Recap of my Year in 2012

Hello virtual world!

so so much has happened this year. To say it was EPIC would properly define it. Although I am not sure if it was a good epic, bad epic, more of a mixed bag of both. Either way, I must admit I am kind of glad to say goodbye to this roller coaster of a year.

First, what happened to those goals I set out in January 2012?

Well, I am happy to say that I accomplished most of them!!!!!
-I ran my first ultra on Jan 28th just like I wanted to. I even exceeded my epectations when I was the first female to finish :)
-I qualified for the Boston Marathon at the Hyannis Marathon in February. I even made a comeback after my torn calf and qualified for the Boston Marathon in 2014 at the Baystate Marathon in October.
-I earned a shiny new PR for my half marathon time making it now 1:39 at the ZOOMA Women's race in September.
-I ran my first 50 mile race!!! I completed the Stonecat 50 Miler in November and I loved becoming an ultra marathoner.
-I did hit my lifetime goal weight membership at Weight Watchers finally in April
-I did find a church I like and begin attending. I have not been going as much right now because a lot of other things, but I will be going more hopefully this year.
-I did not get a sub 20 5k goal, but I really switched away from speed running to focus on ultra endurance, and I am OK with that :)

Easily  my Favorite running picture from 2012, the day I qualified for Boston.

And another BIG accomplishment, being featured in  Woman's Day Magazine!

- I did RUN 1,660 miles for the year of 2012 despite having a torn calf I think that is pretty damn good! I ran,swam,rowed, and cycled a total of 2,048 miles for the year! I will take that and build upon it for 2013!!

Most important though, I learned to breathe again. I ended a stifling 9 year relationship and it was the hardest thing I have had to do in a long time, but it was the best thing I could have done for myself. And now a year later, I am in a much better place than I thought I could be, and I watch sadly as the other person is not. But I have learned that, I cannot control the actions of others, only my own reaction to them.

I said several times this year that you must live each day without regret. I still believe that, I still have no regrets. I love the life I have carved out for myself and my peanut. I know deep in my heart that I made the best choices for both of us and for our future. We have a chance at a happy life and I plan to  make sure we get it. Because what I have learned most of all: I deserve it. I deserve to be happy and healthy and achieving those both together is possible.

Through the good times and the bad times I will always remember, Everything Happens for a Reason. Even though we may not know exactly what that reason is at the very moment we are experiencing our struggles, in the end we will. This is kind of my mantra for 2013, go with the flow, leave it all out there and live without regret.

2012 taught me how to live my life for me. It taught me the joys that come from tossing on my running sneakers and breaking away from the world for miles. It taught me that I can have that without guilt, and without losing the people I love. I learned that being me is a wonderful thing and that simply just being me is enough.

So today I will say goodbye to 2012 with a slight smile, the ending of a long chapter but the beginning of an even more exciting one to be ushered in. In 2012 I opened up my heart and found true happiness, and I cannot wait to see where our lives go in 2013.