A Quick Recap of 2013.

Going through pictures from the last year and remembering some of my favorite or most memorable moments I though I'd share some that stood out to me. 2013 was a great year for so many reason's but a extremely hard year that I never saw coming. I'm so glad that this chapter of my life has closed and I'm looking forward to starting a New Year fresh. 

March- I ran my first half marathon. 

April- I went home for spring break & spent the week hanging out with my little brother & family. 

April- I celebrated my 27th birthday with these beauties bc the hubbs was away at school. 

June-Was my first annual swamp poker run. 

June-Spent a week in WV with my favorite people at New River Gorge. 

I did lots of baking through out the year with my new kitchenaid. 

I ran a total of 11 different races during 2013. 

July- Celebrated the 4th with some fabulous friends and great food. 

August- The hubbs picked up his 6th BCT cycle. 

August- I headed back to Texas for my Papa's funeral. I was able to visit family, our God Father, and my other Papa who passed away back in 2002 for the first time. 

October- Went to the SC State fair for the first time, since its been open a total of three times since we've been here. 

November- We celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary and I ran my first full marathon. 

November- Our friends from VA came down for the weekend, the same weekend as our Anniversary.

 

November- The hubbs and I made a trip back to Texas for what has been one of the hardest moments of my life. Saying goodbye to my Mamaw. 

 

November- The hubbs and I celebrated Thanksgiving together at home just the two of us. After I did a little black Friday shopping with my girl B. 

December- We celebrated Christmas Eve with some great friends and then Christmas Day together at home. 

Im not at all sad to say goodbye to 2013 I'm quiet glad to see it go. We had some great times together and def. some hard ones. I've got high hopes and dreams that 2014 is going to be a great year. We've got some big changes ahead of us and I'm excited to see were that leads.

Running into 2013

I'm jumping back on the 500 Mile train for 2013. I did pretty well in 2012 but I didn't quite reach goal. No worries there's always plenty of time this year and thankfully its starting off pretty well. I'm already about 20 miles in and its only the 21st of January. I have a race this coming up weekend (10k) and then 2 in March (a 5k &) which includes my very first Half Marathon. So there's another 22 miles right there, plus all the training I'll be doing leading up to those races. Yesterday was our long run day, we only planned on running about 6 miles and ended up finishing it off at 9.52 (yes the .02 count). It's so hard to get a long run in during the week just because it gets dark so early. I don't mind going on the weekends though, because I am fully committed, refreshed from the work week and ready to go. If you want you can read my 500 Miles in 2012 post HERE. I also have links to my first two races there and what jumped started my journey on running. Over the last year I've become more and more committed and in love with running. Its by far the best stress reliever ever and I feel so good about myself after I finish a run no matter how long or short it is. I'm by no means a great all-star runner, I don't have a super fast mile minute pace like my husband but I believe for me and myself alone I'm doing great. I've come a long way from when I first started back when we lived in Hawaii. I never in my life would have though I would enjoy it as much as I do. If you would have asked me about 2 years ago if I'd be were I am today I'd probably laugh at you. One step at a time, one run at a time & I'm getting better than the day before. I've found that having a running partner has helped tremendously, it helps keep me accountable and the other person as well. I've ran with a few different people on random occasions here in the South & I never felt that connection or drive to keep pushing myself until I started running with Kelly. It's like a whole new world opened up and I've been going strong ever since. I do have those days were I don't wanna go, I just wanna go home from work and call it a day. However I know she's waiting on me, and I don't want to let her down so I suck it up and go. Afterwards I feel so much better and I'm always so glad I went. I'm focusing 100% on my running this year and building my miles. I'm building a better lifestyle for myself, getting my body in the BEST SHAPE ever (on my 30 b4 30 list) and loosing weight in the process. I have hopes / dreams / plans......HECK I'm going to do it....of running a Marathon before I'm 30. It's also on my 30 b4 30 list. (If you haven't checked it out just go HERE) I am not going to put the pressure on myself of trying to do it in 2013, but 2014 you better believe it. Baby steps, one thing at a time. I love running with my Nike+ watch that the hubbs got me the year before last for Christmas. It helps me track my pace, miles, calories & time. I try not to look at it while I'm running but when I get home and plug it in to my computer I'm able to see how I did. I can compare my runs, see were I need to improve and what I might need to do differently next time. I recently went and was fitted for proper running shoes for my feet and two weeks later I can already tell a big difference. Even with the change in the type of socks I was wearing. You really can't skimp on running and getting your body fit. Every little detail makes the biggest difference now and in the long run. I'm still learning as I go and making adjustments as needed. Since I've started running with Kelly I've learned that I need to walk it off after I finish running. My heart rate is up so high that I can't just stop moving. I need to slowly let it drop back down to a normal pace. Before I would never do this now I know better & really it makes so much more sense. It's one of those things you don't know or think about until someone tells you and explains why. Also stretching I'm horrible about it but I've gotten better, I don't want to fall behind or slack off because of my lack to stretch my body out before and after I run. It takes 10-15 minutes & it makes the world of a difference. I've got a long way to go but at the same time I've come a long way!!! I couldn't be more happier with myself right now.

