I think the end of the year highlight reel is important, particularly for those years that go down in history as being difficult. And if I thought 2014, and the move to our new home in Indiana was difficult, I was wrong. 2015 brought us trials and tribulations that would have broken most. Yet we are still standing strong, just a bit weak in the knees.
I encourage all of you to focus on the positive. Leave behind the negative whether it be people, habits, attitudes or memories. Grab onto the positive from each year and make your own highlight reel. When we are old & grey, nobody wants to hear sad, woeful stories but rather the ones that inspire and bring laughter & smiles. We get to choose the legacy that we leave behind, let it be a positive one.
Stats – 1100 miles on foot. 900 miles on bike.
Races:
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5K – 1
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8K – 1
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Half Marathon – 2
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Marathon – 8
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1/2 Ironman – 1
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50K – 1
Best Run – Charleston, NC – Cooper River Bridge
Favorite pics. 1) Kids first day of school, 2) Lilo – 2.5 months, 3) Aby’s First Half Marathon, 4) Celebrating Mom’s birthday at Dierks Bently.
Favorite Race – Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon, which is a “practice” run for the Minnesota Voyager 50 mile ultra up by Lake Superior in MN. Took Julie & I forever to run it. So freaking hard. But we smiled the entire time.
Best Bridges – Pittsburg Marathon. Really loved this race, town & all the bridges.
Fastest Marathon – Indianapolis Monumental Marathon – 4:26
Best Selfie – Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. Me, Erin Rose, Tamyra, Missy & Julie in the back “flying”. Love this pic.
Favorite Race pic – Ironman 70.3 Steelhead
In 2015, I checked 6 new states off my list: Missouri, Pennsylvania, Iowa, California, Minnesota & Oklahoma. My goal to run a marathon in every state is ongoing as a long term goal. I love the adventure and the road trips with my run friends. But I also like to support local races, help my friends and run group members achieve their goals and run iconic races that just so happen to be in states I’ve already checked off the list. I’ve ran 15 states thus far and the journey will continue well into the future. One state at a time as the family & budget allows and as my run friends can fit travel & new states into their schedules.
As we close in on 2016, I first and foremost pray for a healthy, happy family, then a healthy body that can continue to pursue goals at whatever pace seems manageable. I hope to color in a few new states on my marathon map and participate in a few more 70.3 triathlons. I’m looking forward to a fresh start, new goals and the beauty of the unknown. Cheers to 2016! I hope it’s the best year so far for my family & yours!
** Cheers ** Amanda – TooTallFritz
TooTallFritz 
Congratulations Amanda on definitely an amazing year for you! Admire your desire to focus on the positive as you put your past year of life into perspective. But never be afraid of the negative. In the tao of life…the opposites are what make life whole…you can’t have one without the other. And that goes as well in particle physics…or at least basic atom structure….electron (negative charge) and proton (positive)…hold the fabric of life together. Yes there are neutrons, but will ignore that and just pointing out…cannot have positive without negative…good without bad…love without hate…life without death. Just all how you perceive it. So when you encounter negative…recognize it is just part of the fabric of life…know that where there is negative there is also positive force….so just look for it…which is what you are doing here. Bless you Amanda…you come a long way with yourself in life and this blog! Happy upcoming New Years!