Starting a New Year!!

 

I celebrated a milestone this month, I turned 50! I celebrated with family and friends but made a special trip to my little piece of heaven in Lake Placid, NY. This is my happy place. It empowers me and brings me a sense of peace. 

I shared the trip with 6 friends, we laughed, we cheered, and we cried with each other. We shared goals and empowered each other to reach for the stars and make them happen.

I made a list of what I want to accomplish within this next year:

1. Create Happiness

2. Finish School

3. Run a sub 5 hour marathon

4. PR Tupper Lake 70.3

5. Podium at a 5K or Sprint Tri

6. Start Hiking and explore more of the ADK Park (if Covid - 19 lets me back into NY)

7. Explore Western Mass.

8. Be at a certain weight by 10/19/20

I would also like to learn to make pie crust. 

I have challenged myself to be present with every workout. I have challenged myself to approach each workout with Joy and to push myself to be stronger and better every time!!

As I approach this next year I want to inspire ... I want to be better ... I want to be stronger ... I want to approach everything with joy and passion, personally and professionally!

Every year, every month, every day we have the opportunity to be better ... not measuring up to other individuals better but your better!

Bring on this next year!! I am ready to embrace it!!

Thank you to my dear friends who helped me celebrate this milestone!!

Being Patient ...

 

Being Patient is not my strongest attribute. I recently read an article, The Benefits of Being a Patient Person and according to this article Patient People enjoy better mental health...I don't know if this is true or not. The article also stated that being patient helps us achieve our goals. The author of this article quotes, "The road to achievement is a long one, and those without patience—who want to see results immediately—may not be willing to walk it". Now I have achieved a lot of goals but I still wouldn't consider myself as someone who has patience.

Back in January I fell on some ice that was covered in a light layer of snow while running. I ended up in the splits and aggravated my Piriformis muscle and my gluteus minimus. I went through PT and was cleared to run the end of February just in time to run a half marathon pain free. Since I was cleared this injury has not bothered me one bit until the weekend I ran my 20 miler. I ran my 20 miler on a Saturday and then did a 5 miler on Sunday. I felt sore on Sunday and Monday but didn't think too much of it. On Tuesday I headed out to run 6 miles and ended up only doing 3 because I was in so much pain. It was the same pain I felt in January. I tried it again on Wednesday and was in tears by the end of this run.

A year ago I ran my fifth marathon and finished with a PR 16 minutes faster than my previous marathon PR. This year my goal was to run the Hartford Marathon (October 10) and finish with a sub five hour time. Well while I sat on the coach, sitting on a heating pad in pain, a week ago I had a feeling this was not going to happen. I took seven days off from running and tried to run a 5K a week later. I completed the distance but I was in a lot of pain and probably wouldn't have been able to go much further. My coach has now sidelined me, from running, for at least 10 days (the day I was supposed to run my marathon). Next weekend we will see how I am feeling and re-evaluate if I should run. I have completed some swimming workouts and I have been on my bike. It is amazing how often you use you glutes in every day life. My glutes were inflamed after my most recent swim but thank God I am able to bike without pain. 

I realize I am not the only person who is injured or who has ever been injured but slowing down or

stopping is tough for me. There are some underlining psychological reasons why. The thought of starting over ... the thought of who I was over four years ago terrifies me (even though I see her in the mirror every day). I feel like the whole world is moving forward and accomplishing goals as I sit on my ass. 

But maybe I need to go back to that article I referenced earlier. Maybe I need to practice a bit of patience. Maybe I need to take this time to re-evaluate my goals and embrace my "why" again. I can take this time to be grateful that I can still bike and swim (kinda). Reading other articles and posts about goals setting, many encourage you to step back from your goals and re-evaluate them and come up with new intentions, since often your life changes or you may not be making the progress you thought you should be making.

Trying to keep going when you are injured is not smart. I know I cannot complete the distance or speed I want to when running if I am injured. Crying while running is also not a good look!

So I am going to try to be patient and listen to my body. And eventually if not better I may need to go back to the doctors (UGH). And I will try not to think about everyone else running by me or that I will be sooooo out of shape!

I will share one thing before I end. I was challenged 25 days ago to do 25 pushups every day for 25 days. By doing this ritual you would bring awareness for PTSD anxiety and depression amongst members of the military. I completed the challenge but then challenged myself to continue through the end of the year. I will not be posting a video on Facebook, as the first challenge instructed you to do . However, I will be posting updates on Twitter and here in my blog. 88 more days until the end of the year. My twitter handle is @keepmovingmaura

100 Days to Go!

 

Yesterday was the first day of fall. The Autumnal Equinox began at 9:31 AM on Tuesday morning. Fall is my favorite time of year. The colors, the flavors, the smells and the cool brisk air makes me so happy! I will admit that I miss the longer days but when we have limited hours of sunlight, I believe it makes you appreciate the sun even more!

Well today, Wednesday September 23, 2020 I am celebrating 100 days left to this year!! This year, as we all know, has been a bit crazy and unpredictable. We have missed out on gatherings with family and friends, sporting events, races and so much more (too much to list). We as a country have rallied around front line workers but become divided over everything becoming a political issue. But I digress and it is not my plan to write about politics. 

It is my plan to celebrate these last 100 days. To embrace them and make the most out of them. During these 100 days I will try to break some bad habits that I started during this pandemic. I will go back to basics and try to improve what I started. I will continue something I started because it can only help not hurt and I will finish the year as I started it. What is all of this you ask...well let me explain.

At the start of 2020 I challenged myself to 100 days of journaling. It was something I embraced and found I really enjoyed. Although I am still journaling, I don't do it every day and some weeks it is only one day. So I am challenging myself again to take some time to write my thoughts down and embrace what isn't always easy. 

Recently I took on a challenge of 25 pushups a day for 25 days. I am 14 days into the challenge. I video tape myself and share it on social media to raise awareness for PTSD, anxiety and depression that result in suicide amongst men and women in the service. I also decided while I am down on the ground doing the pushups I would also throw in some planks and bridges. I announced at the end of the 25 days I would make a donation to a veterans organization, The Fisher Foundation.

Well I decided to continue this challenge for the next 100 days. I will continue the original challenge and post that on social media until I hit 25 days (11 days to go) but will continue with this until the end of 2020. I don't think I will video tape myself every day (I have to admit I don't like that) but I will figure out a way to share my accomplishments. And at the end of the 100 days I will make a second donation to an organization (to be determined).  I will admit I wonder if I can continue this one and it will be a challenge. But what do they say about challenges? They build character!?

