At the beginning of 2015, I picked a word that I wanted to describe my year. I chose Determined. I was determined to finish goals I had set for myself. I was tired of setting goals & “resolutions”, only to quit and not see them through. I wanted to accomplish something I would be proud of.
I’ve never been one to set BOLD goals or even big ones, BUT when you have a bestie who does, well she kind of rubs off on you. I had just started getting into running at the end 2014 and realized how much I love running. We had talked one night about her BOLD goal to run 12 5ks in 12 months in 2013. I thought WOW, if only.
I started in January with the Pensacola Beach 10k. It was windy and freezing on the beach, but it was a blast. Next was the Double Bridge Run in February. It was my 1st BIG race and had been panicking for months over it. I cried when I crossed that finish line. March was the McGuires Run, just one big party, and then the Rock-N-Fly half marathon. It was my 1st ever half marathon and then ran my 2nd half a month later in Mobile for the Biggest Loser half. That was a day I will never forget, cheering my friends as they finished their races.
In April I switched gears, I got talked into training for a triathlon. So now not only am I running but now I have to swim AND bike. I fell in love with the swimming part, the bike not so much. Two friends and I decided to relay the Grandman Triathlon in Fairhope, AL. I did the swim, turns out I’m a decent swimmer and I even got to jump off the Fairhope Pier to start the race. Sweet.
In May, I also did the Fiesta 10k with my bestie and a group of our friends. In June was the Run4Hope 5K & the Dog Lovers virtual 5K. My friends and I discovered how awesome virtual races are. You register for the race, run where ever you want in the designated time frame, and they send you a race bib and a medal. Our group of friends is all about the bling.
In July, our group of friends did the Portifino Women’s Only Triathlon. It was so encouraging seeing ladies conquer their fears and accomplish some huge goals. The bonus was we all went to the beach after and partied the rest of the day. In August, I ran a little local 5k to support a local kids football team. Have you ever woken up one morning and thought man I really don’t want to run. It was raining and gross outside, but when I got to the Perdido Bay Sports Complex I looked around. I realized that there weren’t many females in my age group, so I just went for it. I ended up coming in 2nd place in my age group.
By now I had finished 11 races, my mind was spinning. I only had 4 left to go. A good friend of mine told me about a 5k that her work does every year. It was a race supporting something so dear to me, adoption. I was adopted when I was 4 months old and I LOVE hearing stories about children finding their forever families. So I ran the Footprints to a Forever Family 5k.
Races 13 & 14 were races I didn’t train for. Yikes! I had registered for them at the beginning of the year. Trust me when you find a 12K and a Half Marathon for UNDER $20 you sign up. The Battleship 12K was well awful. I had problems with my shoes and was in pain most of the race, but I finished. I had 2 friends with me and we talked the whole time and we earned that medal. Then came the Volition Half Marathon, wasn’t ready for it, but I had a goal to complete. I ran, mostly walked it with a friend of mine. We were one of the last people to finish, but we finished.
I saved the best race for last. I ran the HO HO HUSTLE 5k at Running Wild. I was able to finish my goal of 15 races at the place where I discovered my love of running. Yes, when I turned that corner and saw the finish line, there was more than sweat dripping down my face. I was a finisher. I had actually seen a BOLD goal to the end. I wasn’t a quitter. In that moment I was proud.
I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me on this amazing journey.
My next BOLD goal……..16 races in 2016 with my bestie.
Always,
AngieB.