2013 = a new year and a new me!!!!

500 miles in 2013 I will make it!!!! 

Check back in the months to come for a Mile count up!!!

January -

February-   

March- 

April-

May- 

June-

July-

August-

September-

October-

November-

December-

Any tips, suggestions from my fellow runners out there ?!?!?!? 

You can track my progress and Milage HERE the link is on my tool bar at the top of my blog as well!!!!! 

New Year....New Me

It's a New Year and I'm starting it off on the right foot. Literally!!!! February 2011 I got into running and have taken off with it since then. After moving to the South (fall 2011) it took me a while to get back in to a regular routine. With the move, getting settled and of course because of the climate and temperature change I kinda slacked. Once the winter months were behind us, I really didn't have any excuses. Plus the hubbs had given me a Nike GPS running Watch for Christmas that I had / wanted to put to use. I started out working my way back up to were I was before I left Hawaii and did so quite well. I've continued with it and stuck it out since then and feel so good about it. I never though I would enjoy running as much as I do, but I DO!!! It's such a great stress reliever and I feel so good about myself after I finish a run no matter how long it was. I'm determined to focus 100% on my running during the year 2013. I think believe by starting out strong and hard like I am, I will set myself up for success. Really it can only go up from here, there's not looking back or quitting, it's just not a option. 

Jan. 3rd, first run of the new year!!! 3.5

I've found the best running partner here in the South. She just so happens to be one of my moms in my class. We've become really good friends over the last 4 1/2 months. We make a good team to, we encourage and push each other along. Which I believe is key to getting any were in life. Everyone NEEDS encouragement and a little extra push and shove some times. I only wish we would have met sooner, better late than never right. 

Two things to do on my 30 b4 30 list are to run a half & full marathon. So during our run last night Kelly (my running partner) mentioned to me about a half marathon coming up in March to our area. We talked about doing it and debated it for about half a day and then decided to do it and commit 100%. So what does that mean you ask?!?!? Well I'll tell you......THIS GIRL signed up to run her first Half Marathon and It's only 2 "TWO" 2 months away. I've got some mega training to do but I'm super stoked and excited about it. Starting the New Year off STRONG. New Year New Me!!!! 

To help us build up to it and train we also signed up for a 10K that's at the end of January. WooHoo!!! 

LOOK OUT WORLD, there's nothing stopping me now!!!! 

I would definitely say that running has changed my life. I'm much more confident, it also helps me tell myself that I really can do anything as long as I put my mind and heart into it. I'm more motivated than I ever have been and I love that feeling. Not just in running but life its self and taking on what ever the day my bring.

Jan. 4th second run of the new year!!! short quick 2.5 ~ intervals 

 I'm planning on blogging more about my running and experience with it to help keep myself accountable and motivated. Any advice, tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

2013 GOALS!!!!

In 2013 my Goals / Resolutions are simple and to the point!!!! Of Course I have smaller every day life changing plans to implement into my life but I thought I'd share these with you. 

Over the next 365 days......In the year of 2013 I plan to...........

Continue to build my marriage, improve it and fall more in love with my Husband. Try not to take life so seriously and really embrace and enjoy the moment that we have together. He's my everything and I want nothing more than to live a wonderful, fabulous, blissful life together. My dream / goal for 2013 is to continue to love my husband unconditionally. 

 In 2013 I / We plan to continue to save and prepare for our future and whatever it may bring. Our Goal is to do better with our finances and were we spend. Enjoy life and splurge here and there and not feel guilty about it. Pay off were we owe and continue to improve our budgeting. Enjoy life, after all that's what we are busting our butts working for right. 

 My goal for 2013 is to also improve my body physically. Build my running by both time and distance and continue with it as I have been and even more. Live a better healthier life both on the inside and outside. Continue to get in the best shape of my life, there's no time like the present. There's no turning back. After all a Healthy Body is a Happy Body. 

Do you make Resolutions or Goals for the New Year??? 

If so what are they???