I shared at the beginning I started some bad habits during this pandemic and with all of the changes going. Or maybe I broke some good habits that I want back. I have shared with you my struggles with getting focused on the research for my doctorate. I am distracted by the tv and what's on, and I have to admit I haven't found much. And I get distracted by wasting time on I don't know what but not anything important. So over the next 100 days I am challenging myself to dive into my school work. Work on it no matter what, get it done before I do anything else. I have wanted to accomplish this goal for so long...for over 30 years I can't give up now. So I am telling myself that every day I need to spend at least one solid hour doing my research and writing. You can do anything for 1 hour and you can accomplish a lot in 100 days!!

Finally, I am going back to basics. I need to limit my added sugar intake; lower my overall carbohydrate intake and increase my protein. This isn't any special diet it is what my body needs. If I increase my sugar intake and not pay attention to other things my body and GI track take a hit. I don't feel well and it can wreak havoc. I am not saying I am getting rid of everything because let's be honest some of the best holidays are coming up and that would be difficult. However, I need to pay attention and do what is best for my body in order to function properly. 

So I am embracing the next 100 days... the last 100 days of 2020 to do better and to be better. We have 100 days I can't be wasting time. 2020 wasn't all bad some good things happened. So with that I will not just wish my favorite time of year away, Fall, I will embrace it and try to make the best of the end of 2020!

#Keepmovingforward #Believe 

It was the best of times...it was the worst of times!

Through all my years of training for full and half marathons as well as triathlons of all levels I have discovered that you learn just as much, if not more, during a bad training day as you do during a great training day!

This weekend I had a 20 mile training run on the schedule. I decided I would do it on Saturday instead of Sunday to get it over with. I shared with a friend of mine that I had this scheduled and she asked, "are you ready?". I responded physically yes, I just need to stay out of my head. 

I had this brilliant idea that I would run the 20 miler during the last 4 hours of daylight. My thinking behind this was all of my training have been great when completing them after work compared to when I was doing them in the morning. So I got up, ran some errands and did some school work waiting for 3 pm, when I would start the run.

Around 2:30 I started to get ready. Bottles were full, stinger chews were lined up, one last trip to the fancy port-a-potty (the bathroom in my house) and I was off. I had my route mapped out. I would do a few different loops throughout my neighborhood giving me the option to return home to refill bottles and use the fancy port-a-potty. Things were going well.

Six miles down...return to top off the bottles. During the second loop I found myself drinking a lot more compared to the first loop and I was out of water by mile 10. I had two miles until I was home and my legs started to cramp...damn what was my body doing to me. I got back to my house, filled up my water bottles again and tried to start running again. My legs wouldn't move, they hurt, and I couldn't run another step. I ended up walking for an additional mile, thinking if I walked a bit I could start running again, that didn't work. I felt like I got hit by a Mack truck!

So what did I learn during all of this? Sometimes the best laid plans don't bring about the best results. Mentally I was ready for this run. I was excited to see if my brilliant plan would work. When it didn't and my body failed, I beat myself up. There was not one nice thing I was thinking about myself. So as I move forward into a new week I need to stay hydrated and let it go.

There is another 20 miler scheduled for Saturday! 

 

2190 days or six years!!!

 

On Friday I woke up and received this message from MyFitnessPal...I have logged my food for 2,190 days or six years straight! When I was ready to start losing weight I turned to MyFitnessPal to record my food and keep to a set amount of calories per day.

I wasn't perfect at first, I missed logging on some days. However, by the end of August I made a commitment to myself to log every day. The most important thing was I needed to be as honest as possible with my logging and myself. 

As I have shared in the past, a few months after losing my first 25 pounds and logging for several months, I was diagnosed with diabetes. Cuz you know everyone is diagnosed with diabetes after losing 25 pounds. Following the diagnoses I started working with a fabulous nurse practitioner who focused on my diabetes. I used the app MyFitnessPal to share with her what I was eating and also focus on the amount of carbohydrates I was taking in, so the logging continued! Six years later, I am still logging!

It keeps me accountable and feeling some what in control. Sometimes it is frustrating and I think why bother when I record everything but still the scale doesn't move. However, as an update in that category, the scale has been going down for the past four weeks. Slowly, 1/2 pound per week but it has been going down...Woo Hoo!!

It has been four weeks since I started my new job. I can't believe it. I have enjoyed it a lot and time is flying by. Throughout this time I have been trying to figure out my schedule and balance everything, workouts, school work, and work. I have been moving things around to see what works best. For several years I worked very hard at being a morning worker outer. I would get my workouts done, head to work and then head to the library to do my school work. 

I think mentally I took the summer off from school and I am working hard at getting that motivation back. This past week I thought I would try to change things up to see how I do. So for the five days this past week I worked out after work. I always hated working out after work because I would find the time to talk myself out of it. But this week something magical happen, I looked forward to the workouts and I had some incredible times and felt great completing the workouts.

Thursday I had a speed workout that was a 3x1 mile and I completed the workout with negative splits On Friday I had a speed workout that I worked so hard at achieving. Like many of you, I did not swim for four solid months. 6 weeks ago I started swimming again and worked hard week and week to bring my time back down to my average...I finally did it Friday night!! My average time was 1:57/100 yards. This was actually a fantastic time compared to my times even before the pandemic. 

This weekend was supposed to be the Cazenovia Triathlon. This tri is one of my favorites and its a tough course. Back in 2001 I did it for the first time, my second triathlon of my career and I was hooked. Well sadly like everything else it has gone viral. The funny part was I couldn't remember if I officially signed up for the race or not. I couldn't find my receipt or my registration on the race page so my coach and I agreed I must not have committed to it this year. Well wouldn't you know I actually did sign up for it this year, I received an email yesterday with instructions on how to complete the virtual race and my registration number was associated with the email. So I woke up this morning and decided to at least complete the bike and run portions of the race. And something pushed me today and I felt great. Fourteen miles on the bike and a 5K run with times I haven't seen in a long time or ever. I did the bike in under an hour (which is HUGE for me) and I had negative splits on the run!! I will do the swim portion this week at some point, which is my strength of the three disciplines. Oh how I miss racing!!!

