With only a week or so left in 2016, this year will probably
go down as one of the best years of my life.
When I think back on everything that happened and all I accomplished in
running and in the rest of my life it was really an amazing year. For starters, I am having a daughter, that
single accomplishment alone makes this year so amazing but so much more
happened. I ran PR’s, I went on trips
with friends and family, when on a few running related trips, rocked another
Man Weekend, broke some bones, won a Soccer Championship, finally took the step
to improve my mental health and have begun therapy (one of the best decisions
of my life), saw several friends get married, and was fortunate enough to have
some of the best friends as a part of my life.
When I think back it’s just been an amazing journey this year and I
can’t wait to reflect back and see if 2017 can top it.
When I think back to my running year I think the best way to
break it down is into 3 separate seasons.
I had my Pittsburgh Half season from Jan – May, then I had my summer of
“I’m up for anything” cue Bud Light commercial from May until September, and
then I finished the year from September to November with my JFK season. So much happened throughout this year that it
will be impossible to reflect on it all.
I raced 34 different times, ran over 2800 miles and always felt like my
fitness was always there when I needed it.
Several weekends I even ran races in back to back days, something I’d
never thought of doing in previous years.
I PR’ed from the mile to 50 mile this year (post college), and won
some prize money for the first time in my life.
I experienced life in so many different ways taking on challenges I
never thought I could. And enjoyed so
many wonderful moments with friends along this running journey. Trips to LA, San Diego, Pittsburgh, and even
a fun journey out to Boonsboro, MD. I
think the best way to reflect back on the year is just hit on some of the
highlights of each season.
Let’s start from the
beginning of the year because it sets the stage for the end quite nicely. I started off 2016 hitting the trails several
times, including a time early in January where I could barely run 8:00 minute
pace as I was getting dropped at Greenbelt, and followed that up running at
Patapsco for the Matchbox 20k (The best race in Honor of Rob Thomas and Co in
the World). Funny as I ran on the trails
of Patapsco I remember talking through two conversations. The first was how I hate trails, I’ll never
do a trail race and secondly a lengthy discussion about racing too much and how
I remember saying anything over 20 races a year I’ll never do as you are
harming your chances at success.
Hmm. During these 5 months I ran
11 Races of varying distances, but the race I remember the most would be Tim
Kennard 10 miler. Really one of my best
races of the year where I ran sub 55 minutes for 10 miles, got second and set the
stage for this entire year confidence wise.
It was also an amazing trip put together by one of the best running families
you will ever meet “The Peck’s”, who are always a so supportive. I also went over the Bay Bridge for the first
time ever! This cycle also including an
amazing group runventure to LA to be a part of the Olympic Trials and support
our boy Andy Weaver and watch some friends run the LA Marathon(a must do), but
really just a really fun trip with a bunch of friends. We stayed in the wrong part of town, LA #3 I
think, went on a 12 mile hike to the Hollywood sign where we all thought it would
never end, and watched many professional athletes run for their chance to make
the Olympics. A trip I’ll never forget.
Also a quick half in DC (545) with Conrad was quite a fun day! I end off phase 1 of my year with a trip with
several friends to Pittsburgh for the Pittsburgh Half. Another great race you should add to your
list although I did not run the time I wanted I PR’ed and was happy
nonetheless. I also learned an important
lesson to not get carried away when your fitness goes well, stick to your goals
you set in the beginning. Onward!
Phase 2 began a couple weeks after Pittsburgh and consisted
of 10 races mostly in the 5k to 10 mile variety. It began with my first trail race a 5 mile
mud filled adventure at Gunpowder on a weekend where I raced Saturday, attended
an epic Bachelor party that evening and rolled out the next day for a 5 mile
race. That ended up more or less being
the theme of my summer, I’m up for whatever.
After a good run at McVet’s I was convinced by Pete Mulligan, who became
a huge part of my year in supporting me from the Falls Road Running Store to
just everyday training and even at races, to do Baltimore 10 miler. That race and the Bel Air Town Run I managed
to race over the same weekend and got 3rd in both, and was amazed at
how well I recovered from day to day.
