2014: Year in Review

Wow, what a year it has been! To recap, here are some highlights of my favorite moments from 2014 (remember how much I love numbers and stats!):

Athletes to End Alzheimer's team on marathon morning

Athletes to End Alzheimer’s team on marathon morning

Running – this has certainly been a fulfilling year for running endeavors with many awesome memories with my running family.

13 completed races in distances ranging from 1-mile to marathon.

Personal records set in all distances raced.

—1,285 total miles run – that’s roughly equal to the distance from here to Kansas City 0r to Orlando and half-way back, and almost half-way to London floating in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

—More than doubled the total distance I ran in 2012, and almost 200 more miles than last year. Man, I was such a slacker back then!

—208 hours spent running – that’s more than 30 minutes a day every day for the year. What a waste of time, huh?!?

—Ran in 8 different states and 5 countries, either on a treadmill or outdoors.

—Over 50 hours spent at Local Barre and another 50+ hours spent swimming, spinning, or some other form of cross training.

—Wrote my 100th post on cindyruns.com. Thank you for being my audience 🙂

—Meeting and spending time with some amazing friends along the way.

—Raising over $1,750 for the Alzheimer’s Association, NYC Chapter.

Chicago Marathon - done!

Chicago Marathon – done!

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

Traveling – I love traveling, near and far, and I am so lucky that we were able to spend so much of our time whether for business or pleasure in so many new and old places this year.

—Domestic: Orlando, FL; Hartford, CT; Pittsburgh, PA; Indianapolis, IN; Chicago, IL; Philadelphia, PA; Bridgehampton, NY; Atlanta, GA

—International: Abu Dhabi, UAE; Bangalore, India; Mustique, St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Baska Voda, Croatia; Split, Croatia

—Sampling food, running, and enjoying the company of friends and family in these locations – priceless.

Old Town, Dubrovnik

Old Town, Dubrovnik

Our year would not be as wonderful if it weren’t for all the time spent with our family and friends. Thank you for a great 2014. I am looking forward to an amazing 2015!

Have a happy and healthy new year to everyone! 

 

What I’m grateful for and 100th post!

One of the first pictures on my previous blog of my grandma and I

11/1984 – Celebrating my first birthday… one of the first pictures on my previous blog of my grandma and I

This is the 100th post of cindyruns.com! I started this blog after the failed attempt at the 2012 NYC Marathon (Hurricane Sandy year). When I started training for the 2012 NYC Marathon, what would have been my first marathon, I started blogging to track my progress and share memories of my grandma. However, after the training season ended, it didn’t feel right continuing with the original blog and I really wanted to preserve the memories from that experience, so cindyruns was born.

Fast forward two years later and here I am writing my 100th post. This blog has been predominately about my running, occasional shopping adventures (though I shop a lot more than I share on the blog, don’t tell Josh!), and traveling. I share very little about the professional aspects of my life here, though maybe one day I will when I can find a way to combine my professional and personal interests. Cindyruns has become in some ways a journal for me, and hopefully a place where you can go to learn about what I am up to, and get some running ideas.

2002 - Our first Thanksgiving together

11/2002 – Our first Thanksgiving together

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the idea of eating and spending time with family and friends. There is no pressure of presents and since there is usually a whole weekend involved, I was fortunate to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with both my mom and dad’s side of the family growing up. It also helped that my uncle (on my mom’s side) and my cousin (on my dad’s side) had birthdays around this time. However, in recent years with some changes in our family, getting married and the combination of two families in two different states, other events – a friend’s wedding in Thailand, celebrating with cousins in Virginia, we haven’t stuck with our traditions. Last year, we celebrated with Josh’s family in Pittsburgh and this year we will be with my family followed by a friend’s wedding. Regardless, the highlight of this holiday is the chance to see family and friends and eat lots of good food.

With that said, I am so thankful for the year thus far. It has been filled with a lot of running, traveling, eating, and celebrations. I am grateful for…

—the ability to run. Running has bought me so much joy. It is the extracurricular activity and passion outside of work that I was trying to find for years. I am so grateful I found it and am very fortunate that it is such a big part of my life.

2012 - One of our first team practices for the 2012 NYC Marathon

06/2012 – One of our first team practices for the 2012 NYC Marathon

—the opportunities that running has opened up for me. Running has helped develop my interest more in fitness and nutrition, opened my eyes to the endless opportunities out there including blogging and who knows, maybe different paths I can pursue in the future.

11/2012 - the day of 2012 NYC Marathon

11/2012 – the team on the day of cancelled 2012 NYC Marathon

—all of the friends I’ve met from running. I am so lucky to have met some wonderful people who I can call my friends. They help fuel my crazy obsession and when we’re together, there’s no stopping how many races we end up entering.

10/2014 - Some of us crazies after the Chicago Marathon

10/2014 – Some of us crazies after the Chicago Marathon

—all of the trips we’ve been fortunate to take this year, from Florida to Abu Dhabi, India, Mustique, Croatia, Hartford, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Chicago, and the year’s not over yet! I love a good trip; the chance to see a new city, meet new people, try new foods, and run in different locations all excite me.

06/2014 - Celebrating our 5th anniversary in Croatia

06/2014 – Celebrating our 5th anniversary in Croatia

—the wonderful friends and family I have. No matter how far or close everyone is, I love how as soon as we get together it’s as if no time has passed.

03/2014 - Being silly with my family at our cousin's wedding

03/2014 – Being silly with my family at our cousin’s wedding

—all of the support and love from my friends and family (and of course a wonderful husband). Between running and work, it’s essentially two full-time jobs. I am so lucky to be surrounded by people who don’t necessarily have to understand why I love running but understand that it is important to me.

04/2003 - Throwing the discus at a track meet in college

04/2003 – Throwing the discus at a track meet in college

—the opportunity to share so many exciting moments with friends and family. From birthdays, weddings, baby showers, and births, it has been a year of joy for so many around me and I am so glad to be a part of all the special occasions.

06/2014 - Celebrating one important birthday for one important person in Pittsburgh, with Josh's family

06/2014 – Celebrating one important birthday for one important person in Pittsburgh, with Josh’s family

—so many more things that this blog post cannot do justice!

I am very excited to celebrate Thanksgiving 2014, see what the rest of the year holds, and just overall be very thankful! And thank you for celebrating my 100th post with me! In honor of today, Thanksgiving (a Thursday), and the 100th post, please enjoy the throwback Thursday (TBT) pictures!

How are you celebrating Thanksgiving this year?

What is your favorite holiday and why?