My Year in Review: 2016 Edition

Yesterday I shared with you the top nine recipes you loved throughout 2016. Today I’m continuing with the theme of looking back over the last year. So much has happened and it’s fun to take a walk down memory lane. This is my year in review — the 2016 edition. Thankfully it’s been mostly good… 🙂 Let’s begin, shall we?

My Year in Review: 2016 Edition

As a running coach…

Professionally, I’ve had a pretty great year. I trained an amazing group of ladies in the spring for the Kiss Me I’m Irish 10K, and then another group over the summer for the Rock City 5K. Both groups did an amazing job and accomplished all their goals — and then some.

I served on the committee for the 2nd Annual Race N Taste Trail 5K at Hiram House Camp. It’s a small but noteworthy race and I look forward to working on it again in 2017.

As a blogger…

On the blogging front, I launched my new look back in January. I’ve been really happy with it overall. It’s a lot cleaner and more crisp than my old blog.

I had the opportunity to work with amazing brands, races, and programs in 2016. Everything from the Cleveland Marathon, the Hoosier Half and the Lake Health Running Series to programs like If Girls Ran the World and products such as Orange Mud and Fartlek Running Company.

Linkups

In 2016, I came up with the idea for a linkup for coaches. I invited a couple other running coaches to join me and in February, the Running Coaches’ Corner linkup was born. The Running Coaches’ Corner is one of my favorite linkups, and for good reason. It brings like-minded individuals together to share and swap fitness tips and tricks, as well as provide guidance for improving race times or running abilities. It’s been a pleasure to work with my friends Lora Marie, Debbie, and Susie and I look forward to an amazing 2017 with them.

Also in 2016 was the launch of the Friday Five 2.0 linkup. With the ending of the famous Friday Five linkup by the DC Trifecta, the ladies from Fairytales and Fitness and I saw an opportunity to carry the torch and continue the tradition. It’s been an amazing ride so far and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2017!

The Meatless Monday linkup with Annmarie and I held strong throughout 2016 as well. We’ll definitely be continuing through 2017. I hope you’ll join us for lots of amazing meatless recipes!

On the health front…

A few things happened on the health front. I battled my IT band a couple times — at the Cleveland half in May and again at MCM in October. A nagging ankle/foot issue kept coming up, which is apparently starting to flare up again. I had a weird pain on the side of my left foot which turned out to be some bones that were out of place — ewwww. I also had another health issue come up just before MCM. I’m still going through the motions of trying to figure out the next steps but I think it might explain a lot of my running injuries over the last two years. Hopefully I’ll have answers soon.

On racing…

I didn’t race nearly as much as I would have liked, but I also needed a break from racing in 2016. On Friday, I recapped some of my favorite races, but I left a couple things out. I needed a break because I wanted to focus on having an amazing marathon in October at the Marine Corps Marathon.

I had a pretty amazing training cycle and I went into the race feeling fantastic. Unfortunately I fell short of my goal due to an old injury cropping up, and in the months that have followed, I haven’t been able to shake the disappointment completely. I did have a wonderful time even if I didn’t have the race I was hoping for — after all, it was a complete 180 from my first marathon experience and for that I am eternally grateful. But I worked hard and poured blood, sweat, and tears into training. I was hoping with marathon #2 under my belt I would be able to move onto bigger and better things. But I’m dissatisfied with my performance and therefore cannot move on yet.

With friends and family…

So many amazing runs with friends in 2016. Hundreds of miles shared, hundreds of stories swapped. Incredible memories were made all around.

And I can’t forget the moments with my family. My son trained for, and completed, his first 5K. My daughter joined me for the majority of my training runs throughout 2016. And I think I’ve even convinced my husband he should run with me on the regular. The memories created through 2016 with friends and family I will not soon forget.

Oh! And I got a puppy in 2016. Who’s now a 40-pound dog! And soon to be my long run running partner (I hope).

Look at this face!!!

Overall Achievement of Goals

At the beginning of 2016, I had some major goals. I wanted to run Woodstock, I wanted to run Sedona, I wanted to PR a spring half marathon. I didn’t accomplish any of those things — nor did I even try. But when I look back on the goals I wrote down, I accomplished the two that mattered. I ran MCM in October and I trained new clients to achieve their goals and dreams.

Other items of notable mention: I perfected the running leap. I successfully trained humans and dogs of all ages and abilities. Strength training and yoga were on point. I worked my tail off and accomplished great things. I wonder what’s in store for me in 2017…

And that’s the 2016 edition of my year in review. Overall, I would say 2016 was good to me. I feel very fulfilled as a running coach, as a blogger, and as a runner. There are a whole bunch of things I’ll do differently going forward, but every experience is a learning one and without them, we can’t improve ourselves or enrich our lives. Meet me back here on Thursday and I’ll tell you my hopes and dreams for 2017!

xo

TALK TO ME!

What was one goal you accomplished in 2016?

What’s one event or situation you learned from in 2016?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs for Tuesdays on the Run, and HoHo Runs and MissSippi Piddlin’ for the Weekly Wrap.