Happy Tuesday! So we’re officially half way through 2018 and I still can’t believe that it’s July! Although we had a very long and snowy winter, it feels like Spring went by in the snap of a finger and summer came through with a vengeance! If you know me, you know I’m already looking forward to Fall, but before that happens, it’s time to do a mid-year review. Let’s get started!
January
I started training for the Shamrock Marathon on December 25 so January was my first full month of marathon training. There were oh so many cold weather runs but I closed out the month with 123 miles. My friend Jessie also nominated me for The Liebster Award.
One of my many cold long runs during training
February
More freezing cold miles but I think my body was used to the crazy weather by this point. I completed the Supermans, Squats and Twists Challenge (hosted by Rachel). I also ran #allthemiles this month, clocking 139.5 marathon training miles! I also gave up chips for Lent (boy was that hard) and enjoyed watching many hours of Olympics coverage. After much serious thought, I decided not to run the NYC Marathon in the Fall (I had a deferred entry from 2017).
LOL! This is still one of my favorite photos from marathon training.
March
Marathon month! I ran the Shamrock 8K and Marathon. I didn’t get a PR (probably because I ran the 8k the day before), but I really enjoyed the experience. I also loved being a social media ambassador for the race. In addition I tried cyrotherapy and completed the Total Body Challenge. I ended the month with 90.4 miles. On a personal front, I started my journey with Be The Match and saved up and purchased my car off of its lease. It feels good not to have a car payment every month!
Finish line glory!
April
I celebrated Easter and my 35th birthday on the first day of the month 🙂 Although marathon training ended in March, I went straight into half marathon training for the Cleveland Half Marathon. I completed the Tricep Dips, Push-Ups and Jump Squats Challenge. Man it was hard but I felt super strong at the end of the month! I also started my Invisalign journey (they are basically removable braces). I hope that I will be done with the treatment by early 2019 and look forward to having a straight smile! Unfortunately the Tunes Tuesday link up ended due to lack of participation, but that doesn’t mean I still don’t enjoy music on my runs and during my workouts! I ended the month with 81.5 miles.
It’s nice when your birthday falls on a holiday!
May
I ran the Cleveland 8K and Half Marathon and finally met Rachel in person! I didn’t get the 8K PR I was hoping for, but it was still a really fun weekend because I ran in a new city, ate at Wahlburgers for the first time, visited the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and I got to spend the weekend with my best friend from college. I enjoyed being an ambassador for the race as well. On Memorial Day I joined Weight Watchers and I really love the program so far! I ended the month with 61 miles.
Rachel and I after the half marathon (it was hard for both of us)!
June
I had a really rough 10K race the first weekend of the month, but I got through it! Through the Weight Watchers program I finally accomplished my years long goal of meal prepping! I have to meal prep to make sure that I stay within my points for the day (so far I’ve lost 10 pounds). I didn’t run much this month (only 32 miles) but I completed my goal of getting in 10,000 steps per day. In the middle of the month I went to New Orleans for a work conference and fell I love with the city, despite the heat and humidity! I finished my journey with Be The Match at the end of the month by donating bone marrow to a patient in need.
Here’s how I’m doing on my 2018 goals:
Add 4 more states to my 25 State Challenge
Currently on track for this goal as I’ve added 2 states (Virginia and Ohio) so far.
At least 3 non-running workouts per week
I’ve been doing great with this goal as I have consistently taken boot camp, spinning and body works + abs classes every week.
Volunteer at a race
I volunteered at the Cleveland Marathon Expo and it was super fun! I hope to volunteer during the NYC Marathon weekend as well.
Freeze my eggs
I haven’t made any appointments for this yet as paying for my car and Invisalign was a hard hot to my wallet, but I may revisit this toward the end of the year.
That’s it for my mid-year review! It’s been a pretty busy 6 months but I think that the remaining 6 months will not be as busy, which is fine!
Are you having a good 2018? What has been your favorite moment so far this year?
I’m linking up with Marcia from Marcia’s Healthy Slice, Erika from MCM Mama Runs and Patty from My No-Guilt Life for Tuesdays on the Run.
I’m also linking up with Annmarie from The Fit Foodie Mama and Nicole from FitFul Focus for Wild Workout Wednesday.
Last but not least, I’m linking up with Rachel from Running on Happy, Lora from Crazy Running Girl and Debbie from Coach Debbie Runs for Coaches’ Corner!
You’ve had a fantastic year so far! The second half really started off well for you with your bone marrow donation. You are amazing!
Thanks Wendy! It’s been a busy couple of months so I’m looking forward to things slowing down in the second half of the year.
I had no idea about the Invisalign. I think you have a beautiful smile.
I also cannot believe we are halfway through the year. Great job on losing 10 lbs. with Weight Watchers. I also need to lose weight but love food too much. 🙂
Your winter photos cracked me up. It was a cold and long winter but I could use some cooler weather now.
Thanks Zenaida! There were a few things i wanted to fix, including an overbite, so that’s why I decided to do invisalign. I’m almost halfway through treatment.
