Run, Rest, Repeat: 52 5ks in 52 Weekends

Guest Q&A: Rebecca Miller
Read Time: 3 mins

Originally from northern Detroit, and now proudly a North Carolinian, Rebecca Miller has certainly found consistency in her running routine over the past year. Not only has she been busy crafting cold treats at NoDa Brewing Co. as one of the Brewers, but she also just completed her 52nd 5K race in as many weekends as she snagged race shirts, medals, PRs, and endless memories along the way.

​We caught up with Rebecca to ask her a few questions about her experience, what she’s learned over the past 365 days, and what’s next!

Hop heads can thank Rebecca for this hop addition to brew kettle

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• First off, where did the idea of running a 5k every single weekend of the year come from? It originally started as an excuse to collect as many T-shirt’s as I could haha, but turned into something I just enjoyed doing whether I was going to get a shirt or not. 

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• Did you have a specific goal in mind when you started? (Get faster throughout the year? See new running routes and/or cities? Collect as many medals as possible? Etc.?) Collecting as many medals as I could was a big thing, which helped fuel me to try and keep getting faster. The faster I got the more medals I won which, in turn, kept me motivated for the next race the following weekend.

 

• Did you have a designated running buddy, or do you prefer to run by yourself? Off and on yes, one of my friends ran with me when they were available, and I had a few different people randomly jump in races that I was doing. Throughout the year though, I realized I really enjoyed having some time to myself while running and started to appreciate the random solo runs.

 

• What was the farthest you traveled for a race? Freakin Hot 5K in Tampa, FL (9 hours). I was visiting for a family event and made sure there was a race happening within an hour of it where I was staying. Farthest without a reason was Thistle Meadow Wine Run 5K in Laurel Spring, NC (2 hours 15 minutes).

 

• You just completed your 52nd 5K with a massive 49 second PR on Saturday!! Can you even begin to explain the gravity of that? Honestly it was pretty emotional. Not only did I hit my goal, but to hit a huge PR was unreal! It took a few minutes to sink in. When I was crossing the finish line and saw the time, it didn't seem real. My previous PR was 25:11 which was 13 weeks prior, so to end it with a new PR of 24:22 was an incredible feeling. I can't even express the excitement and joy of finishing it on such a high note. I can't wait to see what is next in store for me!

 

• Tough one, but did you have a favorite race? That is a very tough call since I have loved a lot of different races for a lot of different reasons. The Whitewater Center’s New Year’s Eve Trail Race was by far the coolest. After navigating through this running journey for so long and being able to literally run into the new year was an awesome experience. (Editor’s note: the 5K race starts at 11:45PM on New Year’s Eve) Isabella Santos Foundation 5k for Kids Cancer was also one of my favorites because we always get a big group from NoDa Brewing to go out and run together, and it was extra special since it was their last year putting on a 5k.

 

• How many times did you reach the podium? 30 times out of 43 in person races!

 

• What is your go-to post race hydration? Xtend BCAA Freedom Ice immediately after, and then a few hours later is when I start my post-race Hop Drop N Rolls. 

 

• What was the biggest challenge over the past 52 weeks? Motivating myself to do the “virtual” races. For me, getting up to run is much easier when I have a set time and place to go. Having to get up and get myself going on my own was way harder than I expected it to be. 

 

• What was the biggest surprise or lesson learned throughout the experience? Biggest surprise was how fast I was able to get without training in between races. One weekend 5k was all I would do, no other running during the week. Sticking with that routine, I was able to shave off 4 minutes on my 5K time. 

 

• Now that you've hit the 1-year mark ... what's next?! Starting all over again! Going onto another year of running, just to prove I can do it again. To celebrate the end of this first 52 weeks I will be going to Florida and running the Disney Princess 5k which is a fun way to close out one year and start the next.  

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The original motivation

Follow Rebecca's ongoing running journey on Facebook HERE where she posts her weekly races, results, and pics. Or better yet, create your own running goal … at your own pace, on your own time, for your own reasons … whatever the case, just find a way to #GetUpGetOutGetMoving.

More to come ...

Yearround runner

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Run, Rest, Repeat: 52 5Ks in 52 Weekends