Happy almost New Year! I thought it would be fun to conclude the year with sharing some of my favorite moments from 2019 in the theme of 10’s (10 pictures, 4 themes, 40 photos total)- you’re still with me right? If not, just roll with it and enjoy the photos!

10 of my favorite experiences from the year:

• Getting 2nd female OVERALL at a 5k and a 2+ minute 5k PR.

• Getting to run and be in a podcast with former Editor-In-Chief of Runner’s World, David Wiley!

• Seeing this memorizing waterfall in Oregon with my mom.

• Checking off another 4,000’ here in New Hampshire that I hiked

• Setting a date for our wedding and getting to explore the outdoors with Alex this Fall.

• Going to my first RED SOX game!

• Having the strength, courage, & pure grit to decide to go back to school.

• Running 50 MILES through the heat, mud, rain, and hail

• Going to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival with my mom in Oregon!

• Collecting these medals (AND cowbell!) this year!

10 unexpected things that happened this year:

• PR’ing my half marathon by 5 minutes in March after running 7 miles beforehand.

• Running 28 miles ON MY OWN for a training “run”. Yeah, that was awesome and hard and totally exhilarating.

• Just how good Tillamook creamery ice cream really ice (you HAVE to visit their headquarters. So delicious)

• Getting 3rd overall female in a last-minute entry trail 5k (signed up that morning) the week before my 50 miler.

• How badass it feels to run in a sportsbra. Yeah, I did that more than once this summer ; )

• How incredibly humbling it is to go back to school and just how dang SMART nurses really are.

• Just how stunning the Pacific Northwest really is. I want to go back ASAP.

• How heartbreaking it can be to not perform to your potential at a goal race and also how really challenging it can be to run when you go to a big goal race by yourself.

• I realized that being close to family is so important and to cherish those memories we are fortunate enough to make.

• You can really actually wash your running shoes and they won’t disintegrate. That was a great lesson to learn after my 50 miler.

10 Lessons That I Learned This Year:

• How really great swimming is for you.

• How imperative it is to not give in even when you’re struggling. Keep going. Keep pushing. Keep pursuing your dream.

• How integral it is for me to slow down in the mornings. Journal. Stretch. Meditate.

• Just how dang hard pull-ups really are.

• Exercise is exercise. Get outside. Get active. Move your body. You’ll feel better for it.

• A challenging run = growth.

• Stop and smell the roses during your run (or kiss puppies). You only get one life.

• Diets are important, but also eat a darn donut every once in a while.

• It’s OK to be proud of your accomplishments and show off those muscles- you’ve earned them.

• Work hard. Stay humble. Practice gratitude. Know your potential and keep pursuing your goals no matter what others think.

10 photos from the year described by one word.

• Peaceful.

• Happiness.

• Quiet.

• CUTE.

• Grit.

• Distracting.

• #20

• Breathtaking (that’s one word- just roll with it)

• Rewarding.

• Love.

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-What are your favorite memories from the year?

-Give me 10 things that you accomplished this and describe them each with one word (no description!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!