And that's a wrap for 2018!

And that's a wrap for 2018

I don't know about you, but for me this year seemed to fly by. I've been kind of in a funky mood since I missed my ironman race.  Then I started putting together my photos for my yearly recap for a shutterfly book of all the races I did throughout the year and realized that I actually had a pretty good year.  It's funny how certain things will remind you of good things when you are in a funky mood.  As I look back at pictures from these races, I'm reminded once again of all my great friends.  

Looking Back on 2018:

1. Miss Blues Half Marathon - walked in rain with Katherine :)  It rained the WHOLE race.

2. Double Bridge 15K - Freezing to start the race with my buddies... Krista, Charity, JoAnn, Jennifer, Kathy, & Byron. 

3.  RnR New Orleans Marathon- Good times with my PPRF (Peer Pressure Running Friends) group.. Michelle, Be, Penny, Ronnie, Jessica. 

4.  Run for the Warriors Half marathon in the sand on the beach! Fun weekend with Candy!  Not sure how she talked me into running 13.1 miles in the sand. LOL 

5.  Dream 65 mile bike ride with my girls.. Mel, Sonya, Krista &  Frank (hee hee)... we like to call him one of the girls.

6.  Traditions Sprint TRI - Placed in my age group and ran into my cousin Pamela!

7.  Heatwave TRI OLY - Just did swim & Bike due to PF in foot ... no run

8.  Natchez Trace Century Ride 100 miles  --- a WET day!  It rained 80 of my 100 miles, however I made it and my sweet friends Mel & Sonya waited on me after they finished their 65 miles! That's true love & friendship!

9.  Tour De Burger Bike Ride - 50 miles with Jason on HILLS ... Boy that burger was good afterwards ... not to mention all the training miles I did with Jason over several months as we both trained for the ironman.  He was a good partner to train with on the bike!

10.  Kona Marathon - Hawaii trip with the girls... what an AWESOME opportunity and GREAT trip!!!

11.  Sunfish Sprint TRI - Forgot my bike helmet & shoes so Just a swim & run for me.  Who forgets their equipment?  dang it! LOL 

12. Columbus, GA Oly TRI turned to Duathlon --- Great weekend with Krista & Jennifer.  Such a cool area! Oh and I got 2nd place in my age group.

13.   Wiggins Sprint TRI - Fun with Jennifer & Amanda .. Placed again in my age group.. whoop whoop 

14.  Chase the Hooch 2.4 mile swim - Columbus, GA --- oh what a great day!  I proved to myself I can swim long distance in a river! 

15.  Zach Little 50 mile bike ride -  Benefit for a kid that died of cancer. 

16.  NO CHOO FOR ME --- bike wreck

17.  Justin Davis 5K benefit... fun with my sister-in-law, 2 nieces, & Brett's girlfriend Whitney.  First run since my bike wreck. Getting back out there! 

18.  Battleship 12K -  Awesome day with Robbie, Krista, Kathy, JoAnn, & Nestor. 

19.  St. Jude Memphis Marathon - Fun with my daughter & team Run4TheKids.. The team raised slightly over $25,000 and I raised slightly over $2,500 ... got to see Graceland finally! Marathon #13!

So I may not of completed my one big goal of an ironman, but I did have lots of fun at other races while training for ironman.   And what a year with great friends!  

I've already registered for Chattanooga Ironman again in September, 2019.  Yep, it's EARLY, but it's expensive to register for Ironman races and if you want the cheapest price you must sign up right when registration opens.  :)  and Boy I've had some friends really support me on this decision and then there are some critics....

We are all going to have critics in our life.  Everyone has an opinion.  I'm guilty of it myself.  And yes, it hurts when you hear of people you know telling others that they don't understand why you'd sign up for the ironman race again after being hurt.  I guess they want me to give up.  Well, sorry.... give up isn't in my vocabulary.  I mean it would be different if a doctor told me I didn't need to try for an ironman, but he's not.  Actually my doctor is cheering me on.  I had a MRI on my foot the week before St. Jude marathon because the PF pain I've had for 6 months has not gone away completely so he wanted to do a MRI to get a good look at my foot.  Well.... got the results back and the pain wasn't all in my head (yep, I had kind of hoped it was) and his diagnosis he gave me back in May was right... plantar Fascitis.  I have a nice case of PF with a small tear AND I have a cyst on my ankle.   Now I know why my ankle bothers me from time to time when I run long distance.   LOL   Anyway, the doctor says the PF can heal on it's on and it's not bad enough for surgery nor is the cyst bad enough for surgery.  He told me to continue on with what I'm doing.  He said at some point the cyst could grew and really cause me issues and we'd discuss surgery at that point, but not before then.  He said sometimes surgeries can just cause more issues.  Yes, I may need to limit my run miles and let this PF heal more, but he did not tell me to quit training.  He was sad I didn't get to do my ironman race.  He could not believe I had my bike wreck.  I didn't see him for those injuries because he specializes in the feet.  He had hoped I was going to bring my medal in the office to show him.  I told him give me a year and maybe I'll get that medal. :>)  

We must rise above our critics and not let them drag us down.  

I have other races I've signed up for also in 2019 and I hope to share them with my sweet friends!  I was going to do the full marathon in Louisiana in January, but I'm downgrading to the half marathon and plan to keep my miles on my foot low for now so that my PF can heal better before September ironman full marathon.  My goal is to keep putting God first and taking it one day at a time.  If I'm meant to be an ironman, it will happen. 

Have you set you some goals?  As I sit here the last few days of December, I'm still amazed how fast this year went by.  Maybe it's my age. LOL  I'm growing old and I don't like it. Hee Hee ...  I see a new wrinkle every day. :>)  But it just means I've LIVED. :>) and there are so many that don't get to LIVE.  Please continue to remember all the Clayton's.  The holidays seem to be so tough especially for my husband, step son and Drew's wife.  He didn't get to live as old as I am.  He didn't get to see his girls graduate high school or college.  Some days I still sit and think about it all day long and I get so mad.  I don't understand why.  It's not fair.  But I know in my heart I can't dwell on it.  One day we will know the "why" and for now I must trust God.   

Merry Christmas to you and let's all look forward to 2019.  May God's blessings be upon you and your family.