Birthday Reflections!!

Another year older and here’s hoping for another year wiser! No April Fools joke here, yep today I turn 36!!!

This weekend has been one for looking back and remembering moments of a year gone by. On a running front yesterday’s 20mi run was exactly one year to the day from when I ran my very first 20mi training run. March 31, 2011 I ran 20miles at Shawnee Mission Park and it was tough! It was cool and dreary and rained towards the end! Yesterday was warm and humid and was on Clinton trails which is tougher than SMP trails and my legs had a lot more miles on them. While tough, it got done! Yesterday’s 20 was also followed by 10 today at SMP which was something that would have never happened last year! March has had me log a 26miler, a 50k and a 20miler in three consecutive weekends and a year after my first 20mi distance run, I can truly see how much I’ve grown in my running! I’ve loved all the moments that brought me here, the good, the bad and the ugly ones!!

Although still related to running (since I would not have met a lot of them otherwise), on a more personal front this past year brought so many wonderful people into my life! Old friendships have been made stronger and some newer ones have been strengthened by miles or dirt and mud and hours of conversation! I was never one for making lasting friendships quickly as it takes a lot for me to really be comfortable and open up to people and really let them! I have been extremely lucky to have found some wonderful people that I bonded with very quickly and I cherish these friendships immensely and it has brought so much to my life this past year! I cannot imagine this last year without so many of those amazing moments with friends!

On a professional front, I’ve grown so much and taken on more challenges this past year! Its not been an easy one by any means, but I am finally really doing what I have wanted to do for some time in my position and have a great team to work with which is so very rewarding!! Hard working moments and lots of them have brought me here!

Personally, Its been almost a year now since I’ve been a citizen! I get to vote for the first time this year which is pretty exciting! My hubby and I are doing wonderful and our journey together is still so amazing as we get ready to celebrate our 9yr anniversary this week! We may not be the richest in money and assets, but I am so very lucky to have someone who makes me laugh and smile every day…even when we’re having bad days! He has been so supportive through this last year and I’m incredibly blessed to have him to grow old with! These are the most special moments that I would not trade for anything!!

I’ve learned more to do what I can to better myself and change the things I can and let what I can’t control go and re-adjust things as needed! ‘Relentless Forward Progress’ has not only become the way I approach my running, but the way I have chosen to look at life! I EMBRACE and LOVE being the age I am and look forward to seeing what 36 brings! I am stronger now than last year and so much stronger and feel younger than I did 10years ago. I’m happy, healthy and loved by the most amazing friends, family and husband a girl could ever have and really what better gifts and moments can I ask for?!