Finally I had the opportunity to talk to a dear friend this afternoon. She has been struggling with her workouts and I have been struggling with my school work. I feel like mentally I just shut down during July and August, but summer is ending soon!! So we promised to push each other and hold each other accountable. We will do the text message check in. We will let each other know if we got up and got our workouts and/or school work done.

My plan is to do my school work in the morning before work and my workouts after work. I will keep doing this until I need to change something up. She would like to complete her workouts in the AM so Monday is day one. 

I shared with her that September 1 - December 31 is 122 days. It is my goal to work on my research for the next 122 days. Within those 122 days I will put official deadlines on my calendar that I will have to meet and submit to my advisor. The tough part about doing research compared to actual classroom work, there are not homework deadlines. I have to set those deadlines up and stick to them. I also set a finish line goal for myself. It is my goal and desire, to finish this research by September 1, 2021.

So here is to the next 122 days (or 123 if you count August 31). 

Wish Me Luck...Always striving to do better and be better...Keep Moving!!

You Win Some You Lose Some...

 

My water bottles were filled, my running clothes were waiting for me, and I had a plan. I went to bed and my alarm was set. I was ready to go as soon as the alarm went off!

Well the alarm rang and I woke up in a funk and a fog. I couldn’t get moving, I felt tired and my legs felt heavy. The original plan I had to run in a certain area, went out the window. I decided to get a few things done on my "to do" list, thinking it would inspire me to get going. I finally pushed myself out the door but as soon as I got moving I knew it wasn't going to be good. I was moving slower than usual and my legs were shot!

I got to the 1.10 miles mark, the corner of Dayton Street and Plumtree Road, and I already felt beat up at that point. If I turned right, the run would continue, if I turned left I could walk home and be done with it. I decided to turn right and dig deep to see what I could do this morning. Up and down some hills, in and out of the sun beating on me, in and out of neighborhoods and I was back to my house at mile 7. I refilled my water bottles and said to myself I could do this. But I decided to change locations. I headed to the park where I run often hoping it would be shaded and inspire me. I continued to push but during mile 10 I walked more than I ran and by 10.25 miles I knew I was done and had nothing left. I was supposed to do 15 this morning but I figured the 10.25 wasn't too bad since I was ready to quit at mile 1.10 miles.

I reached out to my coach to tell her about this horrific run. She told me to put it behind me and in the words of Coach Belichick, "We are on to Monday". This new week will be a clean slate to try it again! If you can see the awful times of my 10 miles, my average was 1 -2 minutes slower than normal. I had nothing in me! Moving on!!

So let's focus on some good things that happened this week. I started my new job. One week down. I am the Assistant Athletic Director for External Operations in the athletic department of a local college. Part of my job is being the oversight for certain athletic teams. I was giving four teams to work with, women's tennis, men's lacrosse, cross country/track & field, and women's triathlon!! Yes I am excited! 

Other things to be happy about. To the left is a picture of my very first marathon medal. It is a Tiffany Necklace, they were a sponsor of  

the race and when we crossed the finish line we were given a small Tiffany Blue Box wrapped in a white bow! I love this necklace and wore it every day for years. It reminded me of who I was and what I could accomplish. Well four years ago I was playing around with my neighbors dog and she jumped up on me and the necklace broke. I put it in a box and forgot all about it until I was packing to move. I recently brought it to a jeweler to be fixed and it is back around my neck! 

Something else to be happy about...Recently I received two medals in the mail to celebrate some accomplishments, completing two virtual challenges. During this time of Covid races, like so many other things, have been canceled. Race companies have been offering the competitive runners, cyclist, and triathletes virtual races or challenges to keep us going and focused. No these virtual events are not the same as the real thing but it helps pass the time. You can also earn some fun bling along the way. 

The first virtual challenge I did was a run around the 11 Finger Lakes of New York. I started this before I left New York. Although this challenge was virtual, complete 408. 2 miles, I have actually biked around 3 1/2 of the actual finger lakes in my lifetime. Someday I will go back and do more, but for now I completed this challenge in 6 weeks by biking and running.

Once I finished the finger lakes I went on to run and bike through the state of Massachusetts, a total of 262 miles. I completed this virtual challenge on Saturday, 27 days after I started. Similar to the finger lakes challenge I have actually biked through almost all of Massachusetts in 1997, 194 miles for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, The Pan-Mass Challenge. So two virtual challenges and the summer isn't even over...what will I do next? Tomorrow is a new day...Embrace It!!

Medal from the Finger Lakes Challenge! 

Medal from the Run Across Massachusetts 

What is My Why?

I am not searching for my "why" when it comes to my workouts or training. Even though races have been cancelled, running and training has not and I still have goals. I am taking advantage of the time off to really focus on my workouts, despite the hot and humid weather. 

I am still working on the goals I set for 2020 and will see those through. I have already started to think about my training goals and race goals for 2021 and 2022. We may be in a pandemic but as long as I am healthy, I will keep moving.

The why I am searching for has to do with another journey I am currently on. It has to do with another marathon that has a finish line but follows a different course. It has to do with my dissertation research!

I cannot seem to get focused or stay focused on what I need to be doing. At the end of April I had to transfer to a different University in order to complete my dissertation, I believe I have shared this with you. As a result of that transfer I had to take a few additional seminar classes. While taking those classes I put my research on hold. Now that those are done and I got through a move to a new area I can't seem to have the energy to do my research and I have soooooo much to do!!

I need to figure out a way to get refocused and re-energized. I need to find my "Why". I have come so far, spent so much money not to see this thing through. And it is more than the money, I have wanted this for so long!!

I remember when I wanted to start being morning person and get my workouts done early. I worked so hard on that for a few different reasons; 1. I didn't want to talk myself out of my workouts later in the day and 2. it gave me time to get my school work done after work without worrying about my workouts. I shared my plan with people in order to hold myself accountable and each day I would set my alarm early in order to get things done. I then would check-in to let others know I got it done. 

In my current situation I have absolutely no excuses not to get it done. I have some time off and nothing to distract me...yet I find a way to sabotage myself. This is so important to me, I do want this...but I am feeling overwhelmed and wondering where I should start. Where do I begin?

I have to remember my "Why". I have to treat this like my morning goal routine and for a few weeks work on it first thing in the AM. I need to set my alarm and get up early and attack the research. I need to hold myself accountable. I need to keep my eyes on the prize. And in the words of a dear friend, "stay the course". 

Keep moving forward!!

