As we are nearing the end of the year it’s natural to look back at the year … assess it, celebrate it and make goals for the upcoming year. It’s probably one of my favorite things to do in December (not to mention filling out a new yearly calendar … don’t get me started). I think it’s fairly natural for all of us to do this within every arena of life, not just running.

As I look back at my running experience in 2024 it’s really a “tale of two experiences.” It was one part getting back on track and the other part … of going off track. Having lost over 100lbs from the previous year and getting some speed back I was excited to end the year off training for the St. George Marathon.

That didn’t happen.

On the September 1st I broke my toe (tripping on the stupid cat and kicking a dumbbell, talk about a comedy of errors) which derailed the marathon training and sidelined me from running for about six weeks. It sucked. But, I deferred the marathon for next year and did end up doing a 50K in November (I’m very hesitant about calling this a run, because I very much moseyed it).

But, as much as my running may have felt derailed, there was a lot of joy and accomplishment in what I was able to do as well. Let me share with you my top five running memories of 2024 with you. They’re in no particular order …

#1) Completed a 50K

Having had to defer the St. George Marathon to 2025 because of my stupid broken toe I needed a little redemption from the disappointment before the end of the calendar year. That’s why I picked the Salt Lake City Track Club’s ultra race around Liberty Park in early November. Well, there were many reasons for selecting this specific race.

For one, it’s a timed loop race. There aren’t enough of them here in Utah — or least Northern Utah. I love looped courses because it’s a “go at your speed” pace and you have an aid station every 2-3 miles (or however long each loop is). I love knowing that when everything hurts and you’re dying — you’re not in the middle of nowhere.

But, secondly the timing of race day. I wasn’t planning on the race until after I had to drop my St. George Marathon entry. I didn’t want to end my running year on disappointment and a few 5Ks. I needed some redemption even if it wasn’t a time goal race or marathon and since this eace was in early November it was perfect timing with my recovery and I knew with a 12 hour limit I could at least push myself to a marathon distance if not more.

I ended up doing a 50K in just under 11 hours. I shared a lot of miles with my friend KP. I also ran a few laps and walked even more laps while enjoying the day … even after I peed my pants. Yeaaah. That was a first for me in any race. But, I found out that it’s really hard to hold it while running. It’s that jostling that will get you in trouble.

Anyways, thank goodness I brought a complete extra set of clothes otherwise the ride home with KP would have been really awkward. I mean, it kind was because I was felt very self-conscious that I smelled like that “ONE KID” in kindergarten that always smelled like pee. KP was too kind saying that I didn’t smell like pee.

Even with all of that the experience was great. It’s been since 2017 since my last ultra distance. It gave me the redemption I needed and got me excited for 2025. I want to tackle another ultra race, maybe another 50 miler? But, I don’t want to get ahead of myself.

#2) Finished Three 5Ks with my Wife

This past year’s theme could easily be “The Year I Suckered My Wife Into Running” even though that wasn’t my goal or intention. In February she did the Rock n’ Roll 10K in Las Vegas her first 10K. We didn’t do the entire race together, but we ran parts of it together (including the infamous “Mile Two” by the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, which I talk about more below) while she did the entire race with my friend Jill and her daughter. It was a great moment.

But, after I broke my toe in September we found reasons to do some races together, even hand-in-hand. Since I couldn’t run, I decided to stay somewhat active by at least walking more. And, it was the perfect speed for both of us to do a race together.

We ended up doing the Addict II Athlete 5K, Hospice Memorial Fun Run 5K and the Runtastic Thankful 5K. The latter was one of my favorites because we did the race with my father-in-law who was six weeks post knee replacement surgery. It was a lot of fun for all of us.

I really want to do more 5Ks with MaryAnn this upcoming year. It’s a great change of pace for me and it’s just great to get out and share the miles with the one you love. How can you not want more of that in your life?

#3) Running the Timp Half for Ben

There’s a lot that I want to say about this memory, but I don’t want to word vomit all over it. Long story short this past year MaryAnn and my teen nephew Ben fought brain cancer. Thankfully he won the war. But, not surprisingly it was a very emotional year for the whole family; and as tough as it was, I’m grateful for the time I got to get closer to him and his family.

