2025 Recap (Running and Beyond)

One thing I know to be true is that running has never been about the number of miles I run, nor how fast I get from point A to point B. Running has always been about who I spend it with, and the energy it gives me, not drains from me.

I ran a lot this year and while I had both a disappointing DNS and DNF, my heart led me to where I needed to be. I accomplished what I could and despite some very devastating circumstances, I am still proud of what I was able to accomplish, but I am really REALLY grateful for those that showed up for me in the times of utter sadness and despair. My family, my friends, and now how indistinguishable the two are now - my FRAMILY, THANK YOU! These people I know were put in my life for a reason and I am eternally grateful to each of them.

Besides running and grieving the loss of my Momma, I did have some good moments of 2025 and I know she'd want me to continue to find joy. Here are a few of my favorite things from the year of the snake:

Favorite Concert:
HAIM at Merriweather on 9.10.25 - FEMALE power!!!

Favorite Album:
Tunde Adebimpe's "Thee Black Boltz"

Honorable Mentions:
Lucius "Lucius" for their emotional serenading
David Byrne "Who Is the Sky?" for his continued brilliance

Favorite Movie:
Rocky III (I know, not a new movie but my favorite of all the Rocky movies)

Best Music Documentary:
Lilith Fair

Favorite TV Show:
Loot - a complete cast of friends, I mean characters. Everyone needs a friend like each of them.

Favorite Book:
Hands down, Cameron Crowe's "The Uncool"

Other Memorable Reads:
Dessert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
How They Named the Stars Andres N. Ordorica
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Bread of Angels by Patti Smith

Favorite Running Shoes:
The Classic: Clifton 10
The Hype is True: R1
The Unexpected: Puma MAG MAX

Favorite Trail Shoe:
TBD since the HOKA Mafate 4 is no longer.

Races:
Those with the best communities, two of them were free and accessible!
Rocky 50k
Juneteenth Half Marathon
Bull Run Run 50-miler

The One and Done Race:
Marine Corps Marathon - It was fun to run this race with a dear friend as her first marathon, but road races are tough! And I'd never run a race with this many people. I prefer the woods!

Best Travels: (might be all?)
Grand Canyon and Sedona
Outer Banks with family
Dogfish Inn for our anniversary
Boston with the Brandts
Great Wolf Lodge with Fiona and Lucy

Brag Moment:
Won Striders Ultrarunner of the Year (I don't know how since so many in our community who are way more worthy?)

Comments

Bull Run Run 50-miler

Official Time: 12:31:31 ( a 50-miler PR) I did it. I’m not sure how, but I crossed the finish line yesterday of the Bull Run Run 50-miler. It had been an intimidating race from the moment I shared with others who had run it in the past. I heard all sorts of stories - the infamous Do Loop, the rolling hills, the unpredictable weather, the tough cutoff, the rocky sections that might trip you up later on. I also heard about how it was one of the most beautiful races with the BEST volunteers. I chose to keep the latter in my mind! Although the “BRR” makes me think of cold weather, and years past it has snowed and stormed and apparently gone through all 4 seasons in a day one year, yesterday’s weather was not what anybody was prepared for. It was hot and humid with cloud coverage most of the day … until the sun came out at 3:30pm and scorched your left side as you ran along the waterline of Occoquan River. It being early April, I was not acclimated to 90% humidity. For a few mile...

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco...

This event was not about me at all. It was about helping my amazing friend Dylan accomplish what he has been training for months, for over a year for. The experience was so memorable; however, I had to get it out. I've paced a couple friends at their attempts of 100-milers at Devil Dog in 2022 and 2023. Unfortunately, neither of them finished and I took it to heart, I really did. The cutoff at DD is strict, and the weather is cold. I've never seen that course in daylight, and I don't ever want to. That is not the race I want to die on. The C&O 100 has been on my radar because it's the closest 100-miler to home. Before it was even a WSER qualifier, I had considered it but it's also the flattest and I like climbing, which is why I haven't hit the Register Now button. However, after running the last 30 miles of it, I am reconsidering. Driving to Knoxville, MD from home at 9pm on a Saturday night seemed odd. I was up all day and tried to take it easy. I walked i...

YO! Fat Ass Rocky 50k Run

"It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." ~Rocky Balboa It was just after 4:00am on Saturday morning and my heart was racing as we drove 80mph on 95N heading to Philadelphia. The car had just slid on the ramp from route 32. Richard was playing it cool, but I could tell he was white knuckling it as the sleet and snow came down heavier outside. We had to make it to South Philly by 6:55am, 7:00am at the latest, for the unofficial "fat ass" Rocky 50k Run, dammit. This weather was not in the forecast the night before. I thought, maybe, I'd be able to get a little more sleep on the way there as I barely slept, worried I'd miss my 3:30am alarm. I'm glad I finally got up at 3:28am because it turns out I had forgotten to actually turn my alarm on. Oops! Lori was in the back seat and all of our running gear, fuel/food, shoes, post-run clothes, and hydration packs were in the trunk. Richard was already ...

Michelle Runs With It

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