Keeping My Eye on the Prize

I never thought when this pandemic started to hit this country back in March that it would affect my graduate program. In February I learned that my graduate school was closing, due to financial reasons, and that I needed to find another school to transfer into. All of this made for a fun winter. 

In mid-March, like so many others, our office was closed and we were forced to work from home. This also disrupted my normal routine, after work I would find myself at the library or at a cafe ready to focus on my research and classwork. Well when the school shut down so did the library and restaurants. So I was now forced to sit at the same spot for work and school and just continue throughout the day. 

My school closed down on April 24, I submitted my last assignment, and on Monday, April 27, I was to start a new class at a new school. Due to transferring into a new program, I needed to take an additional class for 8 weeks which I was not very excited about as well as continue my dissertation research.

It seems all so simple, like I said I never thought what was happening in the world around me would actually affect me. Boy was I wrong. April 24th I officially finished at Concordia University - Portland and I was also furloughed from my job. However, grad school must go on. April 27 I officially started at Concordia University - Wisconsin, in which I had to learn a whole new system and take additional classes. During all of this I was trying to figure out this life of no work, interviewing for new jobs and surviving a pandemic.

Slowly job searching and surviving became more of a priority over school. I did the work that needed to be done for this additional class but my research was put on the back burner. I just didn't have the passion to work on it. I shared this all with my advisor and he said, many people are surprised how this pandemic has affected them. 

I finished that last class about a week ago, moved to Massachusetts, and now waiting for a new job to start. With all this in mind, I decided I needed to get refocused. I need to keep my eye on the prize. Finish what I started. Earning my doctorate has been a goal and dream of mine for a LONG time and I can't lose my focus. 

It's time to get refocused, re-engaged, and make my research a priority. In some ways I feel like I am starting over but really I just need to get organized. I am not giving up!! I can hear my friend Mindy Lu telling me, "stay the course"!!

Keeping my eyes on the prize!!

Frustrated ...

So three weeks ago I did some math to figure out how many calories I should actually be eating to lose weight. I was reading a book about nutrition and marathon training. The number I came up with was based on my current weight and did not take into account the number of calories I burn while working out. According to the final answer I was eating about 300 calories less than I had been. So I decided to increase the number to see if this would help me lose some weight that I have been struggling to take off.

I just want to lose 10 pounds...I am not asking for too much...10 pounds would be great. Well I weighed myself today and I have not lost an ounce!! What is going on??? I workout, I take in plenty of protein, I eat as much fruits and veggies as my body can handle, I do not over eat on cookies or chips...but yet I can't lose weight.

Maybe this is where I am supposed to be...maybe 1XX (I almost told you my weight...God doesn't even know) is where I need to be...I will admit I have not done any strength conditioning in about two weeks. Between the packing and moving I decided to take a break and not stress over it. However, I don't think that would make a huge difference. It hadn't made a difference when I was lifting 3 days a week for 4 weeks prior to the move so I don't think missing the past two weeks is the problem. I am not saying I won't get back to it, because it is important, it just isn't the problem.

Well this week I am going to start a 30 day program with Isagenix. It is a program that uses protein shakes, which have always been encouraged by my bariatric weightloss team. They did not encourage a specific company but getting my protein in using shakes. I never jumped on that train because I never had a problem getting my protein in. But I figure it can't hurt to try. Basically I would use two shakes a day as replacement meals, take in two snacks and one meal. And each day I can vary how and when I want to take in the shakes. For example one day I may want to have breakfast as my big meal and shakes at lunch and dinner or the opposite.

My clothes still fit; I feel fine; I am getting my workouts in but I want  the scale to move. It is a mental game with me...I want to see the magic number. I want to lose 10 but at this point 5 would be great. I just think I would feel a lot better about myself.

I hope everyone is doing well...I will keep you posted.

I've Been Here Before Part II

Day 2 of my checking in to let you know how I am doing. So my coach gave me the last few days off. In fact I have official rest days on my calendar until Saturday when I can get back at it. Between my GI Issues and the fact I was feeling tired, my coach saw that my training times were slowing down and I needed the break.

Taking days off can be tough for me. I get scared with how my body will react...more importantly how the scale will react. I haven't gone near the scale this week and I have made a conscious effort take in enough protein, avoid sugar, and stay within my calorie range.

As a result of these days off my legs are feeling better, I don't feel as tired...I am still dealing a bit with the GI issues but not as bad as it was this past weekend. I am hoping that things calm down in that category before I run again on Saturday!

I had to laugh at the post I received on Garmin. Garmin shared with me that I am "peaking". Prior to this statement, I was unproductive, which really does nothing for your self esteem. Peaking means that I am in "ideal race condition!". Garmin shared that I recently reduced my training load and this is allowing my body to recover. If only I had a race to be peaking for ... sigh. Instead let's hope I have great results during my long training this weekend!!

PS according to Garmin my fitness age is 20 and I am in the top 15% of my age and gender...I am happy with that!!

Keep moving forward...

I Have Been Here Before...

 A year ago I was in Lake Placid for my Ironman Training Weekend. It was a tough weekend, I won't lie about that, but it pushed me to be better, to do more and be stronger. I am sharing this post from Facebook because when it came up in my memories, it actually brought me to tears. I as hard as it all was, and as many tears as I shed that weekend and other days in between, I loved every minute of it.

I am sharing this memory because in the midst of all of this training, figuring out what I needed to succeed I was also dealing with many medical issues that were tied to one of the most important things associated with Ironman Training, how to fuel your body. I had low iron levels and needed iron infusion. I had many GI issues going on and every week I felt like I was being tested for something new. I gave away so many vials of blood to be tested and retested. I had to eliminate certain foods from my diet only to bring them back to see how my body reacted. Finally I had to have a colonoscopy about two months before the Ironman. While having this procedure they discovered polyps and the fact after ruling everything else out, that I have an intense case of IBS.

I am sharing this with you because I could go for weeks even months without a system or an attack. Then out of no where it happens, I am in pain, cramping, bloated, and other fun things. In the past couple of weeks, my IBS decided to remind me he was still around. It has affected my workouts in so many ways. And I spend hours going over what I have eaten over the last few days that could possibly set it off. Was it something I ate, am I stressed, am I overtired; stress can wreak havoc on me and being tired doesn't help.