Like I did over a decade ago for my mom I dedicated my races and miles to him alongside my father-in-law and Ben’s grandpa. We both donned our “Brough Tough” shirts at each race. And after every race, and I mean every race, Van would get an extra race medal to give Ben (if not his siblings as well). We all found ways to show our support for Ben and the family.

In June Van and I signed up for the Timp Half that supports the Huntsman Cancer Foundation to specifically run for Ben (and a few other cancer warriors). The week of the race it quickly became a family affair as we got Ben’s siblings, mom, grandma and many other aunts and uncles signed up (including my wife) to do the 5K. Ben had just finished radiation therapy and it was the perfect celebration.

Two things stick out more than others about this race. One, sharing the last three miles with my father-in-law. I caught up with him and noticed that he was struggling with the knee and heat of the hot June morning so I stuck with him for the rest of the race. Seeing his struggling effort only outmatched by his love for his family gave me a glimpse of my father-in-law I’ve never seen. I brought tears to my eyes that thankfully looked like sweat.

The second memory from the race was the finish line. Van and I were greeted by Ben who ran the last few yards with us across the finish line. That was a moment. Sheesh, I’m having a hard times putting words to that emotional moment … and that’s okay. But, thankfully it was also caught on video by my wife and that’s honestly where I am going to leave this entry …

#4) Mile Two at the Rock n’ Roll Las Vegas 10K

There is a reason why Blu and I have come back twice for the Rock n’ Roll Las Vegas 10K after first running it in 2021 — mile two. It’s hard to put into words how life changing that stretch of the race was, but we managed to kind of captured that in a vlog we did for The Party in the Back TV. But, it’s really symbolized about enjoying the beauty of being and living in the moment. That stretch became really special for both of us.

This past year two special things happened during that mile — one, I did it hand in hand with my wife MaryAnn, and two, I got recognized by a lady who saw the vlog and decided to do the race because of it. Needless to say, this year’s ‘mile two’ stretch was probably even better than that first year. I won’t speak for Blu but I feel like he had a similar experience running it with his wife Marissa.

To kind of give you an idea about the race and mile two here is the vlog we posted a couple of years. I can’t wait to do this again in 2025 and see what comes of it!

#5) The Drop13 Big Cottonwood Half Marathon

After battling injuries and health issues over the past 5-6 years my running has gotten slooooow. Not that there is any shame in that, but having a PR of 2:09 for a half marathon and then barely sniffing a sub-three hour half marathon for a number of years … it works a number on your head. So going into 2024 I started feeling really good with the lost weight, my health and my legs. I wanted to see what I had in me.

Big Cottonwood Canyon here in Salt Lake is my favorite canyon to run. I can’t count how many races or training runs I’ve down the canyon. It’s a lot. But, you can’t beat the downhill course and beauty. It’s gorgeously fast.

So going into the Drop13 Big Cottonwood Half Marathon in June I really felt good about doing a sub-three hour half marathon. It was still a little early in the season, but I felt it was a doable goal. And, well, I did it. Barely. But, I did it.

I probably shouldn’t have pushed myself as hard as I did, but I felt so good during the first 9-10 miles of the run it felt impossible to apply any sort of brakes onto my run. Foolishly I kept a too high of a pace which not only slowed me down, but caused me to spasm at the finish line. And, by spasm I mean my calves seized up and made look like I was rolling around on the groun full of the Holy Ghost.

It was bad.

But, it was also during that race where I was introduced to salt tablets and they have saved my life ever since. Even if I didn’t finish as strong as I’d like to have, this race left me excited about the possibilities of the future and really gave me the confidence that I could do a marathon this year.

Which I sorta did, but didn’t because of injuries. But, I’m not rehashing that, just read the article again if you missed that part. Needless to say I’m taking that experience and confidence with me into 2025 as well.

Well, there it is. A list of my top five favorite running experiences this past year. I am really excited to see what 2025 will bring. I am will preview my race schedule next week. And, you better believe it that the St. George Marathon is once again on that schedule.

Stay tuned.