Thanksgiving Point Half Marathon!!

I DID IT!!! I can now say that I've run a half marathon! 13.1 miles! It was definitely the hardest thing I have ever done mentally, physically, and emotionally in my entire life. I am still letting the thought settle in a little bit. I remember writing a post not even 18 months ago, about how my family thought I had died somewhere along the trail of the 5k we were informally running as a family. It's hard to see how far I've come, because I live with myself every day...it's hard to gauge progress and success. But on Saturday, when I crossed that finish line, it was pretty easy to be ecstatic with how far I've come. This has been such a big journey for me, trying to get healthy again. Such a roller-coaster. I have been struggling with my health/weight for over 7 years now...and with each passing year I gave up on myself a little bit more. There was a point that I honestly just stopped looking in the mirror...I wasn't happy, and it affected every area of my life. And then, at some point, I decided I could change, that nobody was going to do it for me, and most importantly, that I was worth it. This realization didn't come as a lightning bolt moment, it happened gradually. It happened every single day as I forced myself to be aware of how I was feeling not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Awareness and perception have allowed me to take on my struggles a little piece at a time. That, and relying on my Heavenly Father, my higher power. I still make mistakes...a lot of them!!...and I still have a long way to go...but I know I can do it! This half marathon is a monumental milestone...it doesn't mark the end of my journey, and it definitely hasn't been the beginning...just somewhere in the middle of this life-long process of me remembering who I am, who I can be, and the things and people who are going to help get me there. One step at a time... :)






The last half-mile...My sister met me there with my girls to finish with me...one of the coolest moments of my life!

The last turn...so...much...pain...

The big finish!!

The medals...

A piece of my inspiration...

Kiss it...

My biggest support...:)

Me and my sister Angela...she got me through it...thanks Ang!!! Couldn't have done it without you...

The whole fam...

Hot mamas...


The reward... ;)