Running into 2019

Happy New Year, everyone! Welcome to 2019!

I can proudly say that I actually kept my resolution for 2018... to stay out of the hospital. Besides the two weeks that I spent in the hospital in 2017, I also spent a week in the hospital in 2016 to get my appendix removed (and some complications kept me in for a few days after).

I didn't want to make it a hat-trick (also, holy medical bills), so I made my resolution for 2018 to stay out of the hospital. So, just like I can claim to be one of the few people on this planet who has legitimately finished a tube of chapstick without losing it (TWICE!), I can claim to have actually kept a New Year Resolution. Not that I had THAT much of an influence with this one, but I can claim to have some part of it!

In terms of health, 2018 saw some improvements. I finally started Humira, and saw some improvements in my Crohn's right away. It didn't last long, however, and I still found myself struggling with some symptoms. In 2019, I'll be starting my weekly-doses of Humira, and will see what sort of results that brings on.

2018 saw some improvements in running as well! I ran a total of 23 races in 2018, and beat my half marathon PR twice.

2018 by the numbers:

14 5ks (or there about... a couple were 2.5 or 3.5 milers)

2 Obstacle Course Races

4 10ks

3 Half Marathons

The Surftown Half Marathon in September saw me beat my best Half Marathon PR by over 2 minutes. Strangely enough, the Hartford Half Marathon in October didn't feel nearly as good as Surftown, but after I checked my time, I found that I had beaten my new best time by 9 seconds. I'm still working on beating the 5k PR that I set back in 2016, which will hopefully go down in 2019.

As for 2019, I'm adding to my resolution in both health and fitness. First, I'm going to continue the streak and not end up in the hospital in 2019. But also, I'm determined to run at least one race every month. February might be the hardest one, as its the only month that HMF doesn't sponsor a race.

I've already got 6 of those months handled, as I've already signed up for 10 races in 2019... 6 5ks, 3 10ks, and 1 Half Marathon. That number will definitely go up... I just had to give my bank account a chance to get replenished.

We've crossed the finish line of 2018... time to go running into 2019!