular contributor to SHAPE.com. She used to report for Newsweek but spent her free time squeezing in workouts. Now it's her job. She's run 8 marathons, 25+ halves, 10 triathlons + open water swims, moonlights as a wedding singer, spoils her dog + travels compulsively.
Happy New Year Karla!
Lesley recently posted..Fun with Planes
Thanks, Lesley! Happy New Year to you!
Karla Bruning recently posted..Happy 2014! Holiday Running Streak Finish: Week 5
Ms. Burning –
I am curious. You said in your blog today that you “scored a few PRs in workouts” in 2013. I am new to running and have heard from some that PRs only count in timed events (races). I assume you do not hold this view and would be interested in your opinion. Thank you!
Hi Jon, Welcome to the world of running! You’ll find many things like this where runners have different opinions. It’s like the old question: “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” For me, the answer is yes. For you, it may be no. It’s up to you to decide! I’m of the mind that if you ran it and you can measure it, it counts. My criteria is whether or not a non-race PR was timed and run on a measured course. So if I time myself on a track, for example, I have no problem counting it. If I run on a road, where I really don’t know the exact distance, then I don’t count it. There’s also a relativity factor for me. If the PR in question is a few measly seconds off of a race time, I don’t count it. If the PR in question is, say, 2 minutes faster than my race time, I’ll count it. At the end of the day, I run to challenge myself. I’m not winning races or anything like that. So whether I run my best time in a race or in a workout is irrelevant to me. What matters is that I ran my best, no matter where I did it. Hope that helps answer your question. Happy running!
Karla Bruning recently posted..Happy 2014! Holiday Running Streak Finish: Week 5
It has been so awesome following your blog this year! It has been really inspirational for me and I cannot wait to see all that you accomplish in 2014!
Kristina @ Blog About Running recently posted..My 2013 Running Timeline: Starts with 3.1, Ends with 13.1 and Lots of Fun In-between!
Thank you, Kristina, and I can say the same about you! You’ve already come so far as a runner and I can’t wait to see where running takes you in 2014!
Karla Bruning recently posted..Happy 2014! Holiday Running Streak Finish: Week 5
Happy New Year! I loved following along with your 2013 and I’m so glad we finally got to meet! Here’s to an AWESOME 2014! See you soon : )
Danielle recently posted..2013 Review
Me too! Let’s rock 2014!
Karla Bruning recently posted..Happy 2014! Holiday Running Streak Finish: Week 5
You had such a great year, Cant wait to see 2014!
BTW in case I have never told you…you look like a total rock star, especially in that Hawaii race pic!
Laura @losingrace recently posted..#YearofRunning13
Haha, thanks! I like my running clothes a little flashy
Karla Bruning recently posted..2014 runDisney New Balance Shoes Are Here!
Looks like you had a great year! I just read your Disney Marathon recap and it really took me back! I’m going to try and have fun the first 3 races of the Dopey, with pipe dream of somehow PR’ing the Marathon.
Scott Evans recently posted..One Week to Dopey
Good luck, Scott! If the weather isn’t as hot as last year, you’ve got a chance. If it’s 80 again, well, just enjoy it. I’m going to try and PR at the 10K, then just have fun at the half-marathon.
Karla Bruning recently posted..2014 runDisney New Balance Shoes Are Here!
So I just checked to see if by any chance I accidently completed 13 races in 2013 but alas I came up short – managed to do 11 though
Here’s hoping 2014 is as fun and as successful as this past year for all of us!
Kristi Raz recently posted..More 2014 Goals
Yes! To 2014!
Karla Bruning recently posted..My Disney Running Costumes: Drumroll Please…