my running journey
Happy New Year!
I forgot to wear my watch this morning because I accidentally left it at home charging. However, Strava came to the rescue and I completed my 1 mile run, spelling out the year across the parking lot, utilizing the track for the zero, and finishing on the field.
My run the year tradition may have also inspired the New Year’s Day group run. We ran 5 miles on a sheet of ice this morning and created a vertical 2026.
Medal Madness is a US Road Running event that takes place on the Beavercreek Bike path. The race includes multiple distance options including a 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon.
At the fall edition of this race on September 13, 2025, I completed my 100th lifetime Half Marathon. This race was special because all three of my daughters were there to cheer me on.
Run like a CHEETAH is the poster my daughter made me for inspiration. It is referring to the XC running group that I coach, as well as the super fast animal which inspired the group’s name .
I ran my fastest Half Marathon in the past three years, and finished as the first over all female at a very small race, which only included two women.
The 2nd place woman finishing 25 seconds after me was half my age and running her very first half marathon. We both set a goal to run sub 2-Hours, which we both achieved.
I selected the Ninja themed medal as my award for finishing my 100th half. Thanks US Road Running for another great race.
Welcome to Tough Mudder, a hard core obstacle race designed to test your all around strength, stamina, and mental grit. It isn’t just an event, it’s a calling. The Tough Mudder 15k in Columbus, Indiana was August 2, 2025.
I ran this race with a group of my coworkers. We woke up super early to make the 2 hour drive from Dayton, Ohio to Columbus, Indiana.
Of all the races I have done, this is the race I was the most nervous about because the obstacles looked intimidating. However, I decided to push myself outside of my comfort zone and I had an absolute blast.
My favorite obstacle was the cage crawl. Pulling yourself across a pit of water underneath the cage with only inches to breathe might make you panic, especially when the cage suddenly dips under water. But I was proud of myself for facing my fear and completing this event. Something that originally made me nervous ended up being a lot of fun.
I also enjoyed the Mud Crawl, because you are never too old to play in the mud.
I finished 20 out of 23 obstacles in 2:40. Finishers received a Mudder Nation T-shirt, the Tough Mudder Headband, and a Medal. First time finishers earned the orange headband, but can earn other colors upon completing additional events.
I can’t wait to finish my next Tough Mudder and earn the green head band.
I bought the Nike Pegasus Trail 5 because they are advertised as a waterproof shoe. I was originally thinking these would be a good option for snowy winter running. I’ve worn them on a few trail races and am pleasantly surprised with the overall comfort and performance of this shoe.
The Nike Pegasus Trail 5 is comprised of a Gore-Tex upper, with the Nike ReactX foam midsole, offering wet-weather protection, decent cushioning, and made with sustainable materials.
I found this Gore-Tex shoe to be both breathable and waterproof. They are sturdy for trail running and yet not overly heavy.
They are perfect for wet rainy weather and yet handle the trails well. This shoe is a great choice for days when the weather is unpredictable.
According to the Nike website, this product is made with at least 20% recycled content by weight. Nike is committed to move to zero which is Nike’s journey toward a zero carbon and zero waste future.
Although Nike recommends ordering a half size up, I purchased my normal running shoe size and it fits nicely.
Overall Rating 4.5 out of 5.
The John Bryan Trail race is part of the Wolf Pack Trail series, which includes trail race distances ranging from 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, 20K Relay, and 6 Hours of Power. This edition of the race took place at John Bryan State Park on Saturday May 24th and Sunday May 25th. I ran the Saturday Half Marathon.
All races started at 10am. Same day check in and bib pick up was at the park starting at 9:15am. The race director, Chris Stout, made some race announcements prior to the start of the race, and then the national anthem was played.
This is a beautiful trail throughout the park, and course includes steps, uphill running, downhill running, and a bridge crossing. Many portions of the trail are single track. The course was well marked, with the 5K / 6Hours of Power following blue flags, and the 10K / Half Marathon following orange flags. The Half Marathon course was 2 Loops.
All event finishers received a Wolf Pack medal which was included in the bag handed out at packet pickup.
Finishers also received a Wolf Pack Sticker.
I finished 20th out of 24, with a time of 2:46:11.
Check out the Wolf Pack to get more information about upcoming races or to purchase a Pack Pass
I joined the Pack.
A few of my friends are part of the 50 States Marathon Club, having completed Marathons in all 50 States.
I don’t have the time or money to travel to all 50 states, instead I am conquering one state. My goal is to complete every Half Marathon in Ohio.
A few of these races no longer exist, however, I’ve keep the ones I have already run on my list. There are probably other races that I am not aware of or that may be added in the future. It’s difficult to compile an accurate list of Ohio races since new races are constantly being added. Here is my progress so far, one emoji for each Half Marathon I have run, with discontinued races at the bottom of the list. Of course any of these events could be re-instated or renamed or replaced at any time. This list is simply races I am currently aware of.
