2010: The Year in Review

It's been a busy year, and full of surprises.

January started out with some really cold weather.  Wind chills were so low that school was called off two days in a row.  Naturally, the next day I decided to take a couple of my kids hiking.  About two hours to our southwest is a box canyon that has the most amazing frozen waterfall in the winters.

Well worth bundling up!

Apparently nothing blogworthy happened in February, but at a family dinner towards the end of the month, my sister-in-law asked me if I wanted to run a 5K race with her.  I'd been reading a lot of friends' posts on facebook about the Couch to 5K plan, so I agreed to go, bought the C25K iPhone app, and started running.

The one picture I posted to my Flickr account in February.

In March, my knees were starting to bother me from running in cheap shoes, and I was touched to get some good running shoes from an unexpected source.

March was pretty empty (picture-wise) as well.  But a former student (now a volunteer firefighter) came to do a community helper visit with his crew and two fire trucks.  Very cool experience for my current students. (P.S. While I teach first grade now, I had the firefighter student when I taught 7th grade.)

In April, I ran my first 5K in just under 30 minutes.  The next day, I went mountain biking for the first time and learned firsthand that it can be hazardous.

My right hand...got me out of washing dishes for 7 weeks.

In May, I went for my first long bike ride since the fall, and my 15 year old son dropped me like a hot potato. It wouldn't have bothered me so much, but it was his first time on a bike in about a year.  I also ran my second 5K.

Just once I'd like a flattering running picture. lol

In June, my summer vacation led to a big increase in posting (3 posts in May, 27 in June). I ran a cross country mud run, my first 10K, and rode the Katy Trail for the second time.

I do wear a helmet...it's hanging on my right handlebar.  I was just getting back on the bike.

In July, I ran another 5K, played mud volleyball, took second place in the Tour de Donut bike race (with my donut-adjusted time), took my first of three trips to Wisconsin, taught my youngest to ride a bike, and did a bike ride with my brother.

I'm smiling, so we must've won this match.

In August, I did another long ride (50ish miles), took a second trip to Wisconsin, struggled with overtraining and priorities, started a new school year, and most certainly did not compete with my brother.

Enjoying the refreshing waters of Lake Michigan with my oldest two

In Septermber, I made my last trip of the year to Wisconsin, played in another mud volleyball tournament, rode 104.75 miles in the Capital City Century, and played Survivor family-style.

With my aunt midway through the century

Ready to start the family Survivor games!

In October, I ran my first half marathon, joined Team Hangover at a 20K trail race, ran a 10K, and swore off ever making family Halloween costumes again!

Looking short post-Skippo

Sweeny Todd/Famous musicians theme

Things slowed down a bit in November.  I got some spirit and pondered the unexpected blessings that suprises bring (particularly surprise children), went for a family hike, logged some failures, and ran a 10-mile race.

Hiking

Team Hangover rides runs again!

And now it's December.  Hard to believe the year is almost over.  This was a fun month, though.  I volunteered at an adventure race, ran in a muddy mucky trail race, and came in 6th (out of 7) in a virtual half-ironman.

Hills + mud = exhausting, messy fun!

All through the year, I've met wonderful new blog and Daily Mile friends who've enriched my life, broadened my knowledge, and inspired me to consider things I never would have dreamed of before (adventure racing, marathons, and beyond).  I've signed up for things I couldn't do and completed them...not always well, but always finshed, anyway.  And I've learned a lot of things.  One, that I can do more than I ever imagined.  More importantly, I learned that you can compete and enjoy the competition and belong there even if you don't have a snowball's chance of winning (well, unless donuts are involved.  Then I have a chance.).  Even the last place finisher comes in ahead of everyone who never tried, and they probably had a lot more fun, too.  Well, once it's over.