You Never Know Until You Try – by Elizabeth Kocek

2013 is coming to a close and the warmth of the holidays is approaching.   I feel as though I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on 2012… It was an amazing year.  My goals were:

– Run a marathon every month
– Run a 50 miler
– Spread peace to everyone
– Grow stronger as a person

I ended up running 5 marathons, 4 50Ks, a 44 mile Rim to Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon, a 100K, and a 28 mile Quad Dipsea.  Every single race was unique in it’s own way and provided me with a learning experience if viewed appropriately.  Starting with my first marathon in the Vibram Five Fingers in January and learning how to strengthen my feet and ankles for the next one in February, in which I was told the following day by my mother that I had placed 1st in my age group!  In March I made the dumbest mistake of 2012 and attempted to eat a 12-egg omelette with hash browns and muffins at Broken Yolk the day before the L.A. marathon.  April I had the chance to run in the canyons of Vegas where I again took 1st place in my age division, in May, I met some amazing people that I bonded with for life in the Grand Canyon, June I had my best marathon time of 2012 at the Rock’ n Roll San Diego marathon.  In July I met an inspirational English teacher in the Modjeska Canyon, in August I suffered through 105 degree heat at Mt. Disappointment 50K, in September I ran with one of my very best friends on one of the most beautiful islands our planet has in her first marathon.  In October I ran for 100 for America, running the inaugural Cuyamaca 100K, in November I ran a race that I had been reading about for years and, most recently, I ran a snowy 50K with my brother, the best way to end the year. (more)