My year in running | 2025

2025 was not the running year that I thought I would have. After my blow-myself-away successful first marathon, I thought I would just continue to pursue new goals last year, but 2025 had other plans. Life got crazy from the get-go, and running had to be repeatedly put on the back burner.

Now, you might say, “San, what the hell are you talking about? I saw you post about running all the time!” And you’re right. I still ran consistently, but never more than 10 miles, and I did not sign up for any big races. I couldn’t make running the priority that it had been the previous year.

I ran 450 total miles (a lot less than in the previous year),
three official races – two 5ks, one 10k, and
one virtual race this year.

The Running Goals I Set for 2025

I started 2025 thinking that I would put a few races on my calendar. I was contemplating a couple of half marathons and even another marathon. And then none of that happened. I usually like having a goal to work towards, but it felt like every time I came up for air and had some breathing room to think about a race, another curveball was thrown my way. With everything that was going on in my personal and professional life last year, adding race training into the mix was just not feasible.

Races I Ran participated in

I participated in four low-key races this year: the Davis Moo-nlight 5k Run, the Grevenbroich City Run 5k Relay with my sister (!), the Sacramento “Run to Feed the Hungry” Turkey Trot 10k, and the virtual 4th Annual Snowman Run 10k (Streakers365). But none of those were really races that I raced.

Challenges I participated in

I might not have run a lot of races this year, but lest you think I was slacking off (which would be silly because you’ve seen my Weekly Run Downs), I did keep myself busy with various running (and cycling) challenges.

I participated in three Team Wilpers Run Challenges:

Team Wilpers Summer Run Challenge (8 weeks)
Team Wilpers Fall Run Challenge (6 weeks)
Team Wilpers Holiday Run Challenge (6 weeks)

I participated in two Power Zone Challenges:
Saturday Night Zones Time Crunch 3 Rides (6 weeks)
Raiders of the Lost Zones 2 Rides/2 Runs (6 weeks) – June/July

I also participated in a few shorter running and cycling challenges:

Pelofondo Capstone (January)
SUMMIIT Climb Challenge (March)
Pelofondo (April)
Death by Tens (June)
SUMMIIT Stride (July)
SUMMIIT Stages (August)
Death by Tens (November).

Race experience you would repeat in a heartbeat

Running a race with my sister. I was so thrilled we could participate in a race together. In 2020, she was supposed to visit and run the San Francisco half marathon with me. She had trained for it, and then Covid hit, and all plans were canceled. I still got her to run her first half marathon that summer, though. This summer, when I was back home to visit, she invited me to join her relay team for the City Run in our hometown, which she (and her school – she’s an elementary school teacher) participates in every year. I was so happy I could be part of it!

Favorite picture from a race: 

Lessons learned in 2025

It really didn’t matter that I didn’t put any big races on my calendar and had to pivot a lot. In the end, running is about commitment, staying active and healthy, and enjoying yourself in the process. Running still makes me smile, and I am thankful for every mile. 

Goals for 2026

I signed up for my first race, a half marathon, in March. Putting that tangible goal on my calendar at the beginning of the year is huge for me, and I hope it’s not going to be derailed by anything again. I am committed to the training, and I am hoping to add a few more races to my calendar this year.

I am also hoping to run a lot more miles again this year. And I would like to get Jon to participate in the Davis Moo-nlight Run again. I mean, we’ve been doing it for a few years now. It’s basically a tradition.

Oh, and I want to continue to work on my strength training and prioritize rest and recovery to continue to stay injury-free (no major injuries in 10+ years. Knock on wood).

How was your year of running? Any highs or lows you’d like to share?

I am linking up with Jenn from Runs with Pugs and Jenny from RunnersFly