🙂=Run, ❤️=PR, 🏃🏻♀️=Pacer 👟= Virtual
ONE STATE: OHIO Half Marathons
Pirate Half 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
Time Travel Half
Viking Half 🙂🙂🙂🙂
Night Owl Trail 🙂
Ninja Half
Medal Madness 🙂🙂
ONU Polar Bear Indoor Half 🙂
Warm Up Columbus
Old Girled Trail
Time to Paddy 🏃🏻♀️ 🏃🏻♀️
Mo Spring Half
Heart Mini Cincinnati
Mill Creek
Flirt with Dirt Trail
Iron Furnace Trail
Cleveland Clinic Run for Home
ORRRC Xenia Marathon 🙂👟🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️ 🏃🏻♀️
Caesar Creek Trail (WolfPack) 🙂🙂
Donot Stop
London Half 🙂
Run the Land Cleveland
Athens Marathon
Towpath Trail
Alum Creek Trail (WolfPack)
Bunny Half 🙂
Friends of the Park
Capital City
Mohican Trail (WolfPack)
Glass City Toledo Marathon 🏃🏻♀️
East Fork Trail (WolfPack)
Flying Pig Marathon ❤️
Germantown Trail (WolfPack)
Luau Half 🙂
Great Guernsey Trail
Cleveland Half 🙂
John Bryan Trail (WolfPack) 🙂
Medina Half
Youngstown Half
Chillicothe Half
Rhino Trail Run 🙂
Hometown Half 🏃🏻♀️
Lighthouse Half
ORRRC Summer Solstice Trail 🙂
Hueston Woods Trail (WolfPack) 🙂
US Half
Run For Their Lives Half
Heartland Series Half
Akron Half
Hofbrauhaus Half
Christmas in July 🏃🏻♀️
Little Miami 🙂❤️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️
Goodyear
Happy Half ❤️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️
Deer Trail Run Half
Grandview Yard Half
Rock Hall
Boy Scout Half
Pro Football Half
Leave No Trace Half
Amish Half
Run to the Wall
Hoot Half
River Run Half
Charlie’s Challenge
Crowell Hilaka Trail
Columbus Half 🙂
Great Miami River 🏃🏻♀️
Air Force Marathon Half
Yetti Trail Run Half
Best of the West
Toledo Mini
Akron Half
Blue Blaze Festival
Haunted Half
Mo Fall
Queen Bee Half
Maple City Half
Shawnee Trail
Columbus Marathon Half🙂
Chippewa Creek Trail
Run with Scissors
Spooky Sprint
Haunted Forest
Fall into Winter
Pie Gobbler Half
Bobcat Trail Half
Churchills Half
Greenway Half
Turkey Trails Half
Johnstown Turkey Trot
Cleveland Fall Classic
Mansfield Turkey Trot
Hungry Turkey Half Cincinnati 🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️
Dayton Turkey Trot 🙂🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️
TOPO Trail
Holiday Half
ORRRC Winter Solstice Trail 🙂
Brokeman’s Winter Warm-Up ❤️
Brokeman’s Undiscovered 🙂🙂
COVID Social Distance Half 🙂
Brokeman’s Southwest ❤️❤️❤️
Heights Half ❤️
Dayton Spring Half 🙂🏃🏻♀️
Burn Your Half Off 🙂
1/2 Way to Christmas 🙂❤️🥵
Brokeman’s Dayton 🙂
Midnight Madness ❤️
Hamilton Night Glo 🙂
Wild Cherry Loop Trail Half 🙂
Grand Lake Marathon Half
Brokeman’s Columbus ❤️
Dayton River Corridor Classic 🙂🙂
Autumn Blast 🙂
—————————————————————
Other States & Virtual Races:
Virtual 👟👟👟👟👟
Alabama 🙂
Indiana 🙂🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️
I started running in seventh grade because two of my friends decided we should join the middle school cross country team together. Neither of my friends ended showing up for even a single practice, but I joined the team anyhow.
I didn’t have running gear so I wore jean shorts to practices. I had a pair of white high top sneakers that were not running shoes. My race times were slow and I didn’t fit in with the other girls on the team. Yet, despite my struggles I didn’t give up.
By high school I ran with the Varsity XC team. In cross country meets, only the top five finishers count towards the team score. I was consistently number six for my team. My times didn’t factor into the scoring, but I continued to get faster and by the end of the season I won the most improved runner award.
Through running I have learned how to set and achieve my goals. I have now run marathons and ultra-marathons. I am no longer the awkward jean-clad girl who was afraid she couldn’t finish a race. I have learned that hard work pays off. Hard work is NOT easy. Often progress is slow, and many goals take more than one attempt to achieve. I am faster now, as a masters runner, than I was in high school.
I do not define my success by my finishing times. I am proud not only of the races I have finished, but most of all the grit and determination I have shown.
As a coach, I now use my passion for running to encourage other runners. For the past twelve years, I have served as the head coach for the Centerville Striders XC team. I am honored to have the opportunity to run with these kids, and extremely grateful to be part of an amazing running community.
I run because running has transformed by life and allowed me to meet so many amazing people. Keep setting goals, crush those goals, and set more goals to crush! Hard work pays off!
June 27, 2024
The Dash 4 Cash is a 1 mile race hosted by the Ohio River Road Runners Club (ORRRC).
The race is a 1 mile run along the bike path at Eastwood Metropark. Participants must first walk or run a mile to get from the registration to the starting line. Runners then dash from the start back to the finish. The top three finisher in each age group received a cash prize.
I finished 10th in my age group with a mile time of 7:22.
This race is part of the Team Series.
My daughters each finished 5th in their age groups. We did not win any cash.
The Flying Pig Marathon celebrated it’s 25th anniversary with a very memorable race experience.
With thunderstorms predicted to occur during Sunday’s Flying Pig events, the 2023 marathon quickly became the “Floating Pig” as runners ran through rain, lightning, and a bizarre downpour.
Thank you for another great race, and an experience I am not going to forget any time soon.
Running challenges can be a great source of motivation throughout the year. Many runners will take the challenge to “run the year” by completing a total of 2023 miles in 2023. I prefer a much easier task and instead test myself by drawing the year during my run.
Here is my 2023 captured by my Garmin during my New Year’s Day run. I utilized a track for the zero, but otherwise “drew” this without any other guides or tools. However, I learned today that the Strava app has a feature that allows you to see a run in progress on your phone. I will keep this in mind next time I am creating an image during a run.
Run Cari 