This year feels the same. I haven't even started going through the pictures of the year to begin this post, so I'm not sure how I'll feel by the end of it! This year has just been so odd (for lack of a better word). So, here we go... my Top 16 of 2016.
1. I started the year at my goal weight! I felt like 2016 was off to an amazing start--I was effortlessly maintaining/losing weight, and I was training hard for a 10K in April. I felt like I was on top of the world!
2. On February 2nd, we celebrated the one year anniversary of adopting Joey. He's such an AMAZING dog, and we are grateful every day that we happened to pick him.
3. I ran a 5K PR while I was training for my 10K. It was a small race, and I actually placed second female overall! I won a gift certificate to a new local running store (that I still need to use!).
4. I got a new Jeep Renegade! Normally, I am not a "car person"--I've never been one to be impressed by cars, or even want to get a brand new one. But when Jerry had to turn in his lease, and we saw this in the showroom, I couldn't stop obsessing over it. It worked out well, and now I adore my car :)
5. Jerry and I took the kids to dinner in Detroit, followed by their first Red Wings game. It was a super fun evening! Before we left, my mom (who was going to dogsit Joey) took a quick picture of us. Is this not the corniest family photo you've ever seen?!
6. In April, I went to Portland to visit my BFF, Thomas--as well as *hopefully* run a 10K PR.
7. During my Portland trip, I hiked through a cave... something I never, EVER could have done before losing all the weight. I started the hike feeling terrified, and that I wasn't "fit enough" to do it. I got more confident the farther we went, and by the end, I was completely thrilled that I had done it! I conquered a few fears that day.
8. Thankfully, I did hit my 10K PR on that trip--much thanks to Thomas, who paced me! I had set a near-impossible goal, I worked my ASS off for five months, and then I actually hit my goal. It was crazy! This made me feel like I could do anything.
9. From Portland, I took the train up the coast to Seattle, to visit a reader-turned-friend, Laurel. She took me on A CUPCAKE TOUR of Seattle! It was awesome. We tasted cupcakes from four different bakeries, and finished with lava cakes. Best tour ever!
10. I went on my first trail run! My brother, Nathan, his girlfriend at the time, Kendall, and I went for a five-mile run in Pinckney, Michigan. I wish the trail was closer to home, because it was amazing!
11. Jerry and I went on a road trip to Cadillac, Michigan, for an overnight trip. We accidentally discovered that place in 2014, and we wanted to return. It's such a great town!
12. We adopted Monica, a long-haired tortoiseshell kitty, from a rescue group. I went to an event that Purina had told me about, and my family just fell in love with this cat! She's been amazing. She LOVES being petted, and if you're not doing it to her liking, she will let you know ;)
13. The documentary I took part in, From Fat to Finish Line, was FINALLY released! It was SO very weird to see myself on Netflix. I still can't really believe it happened.
14. Jerry and I took the kids to Virginia Beach for vacation over the summer, and unfortunately, it was right smack in the middle of a hurricane. The hotel was under tropical storm warning, and the beach was closed. A very memorable trip, to say the least!
15. I found out I'm going to be an AUNT!! I cannot even being to describe how thrilled I am that I am going to have a nephew in March :) (Brian and Becky are having a boy)
16. I had an AMAZING visit from some very sweet readers-turned-friends! Caitlin, Andrea, and Bonnie came to visit, and the girls weekend was much-needed. I hope we'll do it again next year!
16. (Yes, I already did 16, but I can't skip this one!) I met a little bird. It was such an amazing thing! I helped this little guy who was stunned from hitting my living room window, and he let me hold him for awhile. Then, a few days later, he was waiting for me on my porch and he let me hold him again! It was the day that Trump was elected president, which was--well, just plain crazy--and that encounter with the little bird was like Hope literally flew right into my hand.
Once again, I am so glad to have found so much good in this past year! In July, I went through a very deep depression, and it's been ongoing since then. I'm having a hard time getting past it. But I feel hopeful that 2017 will be a good year. A little bird told me so ;)
Some fun facts for 2016:
I ran 781.5 miles (a little up from 457 miles in 2015--the "year of the injury").
The day of the week I ran most often was Tuesday; the least often was Wednesday.
The month that I had the highest mileage was February, with 115.4 miles.
My average pace for the whole year was 10:33/mi (up from 10:31/mi in 2015).
I burned 68,181 calories from running... that's equivalent to over 19 pounds of fat (or 874 chocolate chip cookies)!
My most memorable meal was at McMenamins in Portland (same as 2015, actually)--I had Cajun Tots. So stupid, but I craved those tots for MONTHS while I was training. I told Thomas I was going to eat a pound of them for every second that I PR'ed my race. Haha! I ordered the biggest size, and ate about 2/3 of them. Totally worth it!
My current favorite breakfast has actually been coffee with hot cocoa mix. That's really terrible! I am going to change that and start having a real breakfast again.
My current favorite evening snack is actually chips--which is weird! I have always liked sweets, but for the past few months, I have had an aversion to a lot of sweets.
The thing I am most looking forward to in 2017? Hopefully, getting my motivation back--to count calories, to run my best, to write blog posts... I would really like to get back to how I felt at the beginning of 2016! But I was training so hard then; I'd definitely settle for somewhere in the middle of where I am now versus a year ago. I just want to feel healthy; not wonder if every little thing will make me gain weight; stop struggling; and just live life! Is that too much to ask? ;) Haha, I'd be happy to master just one of those things, so we'll see how it goes in 2017. I'm going to write a post (hopefully tomorrow) about my goals for next year.
Once again, I'm so glad I wrote this post! I realized just how many amazing things happened in 2016, which wasn't exactly the greatest year ever. It's time I just focus on the good, and forget the bad.
Happy New Year, Friends!! Here's to an amazing 2017! :)