Planes, Trains, and Running Shoes

Two years ago I started this blog with a list of 25 things I wanted to do before I turned 25. It was an ambitious list but I loved that every day I was doing something to bring me closer to crossing another thing off that list.

At the time, I had just started training for my first half marathon. My "long runs" were still in the 2-3 mile range and the idea of running a marathon was so far away and terrifying that I seriously questioned putting it on my list. But there it was, #1, the first thing on my list. I ran my first marathon on November 20, 2010. Since then, I've run 7 half-marathons, one other full and am currently training for my 3rd and 4th marathons.

Since I've had this blog, I've done a monthly recap of how I'm doing with my list...highlighting what I did each month to bring me just a little bit closer to making 25 a year where I could look back and really say that I've accomplished a lot.

I definitely didn't cross everything off of that list but I've done so many things in the last 2 years that I never dreamed I would do, things that most people will never do in their lives, things I was scared to do but jumped in head first and went for it.

I hate the idea of a Bucket List. I've always felt like if your heart really wants something, you should do it and don't just assume you have your whole life to do it. Life is too short for that. I always used to say that if I was suddenly told I had 6 months to live, the first thing I would do would take off and go to India. Why? Because I always wanted to go to India. Well, I did that. And a lot of other things.

Today, on February 29, a day that only comes around once every 4 years, I'm going to recap my 25 Before 25 list. The things I did, the things I didn't, the things I'm still doing and the things I don't care so much about anymore. But I have to say, of the 25 things on that list...the two that were the most important were running a marathon and starting this blog. Running has become me. Not part of me. Me. I love running. And I don't think I realized just how much I truly do love running until I got my pictures back from this weekend's Cowtown Half-Marathon. I didn't even see the cameras out on the course but the smile on my fave proves that I really do love getting out there and running.

As for starting this blog? I've met the most amazing people. I'm going to Spain in 2 months with one of them! I've run races with them, eaten frozen yogurt with them, drank beer with them, cried with them, laughed with them and have made such an unbelievable group of friends and it's that and my obsession with running which has absolutely been perpetuated by my blogging/running friends that makes me more than ok with not having crossed everything off that list.

So without further ado, my final 25 Before 25 recap.


1. Run a marathon. Check! 


2. Finish my college scrapbook. Haha. I think I did all of 3 pages of my scrapbook. This is something I really want to finish though, so once I finish grad school, that's my summer project. 
3. Complete a triathlon. Fail! Honestly, I'm terrified of these things. I'm starting to swim more but the idea of racing a bike terrifies me. I'll get there though. 
4. Become financially self sufficient. Well, I'm happy where I am financially. I don't currently have an income because I get paid with an apartment but I'm happy and hoping that I'll line up a job pretty soon that will make this much more true. 
5. Read the Bible. Check! 
6. Go to India. Check!


7. Start and keep a blog. Check!
8. Get my Masters. Almost! I graduate in May!
9. Visit every Major League Baseball stadium in the US and Canada. 15 out of 30 ain't half bad! I'm definitely planning to finish this one!

Pittsburgh!

10. Go to a music festival. Check!
11. Learn to speak French. Check! I'm not fluent by any means but I'm actually taking French right now! I've only had 2 classes and am picking it up pretty quickly but my travel experiences in French-speaking countries means I have a pretty decent grasp of the language and can get around fairly easily. 
12. Go swimming with the dolphins. Fail!  Swimming with dolphins is hella expensive. Yea, I said hella. 
13. Watch every episode of The Office. Check!
14. Read half of the books on the BBC's Top 100 Books List. I read 49. I may or may not continue reading these. 
15. Watch at least 50 of the Top 100 Films from the IMDB Top 100 List. Blah! I watched 48. Truth is, I didn't really like most of them! Don't think I'll continue with this one!
16. Build a sand castle. Check!
17. Cook every recipe in at least one of my cookbooks. Fail! I have 12 more! Who wants to come over so I can make a roast rack of lamb???


18. Go horseback riding. Fail. I'm actually really sad about this one!
19. Go on a trip by myself. Check! I went to India and back to Rome by myself! 

At the Vatican!

20. Read a book in Spanish. Fail! I have one...I just need to read it!
21. Pay off my credit card. Check! Check! Check!
22. Take a photography class. Check!
23. Make a travel map of all the places I've been. Check!
24. Be more confident about speaking Spanish. Eh, I'll give it 2 out of 5.
25. Do everything on this list! Nope!


So that's that! I'm in the middle of big changes here on my blog so stay tuned because I may be 25 and done with this list but I'm not going anywhere!