2025 was a really fun year for running. So many great things happened. I trained consistently throughout the year and focused on improving my general health and strength. I found a good rhythm and stuck with it – and consistency really feels good.

I ran three races, all of them marathons. I’ve never run three marathons in a single year before, and I’m not sure I’d do it again, but it was fun and I genuinely enjoyed the experience. At the end of April I ran the Big Sur Marathon, which had been on my list for years. I got in through the lottery, as did one of my close friends, so we headed to California for a racecation with our husbands. The weekend was wonderful, and it’s a stunning race, even in the rain, which was our race-day weather.

Over the summer I decided it would be helpful to work with a coach. I’d managed to build my mileage consistently, but I wasn’t doing any structured speed work or following a proper schedule that included strength training. I needed guidance, accountability and motivation from someone more experienced.

After some research and a lot of consideration, I reached out to my now coach, Heather. She’d mentioned on Instagram that she had space for a couple more athletes, so we connected on an initial call. I could say a lot about our work together, but for now I’ll just say this: she’s awesome. I love her coaching style, she’s incredibly experienced, great at providing guidance, and she’s brought a lot of joy back into my running.

It was during our first training cycle together that I ran the Chicago and Philadelphia Marathons. I hadn’t planned on running Chicago, but it felt like too good an opportunity to miss, so I ran it as a long run and then raced Philadelphia properly. I’ve really enjoyed bringing structure back into my training, adding speed work and strength, and feeling more confident and purposeful.

I didn’t quite hit the time goal I’d hoped for in Philly (it was so much hillier than I’d expected!), and a couple of weeks after the race I found myself looking up spring marathons. Initially, I hadn’t planned on running one, but runners can be race addicts, and I couldn’t resist. I thought about it a lot and nearly signed up for a race in Pennsylvania. But after some honest soul-searching, I asked myself why I was doing this and whether it was for the right reasons.

Honestly, I wanted a slightly faster time. Maybe even a Boston qualifier. I’ve qualified many times in the past, but not for a while, and I like the idea of doing it again. But that was the only reason. I wasn’t excited about the training, or the process, or the experience itself. And that didn’t sit right with me. So I decided not to do it.

I have a great race calendar planned instead. In 2026 I’m hoping to run the Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago in March, the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in DC in April (if I get through the lottery), the Chicago 13.1 in June, and the Chicago Marathon in October. I’ve never really trained properly for shorter distances before, though I’ve run a few 5ks and half marathons, and I’m excited to work with a coach who can help me train smartly and see what I’m capable of over these distances.

Since making this decision, I’ve felt really good about the year ahead. I have quite a bit of work travel in January and February which would have made spring marathon training challenging. This gives me space to focus on meaningful strength work, cross-train on my new indoor bike, hike at weekends when I feel like it, and take part in the Five Boro Bike Tour in NYC in May, something I’ve wanted to do with my husband ever since he first told me about it years ago.

It’s very easy to get caught up in the running hype on social media (I nearly just did!) and feel like you should be running marathon after marathon. I’m in my forties now, and it doesn’t feel sensible to push my body to the point where injury becomes more likely (not that it ever did). Marathon training is demanding, recovery takes time, and research consistently shows that repeated marathon cycles without adequate recovery can increase injury risk, disrupt hormones, and lead to burnout. I value running and what it gives me mentally and physically far too much to run myself into the ground.

We see so many influencers running marathon after marathon on Instagram. And if that works for them, that’s fine. But don’t let it persuade you that it’s normal, or necessary. Running a marathon once in your life is an extraordinary achievement. If you truly enjoy it, then by all means run more. It’s also completely ok to run no marathons at all, and never race!

Move your body. Run for enjoyment. Run for health. And do what works for you.

Let me know in the comments which races (if any) you’re running next year. Will I see you on a starting line somewhere or are you taking a break from racing?