I really love food but WW helps me keep things in check, but I also still splurge 🙂
You’ve done so many great things this year! Not the least being donating. And congrats on 10 lbs! That’s awesome!
We haven’t really had a lot of fun stuff going on in our lives the first half of the year. The Andy Grammer concert might just be the highlight of my year — but we’re about to go on vacation.
Thanks Judy! When I sat down to write everything I was like “holy moly”!
The Andy Grammer concert sounds like it was fun. I really like his music – it’s so upbeat!
I totally agree about Andy Grammer. 🙂 It’s sort of the kick off for some fun stuff for us — finally!
I can’t believe this year is half over. You have had a great year so far with your races. I have only run 2 races so far and that is fine by me. It’s nice not feeling like I have to train for anything. I am sure I will put some more races on my calendar come fall.
I really can’t believe that we’re less than 6 months to Christmas. I feel like we just started the year lol.
I can’t believe how much already happened in just 6 months! You had a great year despite this crazy weather. Hopefully the rest of 2018 will be even better!
Thanks Lisa! It was weird to sit down and write everything out. I was like “wow, its been a busy 6 months”!
I had forgotten about your April 1st birthday…that’s also my hubby’s birthday. Although you scaled things back in recent weeks (for good reason), you’ve had a busy year! I’m SOO looking forward to meeting ” Kim from PA” in Chicago 😉
All the cool people are born on April 1 🙂
You’ve had a full half-year! It’s so weird to sit here baking while looking at your freezing cold runs. Winter seems like a billion years ago. Congrats on buying your car. No payment is awesome!
Winter does seem like so so long ago, but I know it will be here again before we know it!
Loved seeing the pictures of you doing cold-weather running! Seems so funny that we ever bundled up like that now that the heat and humidity have hit. Congratulations on a great half year!
Yes, winter seems like a distant memory with this heat but I can’t wait to get back to winter running!
you have had quite the year so far! Looking at you all bundled up in January kind of makes me long for that again lol
Right?! I really don’t mind winter running…well except for when it drops down below 0, lol.
So far, one of my favorite things has been camping with my family. I’m also loving that I’m training for something specific again and not just for random, last minute things.
That sounds like fun and a great activity to do with the whole family!
I volunteered at the RnR Denver last year, and it was a lot of fun. What kind of things would you be doing if you volunteered at NYC?
It’s always so much fun to volunteer! For NYC I’m hoping that I can either volunteer at the expo or at one of the water/Gatorade stations on the race course.
Looks like you’re pretty much on track with most things. That has to feel great!
I’m doing well with goals. I am on track for 1000 in 2018, added NC to my 50 races in 50 states, and will be running two races in CA later this year. I have been fairly good about my cross training and I am enjoying myself out on the road.
Can’t ask for more than that, really!
wow you’re doing a great job this year so far! I have no doubt that you’ll continue to crush your goals in 2018.
I love your recap! You’ve done so much this year!
I’m doing pretty decently on my goals this year. Chugging right along – in both life and running. I’m looking forward to some running goal crushing in the back half of 2018.
Thanks so much Christine. Glad that you are doing well on your goals too!
You are CRUSHING your goals and you’re an amazing person for donating your marrow. I am super inspired by you!! Keep rocking the rest of 2018 <3
I hope to make the second half of this year better (more productive running-wise) than the first 😛
Thanks Annmarie! 2018 has been very busy so far so I’m looking forward to a not so busy second half of the year!
You’ve been rocking 2018! I can’t believe we’re half way through the year already.
Same! This year is going by faster than last year and I didn’t even think that was possible!
Wow, you had an incredible first half of 2018! Here’s to an even better second half!
Thanks so much Kathryn!
Friend, you are doing some amazing things in 2018. Can’t wait to see what the rest of the year holds for you. 🙂
thanks so much Beth! It’s been a whirlwind of a year so far!
Sounds like you’ve had a great first half of the year! Awesome job losing 10 lbs! Hope you have an even better 2nd half!
Thanks so much Sherry!
I can’t believe we’re halfway through the year. I feel like I’ve just gotten used to writing 2018! Great job on reaching your goals for the first half. Good luck through the rest of the year (which will also probably be here in the blink of an eye).
Haha me too. In fact, the other day I wrote 2017 on a document but luckily I caught my error, LOL
Great job on your goals so far this year! I really need to work on my consistency in workouts! I’m hoping to do more strength training and hopefully add cardio back into my life!
Thanks Farrah! Good luck with your goals for the rest of the year.
Hooray for no car payment!! That’s definitely a great feeling!
And you’ve had a killer start to 2018! And seriously, how is this year halfway over already? Weren’t we just all freezing? I think you are crushing your goals!
2018 has had loads of ups and downs for me but the past couple of weeks have been great and I’m focusing on that moving forward! 🙂
Yes it’s such a great feeling!
I have no clue how we’re already more than half way through 2018. It’s already mid-July!
Congrats on a great year so far! Keep up the great work! Happy 35th birthday!
Thanks Marc.
You’ve done some great things so far this year! I really cannot believe we’re already at the halfway point! I hope the next six months are good to you 🙂
Thanks Michelle! I’m hoping for a less eventful next 6 months haha