So after dealing with this for the last two weeks I decided to pull out a few trusted friends, Eating for IBS and other nutritional books. Sometimes I have to be reminded what foods I should be taking in and what foods I should be avoiding. The hard part is what might bother one person may not bother me and vice versa. It is all trial and error. For now I have to be a bit strict with myself until things settle down.

All of these issues also reminded me that I have set a goal for myself to lose a few pounds I gained after Ironman. I wanted to be down a few pounds by the end of this month and even more by October 10. Below is a paragraph from a previous post that I stated these goals...

From a post on April 8, 2020

"And a goal broken down into steps become a plan and then when you back that with actions it helps to make your dreams come true. So I want to lose 8 - 13 pounds and I would like to see at least 8 by June 27 when I compete in the Tupper Lake 70.3 Triathlon (I hope*) and 13 pounds by the Hartford Marathon in October (I hope*). (*I hope that the races will happen and I hope that I lose the weight)."

At this point I can pretty much guarantee I will not be down the full 8 pounds by June 27 but I am not going to give up. I will keep pushing and trying. Between quieting my friend, Mr. IBS and continuing to train for life, I plan to lose the 13 pounds by October 10.

I also decided to hold myself accountable and I am using this blog for what I intended so many years ago...I will share my journey. Reading articles and individuals posts on Facebook the Corona Virus Quarantine has not been our friend...we are facing the Covid 19 (pounds) and our mental well being is also struggling. How can I be there 100% for friends and family if I am not 100% myself. I will be posting here on a regular basis to let you know my struggles and my successes...my ups and downs. I hope I can help or inspire someone else.

Keep Moving Forward

I SEE YOU!

Recently I have been wanting to say so much about Ahmaud Arbery, Christian Cooper, and George Floyd but I have held back, afraid to say the wrong thing or have my words and thoughts seem meaningless on a Facebook post. When I read and listen to the news about Ahmaud, Christian, and George instantly my friends faces appear in my mind Brian, Joe, Cornell, Bill, David, Reggie…

I can’t keep silent anymore. My silence isn’t helping. I decided to post my thoughts here because I have always said that my blog is a place of honesty and I show my true struggles.

When the story was shared on the news about Ahmaud, months after he was killed, I was shocked and angry. I instantly thought about the 100s and 100s + runs I had been on and no one had every stopped me, questioning why I was running in a particular neighborhood. I often drive to different neighborhoods to run and I have never been questioned. And I thought back to the construction sights I have passed on my runs and praised God when I have seen a porta potty that I could use. Too many times to count the number of times I have entered a construction sight and used a porta potty without being stopped or questioned (yes, I always looked for security cameras). I have never run in fear, even at night in Central Park. No one should run in fear! I see you Ahmaud!

When the story of Christian Cooper was shared, I watched the video and thought to myself this woman is crazy and how was Christian threatening her? I did post on social media after her job fired her and I applauded them but then my focus went to the dog and how she was handling her dog in the video. I apologize for that; I took the focus off the real victim Christian Cooper. I see you Christian.

Yesterday, my friend Brian wrote a post on Facebook to his white friends and family…” Do you see me? Do you really see me?” it brought me to tears as I read it. Brian is a husband, a father, a brother, a friend…I see you Brian!

I can not stand in your shoes; I cannot begin to understand how you feel but I can stand with you. This has to stop. I am sorry, I hear you, and I SEE YOU!!

My goal for the fall of 2020!

Two weeks ago when I wrote my last post I shared some updates in my life and also shared that I had a new goal I wanted to attack and I needed to wait for my coaches blessing before I shared it with the world. A few of you asked me what that goal was so now I am sharing it with all of you because I believe that if you put it out into the universe, there is no going back and you have to work as hard as you can to try and achieve it.

Like so many of you, I am sure, many of my races have been cancelled or changed to virtual events. I have participated in three virtual races so far. And as much as it is fun to change up your training and do a virtual race, I miss the excitement of being around other competitors, hearing the crowds along the course, reading the signs of encouragement that make me laugh so often, and seeing your time as you cross the finish line.

This summer I was scheduled to complete four triathlons, two sprints, an Olympic distance, and the Tupper Lake Tinman 70.3. As of today, two of the four have officially cancelled in person races and I have decided to defer those until 2021. On June 27 I was scheduled to complete the Tupper Lake Tinman. I completed the race last year and I loved the course and the event! Last year I had a great time but I wanted to go back stronger and ready to attack the course. When they announced the event would be cancelled due to Covid 19, they offered each participant the option of doing a virtual race or deferring their entry until 2021. I decided I couldn't do this one virtually and deferred my entry.

As soon as they cancelled this race I decided to set my sights on my fall marathon, the Hartford
Marathon in October. Yes, I still had two sprint triathlons on the schedule and if those continue as planned, I will compete, but they are not my big goals. The Hartford Marathon is my goal! Yes, I have completed a marathon before, five to be exact, but during this race it is my goal to finally complete the 26.2 course in sub five hours!!

My last marathon, The Wineglass Marathon in October 2019, I took 16 minutes off my time, completing the course in 5 hours and 12 minutes. It is my goal to complete the Hartford Marathon in under five hours! When I shared this with my coach she was very excited for me. She shared a story of the first time she qualified for Kona. She set her sights on only one Ironman, Lake Placid, and all of her training went into that race. She believes that focusing on this one race will have me crossing the finish line in under five hours!!

About a week in a half ago I completed two virtual races in one weekend. A Duathlon on a Saturday, the Cinco de Duo and the annual Mountain Goat 10 miler on a Sunday. As we were approaching the weekend my coach was going over my game plan and how I should approach them. After she shared the plan she stated, once this weekend is over, we will have a recovery week and then we are heading into marathon training! I could feel her excitement as she typed those words, and I think I even heard an evil laugh, which scared me a bit (just kidding I didn't hear an evil laugh). But she is ready to get me focused on my goal, to be confident at the start line, and cross that finish line completing what I set out to do!

So I am begging everyone...wash your hands, wear your masks, stay at home or at least 6 feet apart as much as possible, and PLEASE GOD LET THIS RACE HAPPEN!!!

Keep moving forward! Stay Strong!

2020 The Year of the Rat

April 24 became a day filled with change. Some I was prepared for, other changes I was not. On April 24 the school I had been attending for 3 years working toward my doctorate officially closed. The following Monday, April 27 I started at a new school...didn't skip a beat...there is work to be done. Well I skipped a few beats as I tried to figure our the University's online system but I kept moving forward.

