Looking Back On My Running in 2024 – And Ahead to 2025

It’s New Year’s Day, and it’s time to take a look back at my year in running.

I routinely reflect on my running – at the end of each week and after each big race. But doing so at the end of the year offers a really good opportunity to zoom out and put everything in perspective. It’s easy to get lost in the weeds in the day to day.

Here’s my reflection from last year, which included an all-time high level of mileage, along with PR’s in the 5k and marathon. My main goals for this year were to continue to improve, have a good time at Chicago, and qualify for Boston.

So how did it go? Let’s find out.

My 2024 Year of Running By the Numbers

Let’s start with some hard data – because I love data.

For the fifth year in a row, I’ve run more miles than I’ve ever run before. I’m getting closer to my limit, though, and I doubt I’ll increase much from here. I just barely eclipsed the 3,500 mark – finishing up the year with 3,508 miles.

I ran every day this year, continuing my run streak that has been going since November 30, 2021. Through the end of the year, that’s 1,128 days – and counting.

I ran quite a few doubles, and I ended the year with 441 total runs. That’s slightly lower than last year (456), but I also spent a period in early 2023 when I was rehabbing an injury and consistently running shorter doubles.

My peak mileage in marathon training was 85 miles – the same as last year. But I hit that mark several times throughout both my spring and fall marathon training cycles. In total, I exceeded 80 miles in nine weeks – compared to just four weeks last year.

I ran 70+ miles a majority of the year – 32 weeks – and most of the remaining weeks I ran 60+. I only spent eight weeks below 60 miles – compared to 14 weeks last year.

So I really pushed the envelope on the weekly mileage this year.

My pace during easy runs continues to improve. On a good day, I’ll end an easy run in the low 8:00’s, and I can push into the high 7:00’s without much effort. I ran two steady 20 milers – not workouts – under 2:40. My best time last year was 2:52.

My weight was pretty good throughout the year, but it’s drifted upwards a little bit since I ran Chicago. Through the spring and summer, I fluctuated between 165 and 170. I weighed myself this morning, and I’m up to 175. Time to get a little more serious about eating again, and get back down to a slimmer racing weight.

As for races, I ran quite a few. I joined USATF-NJ to compete in the Grand Prix. I joined the Essex Running Club, too, so I participated in a lot of team races. In total, I ran 2x marathons, 2x half marathons, a 10-miler, a 15k, a 12k, a 10k, a 5-mile, 2x 8k, and countless 5k’s – I think 7 or 8. Oh, and I actually ran a mile in a race – the first time I’ve done that since high school.

Again, I went through two pairs of regular daily trainers (New Balance 1080's. I think I also swapped out my trail shoes partway through the year. My New Balance Rebels, which I use for some workouts and shorter races, finally wore out, so I replaced them. But my New Balance SC Elite v3's still feel good, and I’ll probably keep them around for some shorter races. It’s time for a new pair – the SC Elite v4’s – for my goal races, though.

My 2024 in Racing

Like I mentioned, I ran a lot of races this year. One of my goals for 2024 was to race more, and I definitely achieved that. I might have overdone it a little bit, and I’m going to look to find a bit more balance next year.

But I also enjoyed running low-stakes races like the RVRR cross country summer series. It’s ok if I’m not 100%, and there’s a lot less pressure than there is with big goal marathons.

My big goal race in the spring was the Jersey City Marathon. I was hoping to BQ, and I did. But not by enough. I went out a little hot, and I ran the first half in 1:31. I crashed in the second half, and I finished in 3:08. That was good enough for a PR, but it wasn’t good enough for the cut-off time for Boston 2025 – given the record number of applicants.

I made it into the Brooklyn Half Marathon through the lottery, so I ran that the month after Jersey City. I was a little nervous about the short turnaround time, and I don’t think I was quite 100% recovered. But I still felt pretty good, and I had a good time. My goal was 1:25 (the NYRR qualifying time), and I was on pace when I came out of Prospect Park. But I couldn’t quite hold on, and I faded on the Parkway to finish in 1:28.

