Crossing the Finish Line on My #Twelve5KsInTwelveMonths Challenge

Written By Megan Hodgkiss

I like a challenge. There’s something so satisfying about setting a goal for yourself, maintaining your motivation, and then celebrating your success. Often, my challenges involve long lists and lengths of time. A decade ago, I challenged myself to watch every film on AFI’s Top 100 list; that took about a year and many, many trips to the GSU film library. When my apartment needed to be reorganized and streamlined, I completed several rounds of Courtney Carver’s 21-Day Decluttering Challenge. During the pandemic, when the city first reopened but we were encouraged not to group socialize, I found myself exploring Atlanta and visiting every location in the book 111 Places in Atlanta That You Must Not Miss. (I’m currently working my way through Secret Atlanta: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure).

What inspired this latest challenge? Last July, while I was visiting my friend Lindsey in Montana, she asked if I wanted to “run” the Island Park Sawtelle Fun Run with her. It’s a fundraiser for the Island Park Community Trail Project. Lindsey is a runner. I am not. I said that I would happily do the fun run, as long as we could walk or jog it. Deal! The Island Park Sawtelle 5K was a really fun event — well organized, great weather, and so scenic. We left with a t-shirt, a moose-shaped medal, and a bag full of locally-sponsored goodies. I’m definitely not the fastest 5K finisher, but this event reminded me how enjoyable these community fundraisers can be. You get to spend time with your friends and get some exercise, all while supporting a worthy cause.

Back home, the 5K with Lindsey motivated me to sign up for all my usual 5K fundraisers. I typically participate in several annual events that support the Atlanta legal community as well as health awareness causes. By the time I’d completed the registrations and put the reminders on my calendar, I noticed that, along with the July 5K, I was already signed up for seven different runs. Was this the year that I tried for a full year of 5Ks? Why not. Am I crazy for doing this? We’ll see.

To complete a Twelve 5Ks in Twelve Months Challenge, I was really going to have to push myself — be active and present. Also, I had a limited and specific timeframe to complete it: exactly one year. Unlike my previous challenges, this was not something I developed to entertain myself and pass the time. I didn’t take an existing list (100 movies, 111 places) and say “I’m going to experience everything on this list.” Instead, it almost felt like this challenge found me. As soon as I considered the idea, I knew I had to tackle it.

I feel it’s necessary to repeat: I am NOT a runner. So, this 5K challenge was already much more demanding than watching a movie or driving around the city. I would have to get up early and really push myself to complete the course, no matter who I was with or the weather conditions. I was going to be in pain and, at times, it would probably be a little difficult to breathe. My prep work involved getting a new pair of running shoes, new headphones, and buying Bib Boards. (I was planning on keeping my race t-shirts and didn’t want to put holes in them). I made sure the Exercise Mix on my phone was up to date. I watched a few videos on YouTube about running form.

Picking out the monthly 5Ks has been one of the most entertaining aspects of this challenge. I looked for 5Ks that supported causes that were important to me and that seemed well-organized. Pricing was also a factor. Bonus if the event had decent reserved parking.

After the Island Park 5K in July, my first event of the newly-formed Twelve 5Ks in Twelve Months Challenge was the 22nd Annual Adams Realtors Run for the Park 5K in Grant Park. I felt like I had the right gear and right attitude, but once the race started, I made some adjustments to my challenge goals. First, I quickly adopted the mantra “my race, my pace.” There was no way I was going to keep up with the regular runners. Also, I set reasonable objectives for myself, like “don’t fall and hurt yourself” and “try to move a little faster than last time.” I am very proud to share that I, in fact, did not fall — despite the weather and my sometimes clumsiness. I was also able to improve my finish time each race. Here’s a look at my full challenge list:

In addition to the 5Ks, during this challenge I also participated in fundraisers including: NAMI Georgia Walk in Chamblee (October), American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Walk in Atlanta Station (October), the Walk to End Alzheimers - The Battery (November), and the American Diabetes Association’s Step Out Walk Atlanta (May).

Which 5K was my favorite? My sentimental favorite is the Island Park Sawtelle Fun Run, because it kicked off the challenge, but I think I enjoyed the Mayor’s 5K on the Runway the best. Yes, I did have to wake up at 2:30am in order to get through airport security and registration at 4:00am, but there’s something so cool and special about running on one of the Atlanta airport runways. The course itself was flat and free from any debris. I got to watch the sunrise and planes taking off and landing around me. This is also an event that I get to do with friends, and it’s great for people watching and seeing Georgia public figures and dignitaries. I would do it again.

Least favorite? Hate to write it, but the Adams Realtors Run for the Park was not for me. It is not a walker-friendly event. I was one of only 15-20 walkers, which should have been a first clue. Many of the walkers didn’t finish the course. The motorcycle cops stuck with the runners, leaving me in some dicey traffic situations. The water stations had packed up by the time I reached them. When I completed the race, I had to ask the organizers to please get the tubs of t-shirts and medals back out of their vehicles. It’s tough to find an August 5K in Atlanta because of the hot summers, but I think going forward, I would rather just donate money to the Grant Park Conservancy than participate in the 5K.

Thoughts on in-person vs. virtual races? I completed three virtual 5Ks this year. One of the races, I loved the charitable cause, but wasn’t able to travel to the race location. Another 5K conflicted with my work schedule and I chose to complete the virtual version of the race later in the day. Also, for one of the 5Ks, I was injured but able to change my participation from in-person to virtual. While in-person events are preferable — you can’t duplicate that energy and camaraderie at home — it is nice to have the virtual option.

How much did I spend? My running shoes were a birthday gift, so I’m not including that in the amount spent. However, the Bib Boards, all of the race registrations, and three extra race t-shirts totaled $629.54. The most expensive 5K races were the Pride Run ATL 5K ($99.81) and the Hot Chocolate Run ($96.88), with the least expensive being the Run for Reading 5K, Running of the Squares, and Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival 5K (all $25 each, everything included).

Any special shout-outs? Yes! A huge “thank you” to everyone who joined me in the Twelve 5Ks in Twelve Months Challenge. I walked with Lindsey, Emily, Belinda, Jennifer, and Marsha. Belinda was with me for six of the 5Ks and fundraising events.

Will I be doing this challenge again? Umm… no. I’ll absolutely continue participating in 5Ks, but not on a monthly basis. I can jog a 5K on my treadmill or in my neighborhood without having to wake up super early or paying a registration fee. I would like to shave more time off my 5K pace, however, and I want to train myself to run/jog an entire 5K race. Maybe that can be a goal for next year. I do plan on taking all of my race t-shirts and making a quilt out of them — yet another idea inspired by my friend Lindsey.

Did I learn anything about myself? During my last 5K, I spent a lot of time thinking through this question. What did I learn? I know that if I set a goal, I’m going to meet it. I know that I can push myself pretty hard. But, I would say I experienced the overall challenge much like I experienced the individual races. I was excited to pick out the events — where, what outfit, who would benefit. The morning of the race is a lot of fun — there’s music, vendors, and the participants bring a joyful energy. When I would start the race, I would always think, “Crap! I’ve committed to this. Now I actually have to run this thing.” I would push myself until I reached the finish line, and then be so proud and excited of what I’d accomplised. The overall challenge experience was similar: excitement in the planning, determination to finish, and pride in my accomplishment. Maybe what I learned is how to set and celebrate hard-fought goals. That, and the importance of stretching before a 5K. Always make time for stretching.

Megan Hodgkiss
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Jane’s Walks: Promoting Civic Engagement and Community Connection