Happy New Year!

It was a quick trip down south as we headed home early on Monday so that Ryan could get home in time for a 10:00 meeting, but as always good to see everyone! 💗 

I spent the rest of the day working and getting stuff done around the house, and then it was back into the office on Tuesday. Came home early enough that Ryan and I squeezed in a walk around the school block before darkness fell. Sidewalks were very sketchy! (2.59 miles walked)

Wednesday was New Year's Eve. Headed into work early and then came home to get in a run around 2:30 through Highland Green. Didn’t hit my goal of 2,000 miles and while I realize it is an arbitrary goal, I was definitely beating myself up about it slightly, but with no race and other things taking my energy this year (work 🤪), it is what it is. Still grateful for the miles I did hit - 1,883 - and looking forward to what 2026 brings. (6.3 miles)

Then because I really am slightly crazy, once I got home from my run, I changed and headed back out for a short mile walk around the neighborhood to get my walking miles to a nice even 210. (0.9 miles walked)

And with that, it was a wrap on 2025! 

Of course, as always, the year is not just about the miles. No year is perfect, and there were the inevitable lows, and on my end, probably a bit too much work, but overall, there were a lot of highlights in 2025. We went to France! Sam got her license! Dad turned 80, Ryan and I turned 50, Sam turned 16. Went down to Texas for Morgan's graduation. Saw the extended Raymond clan for Nancy's memorial service as well as at the holidays. Sam, Ryan and I took a fun spring trip to Boston, I got in some running with friends (but not enough), and we had some good times both on and off the trails with friends and family. Grateful as always for this life I get to live and those I am living it with 💗

Looking back on my goals for 2025, I'd say I give myself a B.

• Continue to stay healthy, happy and reasonably sane. Sane is depatable 😉 but I stayed healthy and there was a lot to be happy about.
• Time with Ryan and Sam, including some outdoor adventures together. With swimming, work and other things going on, our outdoor adventures were mainly in France, but we did get in a trip to Boston together, and Sam and I spent a lot of time together in the car as we got in her driving hours!
• Time together with my parents, Irene and Dana, and the rest of the family. Always happy to be able to accomplish this!
• Enjoy a special trip to Paris together! We are headed there in late July/August with my parents, and then Sam, Ryan and I are going on to Chamonix for a few extra days. So excited!😍😍 Such a special trip!
• More time with friends, both on the run and elsewhere. I didn't get in a lot of Friday runs with the ladies, but did manage to run and catch up with friends throughout the year, and we managed to coordinate dinner and time with Neal, Kendra, Vicky, Michael, Nate and Shannon outside of our regular Chalk Pond summer weekend, which was nice!
• 2,000+ miles run. Nope, this did not happen. 
• 200 miles walking/hiking. Check.
• Get back to strength work, and hopefully hill work too once I choose a 2025 race. Only partially managed to make this happen and definitely wasn't consistent with the strength work.
• Run an ultra! Nope, this did not happen. 
• Read 75 books. Check. Managed to read 86 books!

For 2026, many of my goals remain the same -

• More time with family and friends
• 2000 miles run
• 200 miles walked
• Really and truly run an ultra after two years away
• Read 75 books 
• And, in general, enjoy life!

Cheers to another year of miles, smiles and all the in betweens 💖💗

Kicked off the new year with a late afternoon run on the powerlines. So glad I put my spikes in my pocket! Haven’t been on the trails in a bit. Had fun. Trails had been rolled and then some fat bikes had been on the trail too so fairly solid surface. Cold and windy but nice to be out! (6.0 miles)

Saturday, I hit the farmer's market, got some work done and took down the Christmas tree. Always a sad state of affairs, but it needed to be done. Headed out around 1:30 for another run on the powerlines and out towards the dump. Gone Fishing trails were great, no ice. Rest icy in spots but still pretty decent. Ran into Ryan on the way back and enjoyed his component for the final 1.5 miles. Nice to see him out in the trails 😊 (8.4 miles)

Cold and spitting snow on Sunday morning, so lazed around for a bit, got some work, cleaning and baking done and then finally headed out in the afternoon once the sun had come out and headed over to Highland Green. (8.0 miles)