Peace out 2011

It has been a long, hard year. A year filled with change, hope, heartbreak, defeat and success. I pushed myself to new limits this year and was surprised at how much I accomplished. Even while achieving so many personal goals, I am looking forward to putting this year behind me and starting fresh in 2012.

In January 2011 I committed to run the Ogden Marathon with Team in Training (TNT). TNT is a non profit organization that helps people achieve their fitness goals while raising money for cancer. As a beginner I was worried that crossing the finish line would be impossible. My coach Scott pushed me so incredibly hard that I actually could visualize the finish line. I remember running harder and faster with each Saturday team run and enjoying the time I could spend breathing the fresh air and throwing my emotions on the pavement. With each step I felt stronger and more alive. 5 miles quickly turned into 10 and 10 quickly turned into 20 miles. As I think about it now, I am astonished at the thought that I enjoyed running 20 miles. After successful raising (with much help from friends and family) $1600 for the leukemia and lymphoma society and completing multiple 5, 10, 15 and one 20 mile run. I was officially "trained."

It's Official

May 21, 2011. The Big Day. I drove to Ogden the night before and enjoyed eating, resting and walking through town. My alarm clock went off at 3:45 AM, I jumped out of bed and started preparing for the run. I layered my clothing as instructed, ate 2 protein bars and a banana, filled my belt with salt packets and GU. I was ready. I walked to the bus station and got on the "FULL" marathon bus. There was no turning back now. The bus ride was approx 45 minutes long. We rode up into the Ogden Canyon from finish line to starting line. As we arrived to the start line I felt my adrenaline kick in. I got off the bus and was ready for the gun fire!

All smiles at mile 10

The first ten miles were pretty easy. I kept a good pace and was doing everything I was taught. On the even miles I rehydrated with Gatorade, ate a banana and every 45 minutes chug a GU. Things we going great. I reached 1/2 way point and started feeling discouraged. Right at half way the course started going uphill. I was exhausted and tired. I knew I had to be out of the Ogden canyon (approx mile 20) by 1130 am. If my calculations we correct I had to maintain at least a 14 minute mile. Mile 18 and 19 were definitely the hardest, I had to make up some time from the uphill portion of the race. I ran my butt off mile 19. I knew I didn't want to get in the truck that took people down who didn't reach the bottom of the canyon in time. I reached mile 20 at 1127 with only minutes left. As I looked back at all those people behind me I felt an extreme sense of accomplishment. The people were loaded in a truck and they all drove passed me waving and cheering. I secretly wanted to be in that truck!  My legs were so tired they were shaking. I didn't know if I could finish. With every step I grimaced. I called my mom and was crying and desperately wanted her to come get me. She offered and I eventually refused. I had to finish. I had to prove that I was strong enough both physically and emotionally. Scott, my coach met me at mile 23. He walked with me the remaining 3.2 miles. If he wouldn't have been there I don't think I could have finished. I was so miserable. My hands were the size of sausages from all the salt, my legs were shaking, my stomach was cramping and I could feel my toenails breaking with each step.

You can see the pain in my face 

As I turned the corner onto the final last half mile I saw my mom, my best friend Lauren, her mom, step dad and husband all cheering and holding signs. I again became emotionally overwhelmed. It was so nice to feel the support of those who cared about me. As I crossed the finish line I gave Scott a high five and hugged my supporters. A medal was placed around my neck and I suddenly realized I completed a marathon. Something less than 2% of the entire world accomplishes. Although I was disappointed with my time of 6 hours 46 minutes and 28 seconds, I was happy to be finished and even more happy to reward myself with CHANEL!

Finally

Medal Time

My Biggest Fan

BFF

So happy

26.2 Baby!

From the moment I signed up to complete a marathon I knew my motivation and reward had to be HUGE! Something I thought that would be worthy of the training required to complete a marathon. I immediately thought of Chanel. Everything Chanel is so unique, beautiful, timeless, classy and the epitome of womanhood. I told myself that if I trained for and completed a full marathon I would reward myself with a Chanel hand bag. As I trained for a little over 6 months, I saved and saved for what I envisioned to be the most beautiful thing in my wardrobe.

A Constant Motivator

I purchased my very own Chanel hand bag in a Chanel boutique in San Diego. She was a  beautiful Ivory Patent Leather stitched with famous quilted pattern. Embellished with sterling silver straps and large Chanel symbol hanging from the front. She is everything I wanted in a Chanel handbag and knowing that she was my reward honestly kept me going. :)

She is all wrapped up

Congrats Whitney

Love Her

Love her x2

(Unfortunately, my Chanel bag was ruined by a cheap dress from Down East and I am currently resolving this issue. Let's leave that story for another post.)

As if completing a marathon and owning my very own Chanel bag  wasn't enough excitement for one year I surprised myself with 2 more achievements. In August 2011 I left my job at Intermountain Health Care for a better job at Huntsman Cancer Institute. The last 4 months has proved to me that this is where I belong and I look forward to advancing my career here.

 3 weeks after changing jobs I began casually house hunting. I knew we were in a buyers market and now that my job was in Salt Lake I could move to a more desirable location. I looked at many houses online, contacted a realtor and submitted a mortgage application. I knew how picky I am and this process would probably take forever! I found a house online that I immediately fell in love with. I contacted my realtor and told her I absolutely had to look at it. It was in the ideal location, within my price range and was absolutely adorable. She made an appointment along with many others and I started my first day of official house hunting. Everything I saw was terrible. I couldn't get out of some places fast enough. Then it was time to see what in my mind was already my home. I walked in the front door and something inside me told me "this is home." I looked around and was anxious to make an offer. My mom stopped dead in her tracks, I could tell by her eyes that she wanted me to look at more places. I knew in my heart this was it and I didn't need to look anymore. I meet my realtor at the house the next day (my parents suggested I sleep on it) and submitted my offer. Later that day my realtor called and told me my offer was accepted and I was going to close on September 15, 2011! I was ecstatic and frightened! Could I do this, be a home owner?

Home Sweet Home

Septemer 15, 2011: Officially a home owner

I closed on September 15, 2011. I remember signing page after page of rules and regulations, payment guarantees and other legal documents. I felt somewhat angry that my paperwork referred to me as a "unmarried single woman." Are we still in the 1930's. How about successful, fabulous single woman? Yes, I would prefer that wording instead. I got the keys to my new home and immediately started remodeling. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. As my dad and I tried to do most of the work ourselves things became quite overwhelming. In total we have completely gutted both bathrooms and the kitchen, replaced all the doors, electrical outlets, moulding and door frames. We have changed all the light fixtures, blinds and appliances. We have painted the entire house (or in this case paid someone to do it!) and added personal touches in the master bedroom with 2 tone paint, a shelf and new french doors to the balcony. It has been stressful, overwhelming, costly and at times aggravating. After 3+ months of remodeling I am happy to announce that I am half way moved in and will hopefully be completely moved in by the first weekend in January.

New Wall

Painting Doors

Personalizing the Master Bedroom

Hard at Work 

(Stay tuned for Before and After Pics!)

Overall, 2011 has been one of the most successful years of my life. I have accomplished things I never thought possible while overcoming tremendous heartbreak. I am so excited for this new chapter of my life and can't wait to start 2012!

2011 Christmas Ornaments: A house key and 26.2 miles. Such a big year. 

What's on the bucket list for 2012 you ask....? I hope to adopt a puppy, go on a fabulous vacation, become an Aunt to baby ricci, laugh more and make memories to last a lifetime!