On your mark, get ready, go!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding." Romans 3:5

The end of 2025 is a couple of short months away.  I planned or strategized to use 2025 as the year of the “great return.”  And I did what I laid out on paper, which was to return to activity and running.  I am now a bionic runner.  I no longer have discomfort in the hips, knee or back.  I conquered stairs, which is a good thing since my office is on the second floor of our building.  I celebrated 1 year post op on my TRHR in September.  In January 2026, I will be 2 years from TLHR.  

Although still slow, my time and endurance continues to improve.  I did a virtual 5k in October and beat the goal I set for myself (and hopefully proved a few wrong), finishing it well under what I predicted.  

I found a crew of people that clap for even the smallest of victories.  A crew that I find myself comfortable around.  As one of them said, "We are your people.  You belong here."  

In a few short days I will do my last event for 2025, but the first of a year of celebration.  I will be doing a 5 miler in our local turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning.  Nervous? Yes. Confident? A bit.  This year will be 10 years since I first did our turkey trot.  So you want to know about the celebration. Okay.  It's going to be a party! 

Recently I saw a sign up for what was my very first 5k. Wicked Wine Run. I realized when I do it next year it’ll be 10 yrs.  With that race, The Woodlands half (10 yrs as well), turkey trot, and a virtual Run Like a Diva I’ll recreate my first year of running and participating in “races.”  And crossing those first finish lines. How could I not pass that up?!  Sprinkled throughout this post are pics of when I first did those races.  

There are days when I think mine and God’s plans align perfectly, but I also know His plans are perfect.  He’s already waiting at those finish lines for me. 

In this month of gratitude, I am so grateful for the opportunity to have another chance. There's a song by Brandon Lake titled "Gratitude." Google it, look it up on Spotify, take a listen.  A new lease on life. More time to chase those goals.  I still see her when I run. Her- the one who sometimes ran effortlessly, who found herself after losing 200 lbs., and her who is also waiting at the finish line.  I’m not chasing her right now.  I’m working so I can catch up with her and she’ll be surprised....when I do with Glitter all the Weigh!