On that same day, April 24, I was "furloughed" from my job at Ithaca College. I put the word furlough in quotes because unlike other furloughs I do not have an anticipated return date. Seven plus years of passion, pride, endless hours, constant travel, taken away.

Since that day I have been on an emotional roller coaster, I have been upset, I have been MAD, but I will be Okay. My future will workout and I will figure it out. I have reminded myself on countless occasions that I am strong, I am smart and I believe. And most importantly, I am an IRONMAN!!

During this pandemic, many institutions have been on hiring freezes leaving few options as far as job openings are concerned. However, I have had some opportunities to apply and I will not quit! I am a survivor and I will land on my feet because I believe.

Earlier in the week a friend that I met through Ithaca College called me and reminded me that 2020 is the year of the Rat for the Chinese New Year. I had to laugh because I am not a huge fan of rats. She explained that it was the first animal in the cycle so it signifies a new beginning. So many people are going through tough times and change but change can be positive, it can be a new beginning! So here's to the year of the Rat!!

This is also the week on Facebook that memories come up about a half marathon I have done a few times in Rochester. It is the Flower City Half Marathon. A race that I love for so many reasons. The first time I did this race was 2010. It was my comeback race. I signed up for the race as a goal to get me off the couch. In 2008 I had an ankle injury that ended with surgery. It took about a year to heal with PT and other issues but instead of getting right back to running in 2009 I got right back to the couch. I was in a funk and I did nothing. So I made the decision late in 2009 early 2010 that I would run the half in Rochester. I completed the half in 3 hours and 26 minutes and I was the last person on the course!! Two years later (2012) I went back to do the race again and I completed it in 2 hours and 55 minutes and this time I waited for the last person to finish the race. I went back again in 2017 because I love that race and PR'd the course and had a personal PR. In April of 2018 I did a half marathon in DC, The National Women's Half Marathon. I PR'd that day, finish time of 2:21:21...a time I have not been able to beat since! I keep trying but it hasn't happened yet...someday!

I share these stories because these races remind me of who I am, I am a fighter...I am determined and I will finish a race no matter how ugly it looks!! What doesn't kill me only makes me stronger. So these bumps in the road, transferring schools and being "furloughed" will not kill me, no they will make me stronger!!

I choose to be stronger because of life's unavoidable disappointments. As races have been cancelled one by one this season, you often ask yourself what am I training for? I train for life to stay strong and to be ready when the start lines are open again. But I also look at it as yes, a race has been cancelled and I am disappointed that so many goals can't be reached this year, but I will adjust the sails and follow a new path to a new goal.

Just last night I sent a new goal to my coach that I hope to focus on over the next 5 + months.  I am hoping that she doesn't think I am nuts. I am excited to see where this journey will take me! I will share this new goal with you as soon as she gives me the green light!!

During this uneasy time, fear of getting sick, fear that your loved ones will be sick, losing a job, switching schools, not being able to see friends and family, my emotions are running high and low. However, I can't lose faith and I need to believe we will come out of this better and stronger than before. I can not give up on school, I have worked too hard. I can not let a "furlough" define me, I am better than that. I still have goals to achieve! I will become stronger because of life's unavoidable disappointments!

Stay Strong! Stay Healthy! Keep Showing Up!!

Continuing the Journey

Crisis...uneasiness...the new normal...these are words to describe the world where we are all presently living. The world is experiencing a pandemic and we are all trying to survive. We are working from home and practicing social distancing. Our moods change from day to day. One moment we are fine and will embrace this "new normal", the next moment it is wicked quiet and you feel like the only person on earth.

You can read articles like, "The 5 Best Ways to Survive Social Distancing" or "How to Work from Home when Everyone is Home" or "It's Okay Not to be Perfect". No matter how much you read or how many press conferences and coronavirus updates you watch, no one has the one right fix for everything. Everyone must deal with this in their own way and we all must respect that.

The first week I was working from home I was nervous about getting things done and working hard enough. Prior to Covid-19, I would do my work at the office and then at 5 or 6 pm I would grab my school work and head to the library or another space on campus to work on assignments for school. I rarely brought anything home because I knew I would not get things done. Now I had to figure out how to do my day job and my school work all from the same place in my house, and it is hard.

I find myself tired, so tired by the end of the day. Like it takes so much energy not to talk to yourself when you are alone in your apartment every day. I try to follow the advice of others and stick to a schedule but I end up changing the schedule every day. Trying a new routine thinking that will work better. I love to make "to do" and cross things off, but I find that so much is left on the list every day. I do my work...or in the words of Bill Belichick, "Do your job"...I promise I am Bill! I get my workouts in too but many days I am pushing myself to get out the door for a run or get on my bike. I miss the pool. Does anyone else feel drained at the end of the day?

I also discovered, during the first week I was home that there are exactly 6 steps to the refrigerator, 8 steps to the tea kettle, and 10 steps to the bathroom from the table where I work. I am trying very hard to stick to my food plan and not eat things just because they are in sight or in the refrigerator. I decided that there is so much I can not control right now that I need to focus on something I can control. The thing I want to control is a constant struggle for me, my weight. I have a goal to lose 8 - 13 pounds. I shared this with some friends for accountability reasons. Now I am sharing it with you because this blog was supposed to be about my journey.

The way I started this blog tonight was not exactly how I envisioned it but I guess sometimes you just have to go with it. I want to share my struggles and journey, in real time, in the hopes that I can help someone else during this "new normal". They say that a dream written down is a goal. So I have shared my goal.

And a goal broken down into steps become a plan and then when you back that with actions it helps to make your dreams come true. So I want to lose 8 - 13 pounds and I would like to see at least 8 by June 27 when I compete in the Tupper Lake 70.3 Triathlon (I hope*) and 13 pounds by the Hartford Marathon in October (I hope*). (*I hope that the races will happen and I hope that I lose the weight).

I am starting off with a few easier steps. I am not always good at drinking all my water, and since I have been home, and it is only 8 steps to the tea kettle, I find myself drinking more tea. So goal one this week is to drink at least 64 oz of water per day. Next fruits and veggies, I need to eat more. Veggies are not my favorite and fruits sometimes are tough...either they upset my stomach or it isn't the first thing I want to grab. I am not good at adding these to my meal prep. So goal two is to add at least two servings of veggies and a fruit to my day. Not super hard but little changes that hopefully will add up.

