It's been 5 YEARS....

....since I started this blog.

I can't believe that it has been that long. A lot has changed in my life since I started this blog. I have found a lot of positive things in my life since I started writing this blog.

I hope to have another 5 more years with this blog with all of things coming into my life. I thank the friends that I have met since I started this blog. I would like to thank my husband, Josh, who I met with this blog. You are all bring joy in my life.

Thank you for being a reader!

4 year blog-versary!

I can't believe that it's been 4 years since I posted my first blog entry. I have been a runner for 5 years. A lot of things happened in the past 4 years that changed my life.

1. I changed careers.
2. I dealt with difficult situations and transition in my life.
3. I found in love again.
4. I moved to Chicago.
5. I dealt with many incidents of injury.
6. I finished a Century ride.
7. I learned more about myself as an athlete.
8. I became a strong and more confident runner.
9. I became a faster runner.

I hope that the next year brings much more joy and excitement. Thanks for being there along the journey.

Happy 3rd Anniversary, Sweetie!!

I can't believe that it's been 3 years since our first meeting together. It's been a wild ride! Now we are planning to the last details of our wedding in March and honeymoon in Maui.

I am looking forward for the next year and having you in it. There will be a lot of changes in our lives. Some good and some not so good. But I know that you will be there with me by my side.

I love you!

2nd bloggerversary

Yes, I am starting my third year on my blog today. I can not believe that I have been writing my blog for this long. I have been through a lot since I started my blog. Here's a short summary of what has happened since I started this blog.

Graduated with my Associate's Degree
Started working towards my Bachelor's Degree
Passed my MN POST exam
Started training toward my 2nd trip to P.F. Chang's RNR AZ Marathon with TNT
Watched the Twin Cities Marathon
Ended up rolling my right ankle THREE times during the race from HELL (aka Race for the Apples)
Took a solo trip to Colorado Springs
Dropped down to the P.F. Chang's RNR Half-Marathon due to the ankle injury
Went to Chicago for the first time for New Year's and partied with Josh, OOSG, Running Jayhalk, Jason, and Leah.

Met up with Jenn, Pat, and his wife right in Phoenix
Visited my school's campus with Jenn
Ran P.F. Chang's RNR AZ Half-Marathon
After the race, I took a 6 month hiatus from running due to knee issues
Started the process of my divorce
Came out with my relationship with Josh
Flew out to Chicago for a job interview
Hired and started the process of move to Chicago
Josh flew into town.
My car broke down within the first hour
Moved to Chicago
Found a good podiatrist and started running again
Start running some 5K's and setting new PR's
Introducing Josh to the MN State Fair and eating almost anything on a stick
Graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree
Ran Shamrock Shuffle for the first time and set a new 8K PR
Headed out to Phoenix for Graduation

As part of my annniversary, I ran a 30 minute recovery run. I was nervous because I thought it was going to ran again. I do not like running in the rain at all so I chose to run close to home. It ended up clearing up and completing my run.

Tommorow's a rest day and another day of looking at homes in Berwyn. I am looking forward to it.

Josh and I: One year later

(WARNING: This is a LONG post with lots of pictures. Consider yourself warned.)

Bloggers, I can not believe that it's been a WHOLE year since Josh and I officially came together. The year has been VERY fun and full adventure. Here's some great archived pictures (and unshown in public - ever!) from the past year.

Our first in-person meeting started on NYE 2006 here in Chicago. We had a great nice evening with the Barb, Mike, Jason and Leah. It was a great night!!

Spending the rest of the weekend with Josh was one of my greatest moments in my life. Then came P.F. Chang's and the support from Josh was nothing that I have had in a long time (along all of your support too).

Pre-Valentine's Day weekend came and was a great time.

Then came the almost-distasterous interview adventure. Ice storm and snow - NOT a good mix if you are on a time-sensitive schedule.

But in the end we ended up celebrating.

And you could not forget out the CHOCOLATE!!

I moved to Chicago in March with Josh's assistance. I spent the week in between jobs relaxing and adjusting to my new home. There was also all of the unpacking and moving most of my stuff into storage.

I can admit now that GETTING to the Shamrock Shuffle was not pretty. But we really could let it out loose and find out way to release the frustration that morning.

And slowly meeting all of his friends during the past year has been GREAT (and the food too!)

And that includes Breeze, who allowed Josh to take a picture of this proud pug moment.

And Josh and I LOVE our food. Yes we do! (and it caught up to both of us too on the scale!)

Yes, Josh and I live together and have become domesticated (at least most of the time!)

And we like to go out and have a good time.

Josh has exposed me to new foods and places over the past year especially after I moved to Chicago. Indian food on Devon Avenue. Italian food in Little Italy. The Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai food in our own neighborhood. Our love for sushi.

We have taken some great vacations even though my weekends off seemed to be more precious than ever due to work.

I cheered him on during several running events - like Chicago Half Marathon (which he did GREAT!) and the full marathon aka the race from HELL(which I really wanted to fly into town for last year even before meeting Josh.)

I am even thankful to meet his family during the time that I have lived here. I have never felt so welcome since I have moved to Chicago.

We supported each other when we both started new job on the same day - March 26th. We were both in the same boat - for the most part - as faced new challenges in our careers.
Josh supported me during the 2nd half of the year as I completed my undergrad degree and prepare myself to go onto graduate school in the future. Graduation ceremony in Phoenix will be more special in May 2008 with this support. It is so meaningful.

We also lost weight together. We helped support each other through the struggles and tough times. I even inspired him to get more active by setting a positive example. He witnessed me putting a size 8 pants for the first time in over 4 years. We both saw each other get slim and more toned as we both got closer to our goals.

We also ran a few races together. One of them with a fellow bloggers. We ran as a team. We always had a lot of support.

I even surprised him with an awesome birthday with all of his friends and a few blogger friends showing up. It was a great evening.

He even put a fun evening together with my friends back in MN for my birthday. It was a great time.

We also celebrated our first Christmas together last week. It was a wonderful day.

This has been a fantastic year for both of us. It has been an awesome adventure. I am looking forward to many years to come with him in my life. I am so thankful to be in this blogging community and having Josh in my life.

We have our own positive challenges in the coming year both out on the running world and our personal lives. I look forward to these new challenges. ILYMTICS! (I love you more than I can say!)

May the year 2008 be wonderful year for everyone in the blogging community. Happy New Year! Be safe!