The summer also included a couple teammates and I joining a Social
Soccer League, and despite all odds becoming champions! All of us of course getting injured in some
form or another along the way, but Das Boot will be ours forever (FUPA FC!). I finished this phase off with my first Ultra
Race down in Rosaryville. One of the
main reasons I did this race was spectating for some friends at HAT run and
just falling in love with the atmosphere of ultra-running. Everyone was so friendly, supportive and just
hung out afterwards for hours eating and enjoying their accomplishments. I knew I wanted to try this and set this race
as a new challenge. I ended up loving my
first 50k, and had the luxury of having Mike Mashner run the first half with me
reminding me to eat (could have used you at JFK!), stay hydrated and keep
things under control and having Meg McNew give great support the whole
time. A fun end to a summer of whatever. I learned the valuable lesson of if your toes
seem broken, they probably are broken don’t “Bryn it up”.
Phase 3 begun with me taking the plunge and signing up for
my first 50 miler, despite advice from friends suggesting maybe I should get
some more ultras under my belt (in retrospect probably solid advice). Phase 3 had me racing 11 times starting out
with some shorter stuff and then moving into the longer variety. An amazing adventure of 15 weeks or so of
buildup towards JFK had me putting in some serious miles. I raced and won my only ever RM Classic and
now Ryan McGrath will have to live his life forever attached to me! However I think the best memory from this
training cycle was the Baltimore Marathon Relay, where I ran the entire thing
with my relay team. But having a year
where I met so many different runners through so many ways, it was amazing to
see them all out on the course. Either
running or cheering it really brought this whole running community together for
me in a way I’ve never experienced before.
I also ran probably the race of my life getting 4th at the
Atlantic City Marathon in a new shiny PR, which was totally unexpected. Additionally, I had the best time working at
the Baltimore Marathon Expo for the Falls Road Running Store where I got to see
so many friends and experience working with something I am truly passionate
about. I’ve gone into great detail about
my JFK 50 miler, but ended my year off with that race and it puts no damper on
how amazing 2016 was. I learned a valuable
lesson of take in more calories in a 50 mile race you idiot! It all ended with a special somewhat nice
speech from RM (proceeded by 1 hour of roasting me mercilessly) being named MVP
for the year for our running group.
Which was a really nice ending.
There are way too many people for me to be thankful for in
2016 for being a part of my journey and helping me accomplish what I have
done. For starters the Falls Road
Running Store has been such a huge part of my life for everything they do from
giving back to the running community, to helping me with my career (Seriously
shop there, you will not be disappointed).
I am so lucky to have a store that supports the community and me like
they do. My Falls Road teammates have
been nothing but amazing this year. They
are some of my best friends on and off the roads, and they support me like no
other. The reason I continue to be as
passionate about running and it is as large of a part of my life is thanks to
this amazing group of people who make everything so much fun(See Chug & Run
Relay). My family is so wonderful for everything
they do for me with running and I would be lost without that support system in
my life. Of course my amazing wife Kelly
who puts up with my addiction to racing and going out almost every weekend to
run a race or run for hours on end.
There are not many wives in the world who would put up with me, but you
are amazing! (By not many wives I mean 0 other ones, I mean most people can
barely put up with me for several hours in an evening). Lastly just the Maryland Running community,
you all make running so awesome in this state.
When I quit running back in 2002, I never thought I’d come back but here
I am but with a new perspective. I want to run fast obviously but I love
everything I see people doing to keep running going strong in our community. There are so many clubs and teams across the
state that do so much to make running available for all of us. Everything all us runners are able to do is
from the hard work of everyone to make running so special to us.
The most important lesson I learned in 2016 that will stick
with me forever is to just enjoy everything about running. Enjoy every run, enjoy the time spent with
friends or teammates together doing runs.
Enjoy the races, enjoy the people you meet and the hard work that goes
into everything. Enjoy all the friends
you made from running and realize they are a part of your life. I think the hardest perspective for me to
learn coming from being a college competitive runner in the early 2000’s racing
a clock and living and dying on the results to now is to care about the people
you meet along this journey. And to just
enjoy the journey. There is always
another race, but to share memories and fun with friends will always be a
priceless thing you might regret one day.
Here’s to an amazing 2017 for everyone!
