Highlights of 2015

As I was sitting in the bathtub this morning after a chilly workout outside I decided I wanted to look back at my year. 2015, man what a year. I learned a lot, I grew as a person mentally and physically, I faced difficult challenges in life, I made mistakes, but most importantly I accomplished many things that I am proud of.

Some highlights from 2015....

I was able to hike with my dad in Palm Springs, CA. He is in his 50s but dang he still can do it all.

I fricken jumped out of an airplane! Skydiving has been on my bucket list forever and it was the most thrilling experience. I can't wait to do it again this summer!!

Kyle and I got to go to Milwaukee to celebrate my birthday. We also saw a Twins game and did other tourist things.

Speaking of birthdays... I turned 21! Not that exciting, I mean I can legally drink alcohol but I also found alcohol isn't really that great and dang it's expensive. I rather spend my money on cookies and donuts.

I took on the color run for the third year with my lovely family! What a fun tradition we have started.

Katie and I are officially Tough Mudders. The Tough Mudder was one the most fun, challenging and thrilling races. I am already looking forward to TM 2016!

This sweet boy joined our family. He is the most lovable, alway wanna-be-in-your-face, handsome boy around!

My moms whole family traveled to Breckenridge, CO for the trip of a lifetime! I got to check another item off my bucket list... White Water Rafting!

A few weeks post CO I ran a half marathon and PR'd. I have learned that even when you think you can't, you can.

In early October Catherine, Katie and I took on marathon #2! Another PR and many tears. Marathons are something special, filled with lots of emotions. There are moments where you want to quit and die, moments you are completely on fire and feeling awesome, and there is the rush your body feels when you cross the finish line. I could not call myself a marathoner without the support from my family and friends.

In early November I got to travel to Chicago with Kyle's family.  It was really fun to tour Chicago as an adult and not as a kid (aka not go to the American Girl Doll Center).

Kyle signed up for his first 10K and we happily ran the race together. No bitching about cold weather, numb fingers or feeling out of shape occurred (I hope you can pick up on my sarcasm)!

I ended 2015 with a few job interviews for when I graduate this spring....

And on 12/30/2015 I signed the papers to officially accept my first big girl job! Catherine also passed her teaching exams so I bought a cake from Nadia Cakes to celebrate our achievements! I know it is tacky to buy your own cake, but hey I like cake.

2015 was a great year with many exciting highlights. I cannot wait to see how 2016 will play out!

Happy New Year to all my blogging friends! Sending love to you wherever you are in this wonderful world!!! Xoxo!

Fri-Yay

Hello Friday, I am so glad we meet again! This week has been crazy busy between final exams/projects and two final rounds of interviews for two different jobs. I am graduating in May but yesterday I had an interview at my dream company and today I'm interviewing at another really good company downtown. It is crazy to think I am already looking for a 'career'. I have a few more connections that want me to work with them but they won't be hiring until March, which scares me to wait that long. Totally my type A personality ;)

I recently bought a groupon for a sports massage at BodyOnyx in downtown Stillwater - I'm blogging from my phone so I will link the website later but for now here is the URL: (http://angelarucinski.wix.com/bodyonyx)

This is good even though it looks terrible! She used a method called cupping on my back and wherever it bruised is where I have knots. I knew my back would look like that because of my tension that I carry back there. I am going back again and can't wait! 

This weekend will be busy with holiday parties, volunteering and final Christmas shopping. But I am hoping to get in a stair workout with Katie and Catherine! 

Please, It Is Too Early For This

 As I mentioned last week I signed up for a 5K with Norman and Kyle. I am using this as an opportunity to start running again weekly and to train Norman, who is not a runner! Day one went really well, our speed was on point and I was anxious for day two to see our improvements.

Well, Friday I woke up and ran four miles with some speedy fast peeps and then came home at 6:20 am to get Norm. I literally had to pick him up off the bed and set him on the floor. He is obviously not a morning person! Haha. I think he was still asleep the first ½ mile. We got home and I wanted to take a picture and he was not having it (I am trying to document our training). The flash was bright, he was ticked I woke him up mid sleep and he totally gave me attitude! I am mean and just laughed at his funny personality! We will stick to mid-morning runs when it is light out and he is well rested. Training a dog might be more difficult than all the eight and twelve week training sessions I have held for kids! Yikes!!

The rest of the weekend was relaxing. Friday I babysat and Saturday I hung out with Bria in the morning and spent the evening with Kyle. Sunday I ate my heart out while we made Christmas cookies. Good news is I did legs today at the gym and had a PR on squats, it was totally because of the extra carbs yesterday!

That awkward moment when everything in your cart is processed junk food and you pass a kid you train…. hahaha. BUSTED!

Monday is here, the semester is ALMOST over, Christmas is so close I can smell it and I am ready to rock it until then! Have a great Monday!!!

Bye-Bye Toxins

Each year I try to set some sort of resolution for myself to work on throughout the whole year. In 2014 I wanted to run a race every month, I averaged bout 18 races that year! In 2015 I wanted to be happy everyday, I knew I had the opportunity to be happy if I woke up positive and ready to complete the day. I would say I did pretty well!

Well 2016 is right around the corner and I have been doing a lot of thinking. What should I make 2016 about? I came to a conclusion that 2016 is going to be about trying new things that make me uncomfortable. I want to ski, I want to rock climb, I want to do yoga, I want to cross country ski, I want to meet new people, I want to fall in love with a career, I want to try new foods, I want to DO NEW THINGS or old things that I quit because I am not comfortable.

So I started a little early, Bria and I signed up for 12 weeks of yoga. We get to try all different types of yoga and I am super excited. Naturally I thought it would be a good idea to start with a 90-minute HOT (108 degrees) yoga class. HA! I walked in and looked at Bria (my sister) and we both gave each other the, “holy s**t what did we sign up for face?” But honestly it was the best. I cannot wait to go back! We left feeling like we got in an intense workout, relaxed a little, stretched our body and got rid of toxins via all the sweat.

I love my life and I am very happy with where I am, but I am always striving to be better and I know in order to be better I need to get uncomfortable! Here is a great article why YOU should get comfortable with the uncomfortable! 

I am excited to post in 2016 about trying new things or re-trying things that I have done in the past but quit because they make me uncomfortable.

Valentine's Day 5K

Today Norman and I started to train for a 5K, which training will be for him but lets be real I could use a little training program! Basically we will run twice a week working our way up to 3 miles then once we hit 3 miles we will work on speed.

Kyle, Norman and I are signed up for a 5K Valentine’s Day weekend and I am really excited. I should probably get us matching outfits or something…. Not sure how that works with a dog and humans, hahaha! Because MN winters can be brutally cold, I thought Norm would need some running booties and a coat but my mom said he would be just fine…. We’ll see, I want my boy to be comfortable while I take him for runs!

My goals for this race:

It Norms first 5K so I do not want too much pressure on him. But I do want to try to run the whole race. I have a feeling we could do really well because he will pull to be by the other dogs. I also want to have fun because it’s a Valentine’s race and that weekend is suppose to be about love, food and fun, not PRs, getting mad at the dog and being upset.

Do you love how I talk about my dog like he is a human? Matching outfits are important and so is the comfort of my big boy (referring to Norm, not Kyle ;)). Kyle will do just fine so I do not need to worry about him being ‘comfortable’.  

Watch for our 5K updates on Instagram @baileymckenziesff