In June, shortly after the Brooklyn Half, I ran the Fitzgerald 5k Lager Run. It was a hot day, and I didn’t do as well as I had hoped. I came up short of a PR in the 5k. But I placed slightly better than I did last year, and I finished in the top 100 – which got me a commemorative pint glass.

In the summer, I ran the Big Bang Mile. This is the first mile race that I’ve run since high school, so I was eager to test out my speed. But I was also in the midst of marathon training for Chicago, so my legs were weighed down a bit by the miles. Plus it was very hot that day. I managed a 5:40 – which was pretty much what I had hoped for. But given better conditions, I’m pretty sure I could do better than that.

In the fall, I had two disappointing tune-up races in the weeks leading up to Chicago. I think I overdid it a little bit, and I was a little over-trained and/or under-recovered going into Chicago. But I still had a great time at the race. It was my first Major, and I would definitely run it again. It was warm, but not terribly hot. I started out on pace for three hours, but I faded in the final few miles. I ended up with a 3:06 – good enough for a PR, but not good enough for a BQ under the new qualifying times.

On Thanksgiving, I ran the Ashenfelter 8k. Last year, I had a great race. This year, not so much. I don’t think I was quite fully recovered from Chicago, and it was also raining heavily throughout the morning. I finished just under 32:00 – around the same time as last year. That wasn’t good enough to finish in the top 100 and get a mug. This is probably the one race that I’m really disappointed about – and I hope to do better next year.

Finally, I ran the Rutgers Big Chill 5k in December. This is usually my last race of the year. The weather was great – chilly, but sunny and warm enough to race in a singlet. I was hoping to dip under 19:00, and I didn’t quite make it. The hills in the second half got to me. But it was good enough for a PR (19:10) and second place in my age group.

In the USATF-NJ Grand Prix, I came in 5th in my age group (men 40-44) for the overall grand prix, and I finished 5th overall (1st in my age group) in the cross country grand prix. I understand the rules a little better now, and I’m pretty sure I can place in my age group for the overall grand prix next year.

Looking Ahead to Running in 2025

I was hoping to run the Boston Marathon and/or the New York City Marathon this year, but that didn’t work out. Instead, qualifying for those two races is top of my list of goals for 2025.

I’m running the Fred Lebow Half Marathon in January, and I also won a spot through the lottery to run the United NYC Half Marathon in March. If I can finish under 1:25 in either of those races, that’ll qualify me for NYC in 2026. The Fred Lebow course is tough, so I’m not 100% confident that I’ll make the mark there. But I think I’ve got a really good shot at doing so in the United Half.

For marathons, I’m running the Jersey City Marathon again in April. My goal there will be to finish under three hours, because it looks like there will be another high cut-off time for Boston 2026. I’m also planning to run the Twin Cities Marathon in the fall. I have family in Minneapolis, so it’ll be fun to visit them and race out there.

I’ll put together a slate of other races to run throughout the year, including many of the USATF-NJ team races. I enjoyed the cross country summer series, and I’ll probably run at least some of them again. Five specific races I’ll be looking forward to – the Fitzgerald’s 5k Lager Run, the Big Bang Mile, the By Hook or By Crook 12k, the Ashenfelter 8k, and the Rutgers Big Chill 5k.

As for training, I’m going to focus more on speed in the spring. I’ll keep the mileage a little bit lower through the United Half, and work in some shorter intervals. I’ll focus more on the heavy mileage later in the summer when I start prepping for Twin Cities. I’ll likely cap out at 85 miles again, but I am hoping to work in some more 20 mile long runs.

I also want to get my weight back down into the mid 160’s. I’ve just gotten a little lax in the last couple months, and it shouldn’t be hard to get things back under control. I may or may not try to get down to 160 for a race, but if I can reliably stick to ~165, I’ll be happy.

How Was Your 2024? What Are Your Goals in 2025?

All told, this was a successful year. I continued to improve on my training, reaching new levels of mileage and new paces. I notched PRs from the mile up to the marathon. I came up short in some specific races and I missed out on qualifying for Boston, but it was still a good year. Perhaps most importantly, I made it through healthy without any injuries.

What about you? What did you achieve in 2024?

And what are your big running goals for 2025?