We are super excited to be included as guests on Strong Runner Chicks podcast! We are going to have two separate casts talking about our experiences, so be sure to stay tuned for Ashley’s, which will be coming up next! You can listen to mine by clicking here. {episode 14}

So this post is a little late, but not because I haven’t been thinking about it. I have basically been thinking about these goals since I started running again after injury in June. I do not want to dwell on the past, but look to the future! So here we go, below is a list of my top goals for 2018.

I spent some time reflecting on 2017 over the holidays. Where I am now and where I hope to be by the end of 2018. I took time to reflect on relationships with family & friends, my job and running. When it came to running there was a major shift in my attitude and vision.

If you had told me in January what my running would be like in 2017, I wouldn’t have believed you. What started out as a disaster, is ending on a high note (I think). I learned a lot about myself this year, especially about how to deal with disappointment and setback. Here is what I am taking away from 2017.

I don’t really know where to begin with how annoying chronic “injuries” are and I am sure many feel my pain, literally. Two years ago I developed a severe case of plantar fasciitis when training for Boston. You don’t realize how much foot pain can hurt until you are in it. About 1.5 months out I was on this path of running a day, taking 2-4 days off, running another day, taking days off and so forth. Finally after running a half marathon, with what at the time was a PR, I realized rest was the only thing.

Last month, I can’t believe its been almost a month, I ran my first real race in a long time. As many already know, my last two marathon attempts (Boston no less) have been cut short on injury. I am going to be finally running another marathon in January in Miami and Savannah Rock n Roll half was the perfect halfway point in my training to see how I was doing and get some confidence back in longer racing.

Stride after stride, race after race, injury after injury, growing stronger both physically and mentally all through decades of running. I began running by simply following my family’s pony around the fields every day after school. It wasn’t until the mile run in 4th grade of elementary school that I realized running could be my sport.

We have a bit of a random friendship in that it came when we were in our late twenties. Coming from Rhode Island, you know your competition. Its such a small state that you compete against everyone throughout the season, not just at the state meet. So we of course knew of each other and saw the other as our competition to beat.