December 31, 2016

Top 16 of 2016

This year has been kind of odd for me. I've had no motivation to write on my blog this month, for some reason, but I've done a post on New Year's Eve every year; and I'd hate to skip one. It started with the "Top 11 of 2011", and then the "Top 12 of 2012"... and so on. Usually, I start each post wondering if I'll be able to come up with that many noteworthy events, but by the end of the post, I feel good about all the things I accomplished or experienced and had forgotten about.

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! :)

25 comments:

  1. I hear ya girl. After a long spring/summer in the hospital a couple of times with my daughter and finding out she has ITP..a blood disorder...summer came and went and depression hit hard in October.

    I always struggle during the holidays but this time felt much worse. SOOOOO, looking forward to starting a new year for so many reasons!

    Cheers to you!

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  2. Loved that you managed to find some good amongst the darkness. Thanks for your continual frankness Katie, it's so refreshing. I hope 2017 can bring you more joy, and lift you out of your depression. Happy New Year from a long time reader xxx

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  3. Love this post - it's great to look back and reflect! I can't wait to see what awesome things are in store for you in 2017! I'm still working on healing from my ACL tear and surgery- working to run the Savannah Women's half in April (it's on the one year anniversary of my surgery!) all the best to you and your family!

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  4. Happy New Year, Katie!! Hope this coming year brings you abundant health and happiness!! :)

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  5. Happy New Year Katie and thank you for the update! Your blog is the first one to check each night and seeing this brought a smile to my face. Truly wishing you joy and peace in 2017 because you always bring me motivation to be my best running self!!!

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  6. Happy new year to you and your family!! You had such a great year and I bet 2017 will be even better! I love reading your posts, you constantly motivate me!

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  7. Happy new year!! If you're interested, try writing a list of random small fun things you'd like to do during the year and blog about each task as you achieve it. It's so much fun, and might help with the depression and motivation (speaking naively of course, no offence intended). Have a read of mine on my blog if you're interested, it's my 7th year doing it! Http://kelsbells.id.au

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  8. Happy new year! You certainly had some amazing things happen!! Hoping the depression totally lifts for you!!!

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  9. Happy new year love reading your blog! You inspire me so much and I want to get fit this year.

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  10. I think we should all write down 16 great things that happened in 2016, just to make sure we realize that no matter how bad it gets, there are still so many good things in life. It was a rough year for me as well, but in a lot of ways, it was the best year of my life. I am so fortunate in so many ways, and even though my depression was worse this year than ever before (I never knew I suffered from anxiety and depression until I started having panic attacks this year) some really great things came from me deciding that I couldn't just try to cope with it and use medication to "fix" it, I needed to make some changes in my life, and I don't regret a single change I have made. My life is so much better now that I have removed some of the stressors from my life, and I am going to keep on working on me....Now if I can just focus on getting rid of the 20 pounds I gained over the last few months! Keep on keeping on Katie, we are all right here with you! Happy New Year!!!

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  11. Happy New Year!!! Just watched your documentary, I loved it! Your top 16 for 2016 is also very inspirational. Like yourself, I have found 2016 has been full of ups and downs. Hoping that we can all leave the negativity behind and make 2017 a good year! Wishing you and all your readers all the best :-)- Kathryn

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  12. Happy New Year to you, Katie. I just want to let you know that I came across From Fat to Finish Line on Netflix yesterday, and your story was such an inspiration to me! My New Year's resolution for 2017 is to start running regularly and be able to do at least some local fun runs or races this year.

    Like you, I've been going through a rough time with depression over the last several months and have had a hard time getting past it. I'm learning to find the joy in the little things, and intentionally looking for those things has seemed to help some.

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  14. Happy New year Katie. I just had to tell you that I watched From Fat to Finish Line the other day on Netflix. What an inspiration you are for so many! I have briefly read some of your blogs and runner progress, from one runner to another, keep it up! I started running about 6 years ago and this year I will be attempting my first ultra, a 50km trail run here on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. I love running and all its benefits; great like-minded friends, new adventures, one-with-nature, therapeutic...just to name a few. I've had depression for many years and its running that has kept me going. Recently I've made a change in my life and started a new home based business in network marketing for a product line that has improved my mental health and has improved many others with their weightloss and overall health so like you I feel I am helping others be all the can be and enjoy their lives.
    As a runner, and with depression, I think you'd like to watch "Finding Traction" on Netflix, I think you'll find it inspiring. Its about an ultra-marathoner Nikki Kimball who breaks the woman's record on Vermont's 273-mile long trail. Nikki also suffers from depression and explains what running has done for her, it's quite moving.
    Again, you are a great ambassador, keep up the great movement you are doing!

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    1. I just want to thank you for the suggestion of Finding Traction. It was a great film!! Very inspiring :)

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  15. I found your blog after watching the documentary you were in on Netflix. I'm struggling right now and was am in need of inspiration and motivation. I found a bit of that in Fat to FinishLine. I've been poking around on your blog and really enjoyed this post. Thank you for sharing your story.

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  16. I am glad to see you still posting on New Year's Eve for the simple fact that it makes it easy for me to play catch up as I haven't really been on my blog in well over a year myself. I have let life get the best of me between full time job, full time student, mom life, and newlywed. However, here it is a whole new year and I'm determined to finally get myself back on track. I gained back everything I lost and then some so it's well overdue.

    I am happy to see you seem to still be at or near your goal weight and that your husband has managed to keep off his extra pounds all these years, too. I tried looking to see what all my old blog friends were posting lately and sadly you and one other were the only ones with any recent posts. I suppose I'll have to hunt down some new friends to follow for addded motivation. :)

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    1. Oh and I was excited to see the documentary made it to Netflix, too! It was too cool...

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  17. Quite a Year!!! Love the pet pictures, Joey and Monica are wonderful additions to your already wonderful family. Like you, I hope to get my motivation (focus) back in 2017. I found it last summer, losing a 53-lb. regain, but have kind of lot it again over the holidays. Every Day is a New Chance to Start Over. I particularly like how the little bird brought you HOPE when you needed it most. I know how you felt about THAT election! But as I've learned in my husband's almost four-year cancer battle, HOPE is always present! Thank Goodness for that! I hope your bout with depression continues to lighten,(my oldest son fights depression too) and as much as I miss your daily blogs, I respect your decision to step away a little bit. Just know, we loyal readers will always be out here waiting for your wise and witty words! It really was quite a year for you wasn't it???

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  18. I just discovered this blog and I am so happy I did, I literally just put on the netflix movie looking for some motivation for my new year running goals! Super Excited to get this year started!

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  19. Its always wonderful to look back! New Years is becoming one of my favorite holidays. :) This year as part of my continued resolution for healthier living I am registered for the race I have wanted to be part of since I first found your blog two and half years ago!! I am officially registered for the Indy Mini and love to pop back in to your blog every so often and catch up. You were such an inspiration when I began and continue to be so. Thanks for making the efforts you do to encourage those of us in our journey for weight loss and healthier living and reminding us maintenance is possible once we get there!! Happy New Years Katie!

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  20. I miss McMennimens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  21. Hey Katie, you know that I think you are the coolest girl EVER! Thanks so much for sharing that 1 Second Video app. I had another friend share his on FB and now I've already purchased it and can't wait to use it this year. Also, I love your blog and hope that you always write and share. We love to read you!

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  22. Ahhh your visit was the best!! I really hope we can get together this year!! I also hope this is the year I go into business as a professional cupcake tour guide.. but I'll start with the goal of seeing you first! Love and miss you!

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I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)

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