Looking Forward

Some of you know the story, some of you won’t, about how I met my husband. And I think it’s very fitting that our first real encounter revolved around a running race and a running bet (I lost, btw). Since that day, just over four years ago, my world has been turned upside down. A lot has happened in those four years, some really great things and some really sad things. But each year since that day I met my husband I ask myself, “how can I possibly top this one?” That’s a pretty good problem to have.

2016 can be summed up like this: AWESOME! I had a lot of success in my running and cycling and both sports combined. My husband and I qualified to represent the Canadian team at the 2017 ITU Multisport World Championships in the duathlon event, which will be taking place in August 2017. This is as close to “pro” as I’ll ever get so I’m going to relish every minute of it!

My husband and I at the finish of Great White North Duathlon
after qualifying for World's (his "good luck socks" worked!)

We also made the decision to try and expand our family. Even though we have had no success yet, I truly feel it will happen when it’s meant to happen. And my favourite part about 2016 was I started my own running coaching business that has been successful right out the gate. I cannot even describe in words how fulfilling it has been! I have learned, because of my husband’s encouragement, how much I can accomplish. And this is my sole purpose in coaching - to give back to my athletes what I have been given: someone to believe in them and help them achieve their personal best! To push them to become stronger physically and mentally and wake up feeling like they can handle whatever is thrown at them.

I also learned a lot from being coached myself this year, not just in training but on a life-level. I used to look at some of the workouts my coach would give me and go, “there’s no way.” But I took away two very important lessons from it all: to be happy with what you DO achieve and to accept when someone sees something in you that you may not see yourself. Take things “1 interval at a time” and try to stop worrying about the next challenge. Before you know it, that workout that used to seem hard or that moment in life you never thought you’d get through will be a distant memory. You will get through it and you will come out stronger in the end.

And so 2017 has a lot to live up to. What are on the plans? A half marathon, a marathon, World’s Duathlon (ya baby!), and growing my coaching business. I don’t usually make new year’s resolutions but mine was simply this: get more sleep. I’d also like to learn how to be less sensitive. But that is a work in progress. Further, I want to put my energy into some new and some old friendships I’ve developed. A few really stand out as also supporting me in my endeavours this year. They know who they are!

We also plan to keep trying for a baby, but are putting it on hold now until the duathlon is done. I want to go all-in and represent Canada well. And I want my life to go on if a baby isn’t meant to be for me. It’s easy to get caught up in what we don’t have going right versus all the good things we do.

So, 2017, bring it! I know there will be ups and downs but if we can finish each year wondering how we are going to top it, I think we can call it a success.