True Confessions: A Look Back

Back on Jan 7, 2011, I participated in a little monthly project with the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans.  (Really, a yearly project if you think about it.) The idea was to write a letter to the "me" of January 2012.  Make some predictions as to what was life going to look like for me a year from now (which is NOW - confused yet?).  Then, go back and read what I wrote a year ago and reflect on that.  Kind of a look back at my 2011 goals, so to speak.  So, here goes....


"2011 started out with a bang for you!  Only 6 days in, you signed up for your longest race EVER.  A 25k that you would go on to SMOKE in May.  You set your mind to run the whole race (after using intervals for your 1/2 marathon in 2010), only walking through the aide stations because, lets face it, you are a klutz and running over slippery cups while trying to drink and stay hydrated is a recipe for disaster.  Before that 15.5 mile race even started though, you were planning your training and you ran a couple other races for fun.  You convinced Mike to run a 10k with you in February (his longest race ever!) and then you ran a 5k for St. Paddy's day.  Fun races with fun people.  After the St. Pat's run, you got down to business and trained your heart out for Riverbank." Let's see, I DID kick the River Bank Run's butt.  As for a 10k in February and 5k for St. Paddy's Day?  Those didn't happen because I started training for a 10 mile race in April, but I managed to log 123 miles running in Feb and March!

"The Riverbank 25k was awesome, but know what was even better?  The next weekend, meeting all those amazing hookers you'd been chatting with on twitter and through blogging at Fitbloggin!  It was so incredible that you won that ticket from your friends at Shrinkingjeans.  You really could not thank them enough for the opportunity to go to Baltimore.  You got to room with Lisa, Melissa and Christy and had an absolute blast!  Seeing Kirsten again ROCKED.  So did meeting all those other fab ladies and then running a 5k with them.  You didn't PR that one (you had just run 15.5 miles 5 days before!) but it was the company that counted.  You even learned a little more about how to be a better blogger :)" Check and Check!  Probably one of the best weekends EVER.  I'm so sad that Fitbloggin12 isn't scheduled until September, but I'm hoping that I'll get to be there!

"You kept running and in the summer, you tackled your first triathlon.  Yah, you swam in open water, did a little biking, and then went out for a run.  All on the same day.  Amazing, huh?  If it weren't for those skanks pressuring you encouraging you, I'm sure you would never have had the guts to "tri" (ha-ha, get it? ohnevermind).  You got through the heat of the summer, got a couple more 5 and 10k's under your belt, and then you ran the SH*T out of the Grand Rapids Half Marathon.  Your time from last year?  Blew it out of the water!  I was so proud of you.  You felt strong and really enjoyed the moment.  You finished your racing year by running the Turkey Trot with Mike again.  You even convinced him to pay for a shirt this time :)  Did you realize when the year started you would log over 500 miles running?  That's pretty amazing, if you ask me (which I am you, so I do)!"  Whoops - I was WAY off here!  That triathlon never happened, and neither did the 1/2 marathon - BECAUSE I RAN THE FULL.  Because I ran my first (yes, I said FIRST) full marathon in October, I decided to take most of the month of November off from running, so no official Turkey Trot in 2011, but I did get out and run that morning.  I was also a bit off on that mileage total.  I ended up running 780 miles this year (and clocking 930 total miles).   

"As for the weight you lost in 2010 - it all stayed away thanks to the running and healthy eating you did.  You will always need to stay on top of your eating, cuz let's face it, you like food!  But you have learned what works for you.  Great job!" Here, I'm not happy to say, was a bit of a fail.  I'm actually up about 10 pounds from where I was a year ago, and this saddens me greatly.  No, I take that back.  It PISSES ME OFF.  I worked very hard to get down to my goal weight and in the last 2 months of 2011 completely blew it.  But, I lost it before and I'll do it again.

"I'm also very proud of you for not completely flipping out when your babies started High School in September.  Well, at least you didn't flip out TOO badly.  I'm sure they will recover.  Eventually." D and K have really rocked high school.  I'm so fortunate to have such amazing, gifted kids.  I think the flipout could have been much worse.

"So anyway, it was fun to reflect back on all you did this year.  No way a couple years ago would you have even CONSIDERED running a block, much less an average of 10 miles a week!  Keep it up, my dear!  You are a runner!" No doubt here, I have definitely become a runner.  Now I can't imagine where I would be without having that outlet.  This year, I'm also adding some serious strength training to hopefully get my skinny self back in 2012.


Now, it's time to start thinking about my goals for 2012.  That, my friends, will be a post for another day.


Looking back at 2011, what is one thing you never expected to do or accomplish?