Change is good

Holy cow...my last post on this blog was over ONE MONTH ago? Where does the time go??!! I guess I'll blame it all on the holidays, which were wonderful at Casa Magnan...here's hoping yours were as well...

So it's almost the end of 2010 and time for some introspection about this year. Outside of giving birth twice, sending my husband off to war and moving our family to the heart of the Middle East, for me personally, this year has seen some of the biggest changes of my adult life.

Everyone is bored to tears hearing my Biggest Loser story, but I simply cannot overstate the gratitude I have to my friends/co-workers for starting the competition in mid-January. It was absolutely mind altering to go through that, lose 20+ pounds, get fit and learn to love running again. 12 months ago, I would never have believed that I was capable of running 6 5Ks and one 5 miler. In mid-January I could barely run one mile without nearly passing out. How glad I am that my life has changed for the better! This week alone I've run 2 10Ks (at 9:15 pace) and a 4.5 mile workout today (at 8:57 pace). I'm running my last 5K on Friday which seems a very appropriate way to end this year.

And I'm already thinking ahead to 2011 and races to run. I'm about 98% sure I'll run the Flower City 1/2 Marathon on May 1 and plan on the Lilac 10K later that month. The great thing about the Rochester area is that there are literally 5Ks and 10Ks every weekend from May - November. If you're in this area, here are some links to local running pages that already have some events on the calendar for next year: YellowJacket Racing, the Greater Rochester Track Club and the Rochester Running Page. The calendars are not filled up yet, but check back over the next few months and you'll find races all over the area. I look at it like this: a 5K or two every month or so is a cheap and fun hobby...throw in a cool tee shirt and what more can you ask for?!

Here's hoping 2011 is a great year for all of you! I'm a big Fab Four fan and keep singing this post-Beatles John Lennon song...whatever gets you through the night - or your next race or date with the treadmill - is all right! It's a great song to run too...