It’s been quite a year…I toyed with the idea of NOT writing a recap of my 2012 journey, but quickly put a cabosh on NOT doing it…for every year I try to do more, be more, and more so IMPROVE more…
I will recap this year in bits. Breaking it up between career, fitness goals, and self-preservation and growth.
CAREER.
I started a new career in the fall of 2011, just a few months after my retirement from the Air Force. I still feel like a fish out of water some days, but other days I find myself learning just something small that makes me feel as if I am on top of the world. The civilian hospital setting is so different from military. But with perseverance I will prevail and succeed. Some days I may want to give up, but I won’t let myself.
I completed my MBA in March of 2012…something I though NEVER possible.
I was offered a position this year as an Adjunct Professor, teaching Histology, just last month. What is Histology most people ask? Simply stated it is the branch of anatomy that studies biological tissues. It is a truly artistic yet scientific field that can never be totally automated…I have been in this field for 21 ½ years now, and still find myself learning something new every day. I look forward to this new challenge, as I know not only will it benefit me in more ways than one; it also provides me an avenue to give back to the community.
FITNESS GOALS
I started the year fresh and filled with fitness goals. My 40th birthday would be in 2013, so finishing my first FULL marathon was looming on the horizon. I started slow and steady with treadmill runs, building my way up to my second half marathon. The Schaumburg ½ in May 2012. It was one of the toughest races I’ve had to date…It hurt, I sucked, and I wanted to give up. But…I don’t give up, and we (my sister and I) finished around the 2:33 mark. Blah. I got home, and feverishly looked for another ½ so I could redeem myself in order to regain confidence for FULL marathon training. And yes…The All State 13.1 in Chicago truly was my redemption, finishing strong at 2:11, my current PR.
I also ran a few other smaller races and had a blast doing them all.
Dash in the Dark 5K-with a PR of 28:10
Fox Valley 20 miler-Best. Race. Ever. 3:39 finish.
Dick Pond Hot Cocoa-um, forgot my time? Yikes! What kind of runner am I?
Chicago Hot Chocolate 15K finished in 1:44
Turkey Trot 4 miler finished in 40:57
But biggest of all, I RAN THE CHICAGO MARATHON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lol…And my finishing time was 5:23. THIS, was the hardest race of my life, quite possibly one of the hardest moments/days of my life. I felt every emotion known to man…joy, elation, stress, worry, and nearly defeat when my knee gave out with still nearly 8 miles to run. Thanks to my amazing sister for keeping me going!
It looks like I will not only finish out the year at 650 miles, but with more memories than I could possibly imagine. I’ve now signed up for the Egg Shuffle ½ marathon in March, and hope to have more races on my schedule soon.
SELF-PRESERVATION AND GROWTH
I have been on depression medication for more than ½ my life. I can proudly say I am now going over a month strong, medication FREE.
I have learned that not everyone will be truly happy for your success. But be, happy, anyway.
I have learned that some people want nothing more than for you to fail. Succeed, anyway.
I have learned that even when you doubt yourself, your “people” will pick you up and show you that you CAN. DO. IT.
I have learned you can’t GET support, without GIVING it in return. Show those you love how much they mean to you, always.
I have learned that the friends I have made through my running community truly are amazing, and in turn they have changed my life for the better. They get my butt out of bed. They motivate me, and they inspire me to be a better person.
I have learned that even in the darkest of hours, I can always find joy. For in the end, my joy in self-created.
Bring on 2013, I can’t wait for new adventures!
Movin' it with Michelle 
Sounds like quite the year with career changes, a huge year in running and growing within yourself as well. Great job!
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What a great year in so many ways. Here's to new experiences and new PRs in 2013! 🙂
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Nice recap of 2012! I bet 2013 will be even better for you.
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Awesome! And check out athlinks.com – it has most of your race results on it, and you don't have to remember…like your dash in the dark pr is actually 28:05 (woot!!). I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for you!
