When I got back to running last year fall, I never thought I will run consistently throughout 2016 with a checkered past of injuries and discomforts related to running, or running too fast and then getting injured or getting miserably slow mid-way after starting out fast or just giving up running all of a sudden. I have had issues with my lack of will power, sporadic attitude and hence inconsistency. All that has been changed when I joined local running groups and started running with fellow runners and made some really good friends along the way. We pushed each other during our training and learnt a great deal from each other. This was a turning point in my “running” life.

After running few shorter races and Dallas Marathon in December 2015, I thought I have built some good consistent (though low) mileage. I ran back to back half marathons on New year’s eve and New Year’s day and that has given me some confidence that I am up for a resolution in 2016. I set myself a target to run at least one marathon/ultra-marathon a month in 2016. Having run only couple marathons, I wasn’t sure if I could do ultras but my inner voice was telling me that it’s possible.

I knew it’s a big commitment, right from the training through selecting races and finishing what I have started. It’s a big toll in terms of time too, squeezing it in my personal and professional schedule where I travel almost every week or other week and personally with a family with three kids that need my time and attention. Most of my training runs started with me getting up at 4 AM or running at night when I don’t have office commitment or my family is asleep. Weekend running has definitely taken lot of time away from family and friends but it became possible with my wonderful wife supporting me as always. I took family along on most of my weekend races, somedays must be boring for them while I was running races but mostly they have enjoyed as much.

I was fairly new to trail running but I wanted to do some ultra-marathons too and most of them are on a trails course. I had no specific races in mind but I chose races that posed some bit of challenge and that appealed me most. Now when I look back, I think I have done good variety of races from road hilly marathons to time-bound races with multiple loops to mountain races to hilly trails. I have run 9 marathons and 5 ultra-marathons in 2016.

• January – Miracle Match Marathon, Waco TX – Hilly/Road marathon but beautiful course
• February – Cowtown 50K – My First Ultra though it was on road but it was on home ground
• March – Grasslands Marathon – My first trail marathon and this hooked me to trails
• April – Big D Texas Marathon – This had injured me earlier so it was a good pick to avenge J
• May – Whispering Pines 54K – Trail ultra, bit hilly in some sections but lot of roots, EBA race
• June –Summer Solstice 6HR Race – 1M asphalt loop, first night race, ~100 degs at the start
• July – Fossil Valley – 9HR – Trail 2.7M loop, very hilly, single track, all-night, snakes, tarantulas
• August – Pikes Peak Marathon – My most Favorite so far, from 6500 ft to 14000+ and then back down
• September – Rough Creek 40 Mile – My first real ultra, very hot and humid, some super hilly sections
• October
  • Chicago Marathon – This is my another favorite major marathon, super flat and crowded
  • Pumpkin Holler 100K –First 100K, snakes, beating un-leashed and feisty dogs on country roads
• November – New York Marathon – Largest marathon in the world and super crowded
• December
  • Isle Du Bois (IDB) 55K – Trail ultra, it was a race in mud, cold and rain but worth it, EBA Race
  • Dallas Marathon – my first race when I started running, good to call it off a year with this

All these races have taught me diverse aspects about running and racing, hills running, mountain running, running at night, running in cold or super-hot weather, running through switchbacks and helped me mature as a runner. I could train my mind to let me run during pain, enjoy that suffering, learn nutrition aspects during long race. All these races have made me stronger physically as well as mentally and formed a strong base for me to set new goals for 2017 and take my passion even further.

Happy Running, do what you love, spread well-being, Merry Christmas and Happy 2017 with even more crazy goals!!