I have faith and hope that we will see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have faith and hope that we will be able to socialize like normal human beings one day soon. I don't know what the "new normal" will look like but I have faith we will be stronger and better people because we will survive all of this. #weareinthistogether #oneteam

Stay healthy...stay inside...and remember to WASH YOUR HANDS!!

Wasting Time

Over the years I have tried to keep religion and politics out of this blog. Until today, I have to talk about religion a bit in order to talk about other things. Ash Wednesday was February 26th, the first day of Lent. The 40+ days in which Christians all over the world prepare for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By Christian standards this is the big one. For Catholics this is where are "Catholic Guilt" really gets tested. This is the time when Christians sacrifice, and give things up.

The sacrifice is supposed to be a type of fasting, it is supposed to help an individual repent. What one chooses to "give up" is supposed to have an impact on that person's life. The sacrifice is supposed to represent the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert prior to Passover.

Over the years I have given up tea, I know a BIG one! And it was for me and everyone around me! I have given up food or drinks. I have even taken things on instead, such as going to Mass every morning. This of course was easy to do when you went to a Catholic School and Mass started and ended before the bell rang!

This year I thought long and hard about this and I decided I would give up Facebook. Of course, I decided this before a pandemic hit and we were all forced to work from home and keep our "social distance" from people. This has made it difficult to check on friends, to see how things are going etc. When I decided to give up Facebook, I also decided to take something on. What I have taken on is reading a book written by Matthew Kelly called Resisting Happiness. It is published by the group Dynamic Catholic, if that gives you any idea what the book could be about. It is actually a good book and not the first one I have read by Mr. Kelly.

By reading this book and keeping my social distance away from everyone, I have been thinking a lot. And one thing I have thought about is, why did I choose to give Facebook up for Lent? What did I want out of that sacrifice? It is often shared that the Lenten sacrifice is supposed to have an impact on your own life. I am not asking these questions so I can get back on Facebook and give up but to really discover the "Why?". There are about 15 days until Easter and I would rather discover something about myself than just do it to say I did it.

One reason I said I wanted to give up on Facebook is because I found myself spending quite a bit of time on it and wasting a lot of time. I wouldn't define myself a procrastinator, but I waste time and don't get everything done. I try to prioritize what needs to be done; work, school work, and workouts. But I should have plenty of time to get other things done but my "to-do" list is either rushed, I have to say no to doing things, or things remain on the list not touched.

I find myself just scrolling, searching for something, but not finding it. Often, I have to get on Facebook for work. I am an admin for several pages/groups associated with the alumni at IC. During this WFH time, I have jumped on to add a few things and gave myself permission to check on a few people. Once again, I found myself just scrolling after I checked on friends and read a few posts. What am I looking for?

The other day I was listening to a webinar about "Changing your Mindset". It was hosted by the Alumni Office at IC so many of us jumped on during our lunch hour to listen. The presenter was great and informative, but I never got that "aha" moment during the presentation. I don't think it was the individual presenting it was me. It had me thinking again. As I listen to podcasts, TED Talks, and webinars, I find myself waiting to hear something that will move me or give me that "aha" moment but often I walk away not swayed.

Lately, I feel I am always searching but I never find it. I scroll and waste time...I go back to that social media page 10 minutes later thinking I am going to find something different. The big question I have to ask myself as we have 15 days left of Lent, not that I have to end there, "WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR???"

This is what I need to figure out -- I want to do so much, I have so much on my "to do" list and I end up of wasting so much time... This is what I need to work on, wasting time, not shutting people out. Maybe by not wasting time, I will have the time to find what I am looking for!

Stay healthy and safe everyone! And remember to wash your hands!!

Day 82 of 2020

 So after last weeks Blog entry I realized that I had not posted since New Year's day (again I would love a mulligan on this year). I decided to go back and review my goals for 2020 to see how I was doing so far. We are only 82 days in and we have 283 to go (yes I did the math in my head). The best is yet to come, right?!?!

So one of the goals I set for myself was a 100 days challenge and once again doing math in my head I have 18 days left on this challenge. I said I would go "No Sugar" for 100 days, Strength Train for 100 days, Journal/notebook, knit, and declutter. And for the most part I am doing well. I had a few slip ups along the way but I haven't given up.

In regards to the "no sugar" my system is so much better without sugar. And when I say sugar I try very hard not to eat process sugar or anything that lists "sugar" in the first five ingredients. So I try to follow this to the best of my ability. I would be lying to you if I said I was perfect. For example, valentine's day, we had a little party for our students at work and there was so many fabulous treats that I could not resist. However, I paid the price after I ate it.

I will admit I have not incorporated strength training into my life every day but I have been doing in at least 2 times a week. I think it's pretty good for someone who doesn't really enjoy it. I have found it challenging, which isn't a bad thing. I have been knitting, which I love, but there have been a few days I have missed it. However, I leave whatever project I am working on right on the couch so I can pick it up at anytime even for a few minutes.

One hundred days of journaling/notebooking...yes, I have been doing that...every day. I have created a habit I absolutely love and look forward to doing every day. Some days I write on page after page and on other days it could be a paragraph but I am doing it. A friend of mine started this Facebook group/challenge #100daysofNotebooking which of course I joined. This pushed me to do something I didn't do on a regular basis. Yes I have journal-ed in the past but not every day. She has not changed the group to #100DaysofNotebooking and beyond. And yes, I will keep writing.

I never started the declutting challenge. My coach advised me against it...well she advised me against doing so many challenges and said which one could I put off until later? I chose the 100 days of decluttering. However, when lent started I brought reading into my schedule, I read everyday just for a short period of time, but I read. And now that this "self-quarantine" has started, I stared decluttering this weekend.

So even though these goals have not been perfect for the last 82 days I haven't given up!! Which I think is a good thing. Research shows that most New Year's Resolutions are broken after the first month and we are into March!!

I also checked out the list of races I was planning on completing and the list of goals around those. Of course, like many of you, many of my races have been cancelled or turned into virtual races. It is disappointing but we all know it is for the best! This of course means I have to rethink my race goals. I did complete a half marathon in February, it wasn't pretty but I got across the finish line. I missed a four-miler, The Tipp Hill Shamrock Run, due to work obligations earlier this month. Two other half marathons have been cancelled that were scheduled for April and the Mountain Goat 10 miler has been cancelled too which was scheduled for early May. I will still be getting the miles in on the days these races were scheduled but it will be done virtually not on the race courses.