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Bobbi took the Words out of my mouth with the mention of athlinks :)You've had a wonderful year! And holy wow getting a PR at the 13.1 half. I did the 5k that day and it was sooooo hot. Cheers to an even more spectacular 2013!(and if you ever find yourself in Chicago, we should go for a run on the lakefront) 🙂
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Great work this year! I can't wait to read about your adventures in the new year.
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BOYCOTT AMERICAN WOMENWhy American men should not marry American womenhttp://boycottamericanwomen.blogspot.com/I am an American man, and I have decided to boycott American women. In a nutshell, American women are the most likely to cheat on you, to divorce you, to get fat, to steal half of your money in the divorce courts, don't know how to cook or clean, don't want to have children, etc. Therefore, what intelligent man would want to get involved with American women?American women are generally immature, selfish, extremely arrogant and self-centered, mentally unstable, irresponsible, and highly unchaste. The behavior of most American women is utterly disgusting, to say the least.This blog is my attempt to explain why I feel American women are inferior to foreign women (non-American women), and why American men should boycott American women, and date/marry only foreign (non-American) women.I encourage ALL American men to NEVER MARRY American women, and date/marry only foreign (non-American) women.Tens of millions of American men have had their lives completely destroyed by American women through the following crimes:1. False rape accusations (it has been proven that up to 80 percent of rape accusations are FALSE)2. False domestic violence (DV) charges (same as above, and up to 40 percent of domestic violence victims are MALE, with their female partners INITIATING the violence)3. False sexual harassment charges4. Financial destruction of men in divorce courts through alimony and support payments (women get up to 95 percent of their ex-husband's income and savings, as well as the house, car, etc)5. Emotional destruction of men by ex-wives who have stolen their children from them and forbidden the fathers from having custody or contact with their own children6. Divorced dads who commit suicide as a resultA few more reasons to stay away from American women? -25 percent of American women take psychiatric drugs for mental illnesses. -25 percent of women under the age of 30 have at least one STD. -85 percent of divorces in America are INITIATED by women, thus women are responsible for the vast majority of divorces. -70 percent of criminals in America were raised by single mothers, thus feminism is responsible for most crime in America. -The majority of child molestation, child abuse, and child murder in America is done by WOMEN.Another thing I noticed, is that whenever you bring up the topic of American men marrying asian women in front of an American woman, she will make some racist and hateful comment about asian women, calling them "slaves" or "mail order brides". My question is this: If American women are so "independent", "confident", "strong", and "empowered" like they claim to be, why do they feel threatened by Asian women? Why are American women so jealous towards Asian women? The real reason is this- Asian women are 1000 times superior to American women, and any American man who has dated/married an Asian woman will tell you this.If you want to get married, find a nice foreign girl from Asia, or South America, or Russia/Eastern Europe. DO NOT MARRY AN AMERICAN WOMAN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!Over 50 percent of American women are single, without a boyfriend or husband; so the fact is most American men no longer want to marry American women. Let these worthless American women grow old living alone with their 10 cats.American women are living in their own pathetic little fantasy world, where they think they are a perfect little princess. Sorry, but you are NOT a perfect little princess.Give American women the husband they deserve- NONE!BOYCOTT AMERICAN WOMEN!
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What a year!!! Congratulations on all of it! Here's to a spectacular 2013. 🙂
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Congrats on a great year!!! Hope 2013 is awesome!
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Nice list of accomplishments. Congrats on the marathon finish. I didn't know that it was possilbe to boycott women! Strange! 🙂
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That idiot tried to post that "boycott women" thing on my blog too but since I have to approve all comments I was able to delete it. Happy New Year! Keep reaching for the Stars, Michelle!!!
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This post is a real inspiration! Sometimes achieving your goals requires great strength and commitment. What helps me attain my fitness goals is militarygradenutritionals.com/blog. There I've learned a lot of things about trainings and dieting. Never before I've been having as much motivation and energy!
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