December demands reflection. Before the calendar flips to another year, I want to take some time to reflect on 2017. It was a terrible racing year for me but it was a fantastic year of living! The year had no particular theme so I will recall the many themes of my 2017 and try not to bore you to tears.

2017 Was The Year Of…

TRAVEL

Oh where to begin? I know — HAWAII!

Going to the big island with my husband was absolutely the highlight of my year. I somehow managed to not have a heart attack during the hours upon hours of flying and, once there, had such a blast running and riding the Kona Ironman course (small, small portions of it) and hanging out with an amazing group of friends. If there was one vacation I would want to do every single year, it would be THIS one.

There was also so much fun to be had snowboarding in Vermont, a homecoming for my dad to Cuba (and a race that wasn’t meant to be), two glorious weeks in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and an unforgettable 13.1 in Las Vegas to cap it all off.

I love watching the boys continue to become skiers! It’s exhausting work though…

Cuba was such an amazing experience, except for the vertigo and DNS…

Cape Cod for two weeks this summer was exactly what we all needed!

Running the Las Vegas RNR Half Marathon was the perfect way to end the year!

2017 Was The Year Of…

The Dog

I kinda wish I had a take back on this one. Although I absolutely love my StarFire, she hates everyone else and it’s ridiculously stressful. Regardless, it’s just another adventure we had and the boys love her no matter what. Time will tell if she’s still with us in 2018. I hope so.

2017 Was The Year Of…

Living Like You Were Dying

It sounds morbid, but it’s really not. Since I turned the age my mom was when she lived the last year of her life (42), I decided to throw a huge party to celebrate, asking the guests to give me the gift of setting an intention to live this year as if it were the last one.

I absolutely did.

I said no when I would usually have said yes, even though I really wanted to say no. If you’re a woman, you probably understand this!

I especially said no to racing because it just didn’t feel right.

I took chances.

I took vacations.

I took myself less seriously.

I tried to enjoy even the most frustrating times with my boys.

I LIVED.

2017 Was The Year Of…

Taking A DNS

I only raced one major triathlon last year and took three DNS (did not starts) including the USA Triathlon National Championships.

I have zero regrets.

I listened to my heart and went with what I really wanted to do. I still enjoyed every bit of swimming, running and cycling, I just didn’t particularly feel like competing. I was living like I was dying and I have never felt better.

The one major Olympic distance race I did was truly spectacular. Not because I raced well (I didn’t) but because my kids ran to the finish line with me. I will never forget it.

2017 Was The Year Of…

Live Concerts

We have been on a tear where live music is concerned and I absolutely love it. Mohegan Sun Casino is only about an hour from our home and they get the best bands and musicians to play there. My husband and I had our very first date at Mohegan 15 years ago so it’s meaningful to us…and Bar American serves the best espresso martinis…but really, it’s the music!

Not all the shows we saw we at Mohegan (shocking!) but some of the best included Imagine Dragons, Ed Sheeran, Kenny Chesney and Katy Perry.  A highlight was seeing Billy Joel at Fenway Park and screaming all the lyrics with total strangers. #WeDidn’tStartTheFire

2017 Was The Year Of…

Being Grateful

I know it sounds corny but I was truly grateful for everything I was able to do and, everything I chose not to do this past year. I became more of myself through not racing and realized racing and training are what I do, not who I am. At the end of the day the only thing that truly matters is my health and being surrounded by people I love…most of the time.

I hope 2018 brings more of the same. Actually, screw that — I will MAKE 2018 bring more of the same and I hope you do too.

I will be taking a blog break (obviously I’m exhausted from all this traveling and concert going) and will return at some point in the new year.

Happy Holidays from my family to yours! I hope everyone gets a trip to Hawaii…

[Tweet “The Rundown is reviewing 2017 a little differently and mostly in pictures – check it out! #yearinreview #train4life”]

How was your 2017?

Finish this sentence — 2017 was my year of…

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