I haven't been blogging a whole lot this year. I wouldn't say I've been too busy, or that things have been boring. Mostly, I just haven't prioritized writing here. Life has been happening, and I've been experiencing it...and posting Facebook status updates! One year ago today, I wrote the following:
It feels somehow selfish and ungrateful to ask for my 2015 to be better than 2014. This year has truly been an embarrassment of riches. I feel guilty even asking for more of the same. I think it's possible that I'll look back on 2014 as the biggest, boldest, craziest, busiest, newest, most eventful year of my life. I hope that I continue to grow in 2015. I hope I stay as happy as I am right now. And more than anything, I hope that my friends and loved ones will be as happy as I am right now.
Believe it or not, I feel like in most ways 2015 ended up actually being better than 2014. Here are some highlights:
· In 2014, I raced 148.3 miles. I nearly doubled that this year, coming in at 282.6 miles. I hit my goal of 12 half marathons for the year, and of course completed my first marathon.
· I flew to California and New York for race-related vacations, and had race road trips to Atlanta, Tampa, and Sarasota.
· Disneyland!
· I sat in the sand in the dark and watched a sea turtle lay eggs, watched three sea turtle hatchlings take their first swim in the ocean, and watched Disney’s two turtles set off on this year’s Tour de Turtles.
· I earned a 4.0 both Summer and Fall semesters.
· I learned to cook fish…and steak.
· Alicia got married, and the family danced the night away down in Ft. Myers.
It’s been really nice to have a ‘partner in crime’ for most of this year’s adventures. And it’s pretty wonderful to be happy and settled with someone who shares my love of running and Disney and cooking and adventure and… well, you get the point. And that’s all I’m going to say about that, for today.
This year hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. Fall semester was by far my toughest yet. But even when I was stressed out trying to finish multiple year-end projects, I never wanted to give up. I just took a look at my plans and figured out what I could let go of or reschedule. I feel like I missed out on a lot of holiday-type things in the first half of December, but most of those will be back next year when I no longer have this grad school monkey on my back.
I’m also dealing with my first long-term running ailment, plantar fasciitis, which has taken the wind out of my running sails. It’s tough to get motivated to train when it literally hurts to get out of bed in the morning. As a result, I’ve really slacked off on my morning runs. Of course, that’s led to weight gain and a bit of depression creeping into my periphery. BUT there’s some relief on the horizon. I’m registered for my very first triathlon in April, so I’ll be getting my bike repaired and will be biking and swimming for the next few months. I’m also trying to come up with a plan to add in some core/strength training when I’m not running. Hopefully this new path will get me active again and give my foot some recovery time between races.
I feel like 2016 is going to be a year for major life changes. I can’t really visualize what life will look like a year from now, but I am highly optimistic. At the very least, I should be able to retire the term “student.” And at the very best…I guess you’ll have to stay tuned!
