2011 - REMIX!

I'm not really sure if this is a remix or not, but as I ran today, on the last day of 2011, I thought about what a great year it was and how excited I was for 2012. 

2011 was a year in which I had run/raced for 12 full months.  It had highs, and lows, but as I look back I know I learned a lot from the lows and that made the highs that much more cherishable. 

I broke PR after PR this year, which made for a lot of exciting races.  I shaved minutes off my best times and was fortunate enough to place in my age group in many local races.  BUT, the goal I wanted most, the chance to run in the Boston Marathon, escaped me.  That's ok though, life is full of heartbreak and uncertainty, and if most of my challenges in life thus far are running related I'll take that, I know I won't always be that lucky.

2011 was a year where my view of health and life in general changed a great deal.  I believe firmly this is the result of my running and my passion for life and how these things together continued to build upon each other. When I was training for my first marathon in February, I had just read a great article about "running mantras" that give people the strenght and motivation to push themselves when things get tough.  I came up with one of my own...."Run YOUR race, no one elses".  It's easy to hear the gun go off, see people passing you and lose sight of what YOU goals are.  This is the mantra I used every race.  It worked.  I'd see people pass me, I'd want to chase them down, but didn't...I ran MY race.  And you know what, I ended up passing a great deal of those people by the end of the race :) 

Then I realized that this isn't just about running....it's about life too.  Run YOUR race, live YOUR life.  There's always going to be someone out there that's faster than me, and there's always going to be someone who has a better job, or more money than me.  Who cares, I'm living MY life and I'm HAPPY with what I've created for myself.  Once I looked at things that way, it was amazing how much stress melted away.  It was easy to look at someone and be upset when they got the promotion I wanted, or had the nicer boat I wished I had.  But 99% of the time, when I look at the big picture, I wouldn't trade MY life for THEIRS for a few upgrades.  I love my life, the relationships I have, the things I have, the job I have.  It might not always be rainbows and puppies, but it's mine, and that's what makes it special.  Cheezy enough?  Thought so. 

Anyway, so long 2011, you were a challenging year, but I think I squeezed as much love, joy, and happiness as I could hope for from you.  Better warn your buddy 2012......I'm comin' after him next!!!  COMIN' A-YEAH-HA!!!