Here's a look back on 2015!
January
My best friend Keri and I ran the 2015 runDisney Marathon. It was her first full. While this was my 4th full, it was my first time running this distance with someone. All prior fulls I ran were solo. It was an awesome 26.2 miles and I was so happy to cross the finish line with her, glass of champagne in hand.
We celebrated by going on a 4 night cruise on the Carnival Sensation. It was the perfect way to celebrate our 26,2 miles. Nothing is better than some fun in the sun and total relaxation. In fact, we are doing this exact scenario next weekend, except we are running the runDisney Half marathon followed by a 7 night cruise on Carnival Valor!
My husband Gabe and I went back to New Orleans, 4 months after we had our destination wedding there. We ran the Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon. We love any excuse to go back to our favorite city and will be running this race again in 2016. Let's hope this time I don't have ugly blue tape on my knee as seen in the photo above.
February
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To celebrate our third anniversary in running, my friend Nicole and I went back to where we started - Princess Half Marathon weekend. I'll be honest - I have never had as much fun running as I did during this half. Nicole and I had a complete carefree attitude about the race. We stopped for every photo opp and had one goal in mind and it wasn't time....it was to have fun. I am sad we aren't doing Princess in 2016 but we both decided to shoot for runDisney Paris instead.
March
The 2015 Rock n Roll DC Half Marathon was on my bucket list for the past few years. I took my first step in DC at 10 months old (in front of the capitol building and I have photo proof). I have always wanted to visit as an adult. This was such an amazing trip and we would have loved to run it in 2016 except it is the week after Rock n Roll New Orleans and we cannot do two back to back destination races. I urge you to run this one!
Uncle Russell
While in DC, I received the phone call that my favorite uncle wasn't doing well. We lost Russell shortly after to liver cancer. He was diagnosed with liver cancer while Gabe and I were honeymooning in October 2014. It happened so fast. Christmas was not the same without him this year - stealing all of the Prime Rib and going home with all the leftovers. We miss him dearly.
April
I was accepted to run the Chicago Marathon, along with my husband, my best friend and her husband. That didn't happen......because............
May
I received an email the day after I got the acceptance for Chicago - would I be interest in going to Ireland and run the Dublin Marathon with ASICS, which was the week after Chicago? For those who don't know me - I am by no means a fast runner. In fact, I am a turtle. So this was a true fall off my seat moment. Of course I said yes - and more to come on this epic moment of my life.
June
July
Happy Birthday America
August
Something I never discussed on this blog.....In May, my husband quit his job and accepted a potential great opportunity with a risk. He has his graduate degree in Mental Heath and was miserable in his full time salaried position. He received an opportunity to work at a hospital, which happened to be his end goal company to work for. However, this was not a full time position. He could work 2 days or 5 days a week and even went a few weeks without working during the training process. The first two months were scary. Those 2 days I mentioned above? They were Saturday and Sunday, which meant we wouldn't have any time together. He went a week here and there without working one single day. We luckily had money in savings, I was working crazy overtime and making income from the blog, so we knew we would be ok for a few months. However this was a very stressful time in our lives. We were both used to a certain lifestyle and that came to a halt really fast. In August, he went full-time. With hospital hours comes working on some holidays. He was scheduled to work on Labor Day so we decided to take an early Labor Day 3 day weekend by going to New Orleans - because as you know, it is our favorite place :) It was the perfect way to say goodbye of the uncertainty and stress we had over the past few months. Then September happened.....
September
September was the most emotional month I have ever lived through.....This coming from someone who lost her father unexpectedly at the age of 52. We started the month with hopes of an exciting event. We were to celebrate my 2 year old Cousin Lana's "I beat Cancer" party on National Pediatric Cancer Day. Lana was diagnosed with Cancer at only 5 months old. She beat it twice and was in remission since July. I am tearing up writing this. We lost Lana the day before her party was scheduled, only a few days after her parents learned the cancer had returned. My heart broke, not only for the loss of her short life, but for my Cousin Mark and his lovely wife Allison. I pray each and every day for them. I can only hope that Lana's memory, their strength and love for one another will get them through this tragic loss. Death is horrible. Death of a child is something you are unable to comprehend. I have cried over Lana more than anyone I have lost, including my own father and all four of my grandparents combined. One thing I know for certain - Lana is in heaven with my Grandma, and they are shoe shopping and dancing on a daily basis.