I have Three more sprint triathlons scheduled for May, July, and August and a 70.3 in June. And come October, I plan to run the Hartford Full Marathon. With that being said my A races are now the 70.3 in June and the Hartford Marathon in October. Fingers crossed nothing happens with those races.

My goal for the 70.3 race is to be faster and finish stronger than I did last year. I have been working

hard on the bike to make sure that happens but it hasn't been easy. I just keep pushing myself hoping every day I get a bit stronger and a bit faster. My runs haven't been going my way. I have been struggling out on the road and trying to get the distance. I can't believe how much can change in four months. My times have been slower and it hasn't been fun.

One of my goals was to get out of my head while running. I wanted to end the negative talk and self doubt. I have been working on that slowly. I started going out for runs and not worry about my time or the distance. I have been trying to enjoy running again and just let my body do what it wants. I often say that I love running, and I do, but lately I haven't liked it very much. On Friday, I had a fabulous run with times I haven't seen in a while. I felt great. Today I went out, same route, and I couldn't wait for it to be over. I felt like I was dragging weights with me. So needless to say I am still working on getting out of my head while running! I haven't given up because I want to see the times I saw this past fall or I should say faster times than this past fall.

Well everyone, stay safe and healthy!! Remember to wash your hands and hopefully we will be able to see everyone soon!!

PS: Did you know in the state of NY liquor stores are essential businesses!! Gotta love NY.

2020 -- Can we start over??

I have to admit 2020 has not been going as smoothly as I would like. I was injured in January and ended up in PT. My physical therapists were awesome but it set me back a bit.

Soon after that I received word that the university where I am working towards my doctorate will close the end of April. Being in higher education I have read so many articles about schools struggling, merging, and closing due to low numbers and financial reasons. I just never thought it would hit so close to home. This added some stress and anxiety to my life. It is starting to work out but not what I wanted to deal with as I was entering the last year of my doctoral program.

Now we are facing Coronavirus (COVID - 19). As an athlete it breaks my heart to see so many sporting events, tournaments, championships, and races cancelling. It has affected me personally as two races I was registered to run have cancelled, as of this past week. Professionally the college where I work, like so many others, is closing for a few weeks. We have had to cancel events and travel. And now we are working remotely from home. Restaurants and bars in some states are being forced to close. It is important to control this decease as it is bringing not only the disease and illness but also lots of anxiety and uneasiness to so many.

CAN WE PLEASE GET A DO OVER???

And this is only a few of things I have personally going on. I am about to get a bit personal or very vulnerable I should say. I have been struggling...trying to get into a positive head space. I saw the picture I posted above on Instagram and it made me think. What do I want to accomplish in 6 months. I feel overwhelmed on some days having too many goals or too many things to work on  ... work, school, workouts, my weight...world peace! I can't seem to choose one that is more important than the other.

So I really started to think about what I really want. I shared this with my coach and now I am sharing it with you (I realize I am announcing this but I need some accountability). I want to be happy. In six months I want to be happy. Not being in the right head space has caused me not to be happy. I know you can wake up every day and determine your happiness and I do try that but sometimes the outside sources get in the way. I have never really felt like this before so this is all new to me.

I want to be happy with who I am ... with what I am doing...with what I am accomplishing.

What are my excuses? Why am I holding myself back? Am I letting myself be happy. I once read that Maturity comes when you stop making excuses and start making changes. I am ready to make changes. I know so much affects my happiness... my workouts, my weight, my school work etc I let the negative talk distract me and I end up in my head too much.

I told myself I need to stop talking about it and start doing it. It always comes back to Spirit Mind and Body. The mission/vision/philosophical theory of Springfield College (my alma mater)...If you don't build the body and educate the mind your spirit will crumble. If I want to work towards happiness (my spirit) I need to kick my workouts up a notch...become stronger and lose some weight (Body) and go strong on my research for my dissertation (mind). September will be here before we know it!!

Step One -- I have a problem -- I have a goal

It always leads back to my weight (a constant struggle) and my workouts. I need to get stronger and faster.

Day One was today --- tell you all about it and go out for a run and let myself enjoy it. It was a beautiful day, don't worry about time or distance...just run. I did 6 miles. I still love running but lately I haven't liked it very much.

Keep moving forward.

New Years 2020

Races

February – Lake Effect Half

March – Tipp Hill 4 Miler

April – Skunk Cabbage half or 10K

Milwaukee Marathon Full Marathon

May – Mountain Goat (May 3)

Silver Serpent Olympic Triathlon

June – Tupper Lake 70.3

July – Gillie Girl Triathlon

Some Ideas I have … checking my schedule and also finances before I decide...

Another 70.3???

Cayuga Triathlon – August

Ithaca 5K – September

Hartford ½ marathon – October

Marine Corp Marathon – October (looking into doing this as a charity marathon…Fisher House Foundation)

Goals for races and training

1. Get out of my head when training and competing...negative thoughts and doubts

2. I want to run a sub 5-hour marathon in April in Milwaukee

3. Bike stronger/faster - Tupper Lake ... I finished 7:40:48 overall ... my bike was 3:58 (14:09/hour)...I struggled on the run...I want to go back and PR and be faster on the bike and run.

Overall Goals...Words for 2020

Stronger - Physically and Emotionally

Leaner -  Weight and clutter

Faster - Running/Cycling and stop procrastinating and wasting time...get things done faster

There are a lot of challenges out there...30 days of never missing a workout...100 days of running...it's a great way to start a new habit or force yourself to focus on something. So below is my 100 days Challenge...the first 100 days of 2020. The five things I have put down will help me focus, start a new habit, and feel better about myself. A friend of mine put out a challenge on Facebook about journaling for 100 days. So I decided to add that to my list too, it can only help.

100 Days Challenge (January 1 - April 9)

No Sugar

Strength Training/Yoga (Alternating Days)

Journal/blog

Knitting

Declutter something every day

Overall…physically I have felt slow, bloated, fat, and very soft lately. My IBS/stomach issues have been a bit out of control and bothering me a lot. So I will be focusing on the low FODMAP diet for a few weeks to get thing under control. I am hoping this helps me feel better and hopefully bring the weight down too. I would like to lose 13 – 15 pounds this year. I believe if I can keep my IBS under control and bring my weight down a bit it will help me with my training and competing. And overall feel a bit better about myself. 

I hope everyone has a great New Year and that 2020 is a huge success!!

Keep Moving Forward!!