Four and a half years ago, I started runladylike.com because of the profound depth running brought into my life. Although running has always been part of me, it wasn’t until 2009 I discovered the power of long-distance running. I found myself learning lessons and feeling emotions I wanted to share … partly because I wanted to help others learn what took me a long time to learn for myself, and partly because we’re at our best when we’re supporting and encouraging each other. Many moons and hundreds of articles later, I’m sitting here in a very different place than when I started, simply feeling grateful.

As 2017 begins, the only way to start the year is to say thank you.

Thank you for sticking with me as my running has ebbed and flowed the past two years, changing with my life. As someone who writes about running (and triathlon) but did very little of it in 2016, I realize it was a lot to ask for you to keep stopping by. There weren’t high mileage training week recaps, goal race reports or powerful workouts to follow. Instead, there was a miscarriage, then a successful pregnancy, then videos about how my fitness was slowing, then announcing I could no longer run and finally all the lessons I learned from a year of no racing. It’s not what you signed up for, but it’s part of my journey, and it will be a big part of how I return to running in 2017.

For me, 2017 is about adjusting and prevailing.

Adjusting to a new life full of lots of exciting (and terrifying) changes, balancing being a new working mom and cherishing all the moments that are yet to come.

Prevailing by proving to myself and all of you that I will be stronger, grow more deeply and be able to dream and achieve bigger things in the months and year to come. {I’ll be sharing my 2017 running goals and target race this month!}

Thank you for your support, love and encouragement as I prepare to welcome Baby rUnladylike in a few days (due January 8). Thank you for joining me on this journey and for sharing yours. Thank you for returning to this corner of the Internet as we find our extraordinary together.

Here’s to an amazing year ahead for us all. xo