One Year Anniversary Cruise
Zac
While on the cruise, I learned my friend Melissa's husband Zac lost his 3 year battle to cancer, a few days before his 37th birthday. I have known Melissa since we were in elementary school and she is my best friends co-worker. It was heart wrenching to see my friend lose her husband. It really gave me a new outlook on life - and you have to live each day like its your last and never take a single moment of life for granted.
October
With September finally behind me, I was very happy to officially announce being part of the 2015-2016 ASICS ambassador team. I have worked with ASICS for the past year and a half. Now I am part of an amazing team with 15 other bloggers. Many of my teammates are people I know personally and there are some who I became instant friends with in a short period of time. After the 2014 ASICS NYC Marathon Bloggers Challenge, I often joked that they had a psychologist study us because we all got along amazingly...I made friends for life thanks to ASICS. The 2015 NYC Marathon 5 to the Finish Line Group was just the same. Now merge us together with other incredible bloggers and we have a bit of magic going on in our little corner of 16. There is something to ASICS science beyond their shoes (better hurry, today's your last day to buy the #metarun). One question I am asked more than any other is "when can I apply" or "how can I become an ASICS ambassador". I will be 110% honest - we never applied for anything, ASICS came to each of us. We were all selected for reasons ASICS saw that matched their motto, A Sound Mind in a Sound Body. I am proud to represent this company for the next year on an official level. <3
Oh Ireland - how I love you so. Oh ASICS how I love you more. I was given a once in a lifetime opportunity to run the Dublin Marathon with ASICS America. I won't take too much of your time talking about our trip to Ireland, which you can see and read about here. I just want to thank ASICS once more for a lifetime opportunities that they gave me. I am thankful everyday and will never take anything for granted.
November
In November, I was asked to rappel down the Hyatt Regency Orlando, the second tallest building in city. I'm afraid of heights. My knees buckled and I got dizzy - why did I do it? To bring awareness to drug and alcohol abuse. The week before we left for Ireland, I got a phone call no friend ever wants to receive. My guy best friend Joel's brother took his life. While Jason and I were not close, his brother Joel and his wife Melissa are two of my favorite people. Their kids are my "fake children". Jason's family has been a part of my life for years. This was a very hard thing - seeing someone so young, a father of 4, take his life, for reasons we will never know. I did the Shatterproof Challenge for Jason and two other people in my life who decided to go down the wrong path.
December
2015 has been a rough year. While I am thankful for every single experience I had it was very emotional.
I am looking forward to 2016. Here is what is on my schedule! Everything in italic is not confirmed or something I am hoping for.
January
Florida Gators vs. Michigan at Citrus Bowl (I am excited to be going to my 4th the bowl game)
runDisney Half Marathon
Girls Cruise on Carnival Valor
February
potentially Daytona Beach Half Marathon
Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon
March
Nothing yet....ideas?
April
runDisney Star Wars Dark Side Challenge
May
ASICS Vine Body Sole Half Marathon Weekend
June
My birthday
Rock n Roll Seattle, also my Birthday weekend
July
America's Birthday
If I don't do Chicago Marathon, Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon
August
My Mom's Birthday (come on, I'm trying - Florida runner problems)
September
Really really hoping the runDisney Paris Half Marathon during our 2 year anniversary
October
Going to try for Chicago Marathon again
November
(all tentative based upon each other)
NYC Marathon - 3rd times a charm & I want to be there for ASICS last hurrah
runDisney Wine Dine Half
Rock n Roll Savannah
Rock n Roll Vegas
December
The end of a happy, prosperous and healthy year.
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