16 Runs with 16 Friends in 2016

Taken on my first outdoor run of 2016 in Barrie. Ran a nice 11.6K that day in -2C. :D
Unfortunately, I don't think I actually look this smiley when I'm running. Haha!

When I started running regularly about 3 years ago, I thought I could only ever run alone. I was so slow and didn't know if I should keep running. How could I run with others when I'm so focused on just breathing and staying on my feet? Today, I still consider myself slow and I still don't really know what I'm doing. But now I love meeting friends for runs! It just makes me so happy! ^_^

Meeting the Fearless Dragons in 2014 taught me that I don't have to run alone and how to find community through running. Forming the Hot Potatoes in 2015 showed me that sharing our passions can allow us to find inspiration/inspire others. As part of my 16 in 2016 goals, I will go on 16 different runs with 16 different friends (preferably one on one) throughout the year.

I hope to make new running friends/get to know my existing friends better through our shared interest/love in running and explore new places on each run. :) If you run and we're friends, you'll be hearing from me.* If you run, I don't know you and you want to run together, give me a shout!

Look at the beautiful sky! Gotta run! More updates to come. :)

*I'm going to try to stay local/in Ontario to start. But if travel opportunities come up throughout the year, I'll be sure to get in touch with friends outside of Ontario/Canada. You know who you are. ;)

Thoughts on 2015/16

I'm sorry for taking a photo of this page instead of buying your book Cheryl! >_<

I came across this page from Cheryl Strayed's newest book, Brave Enough, in late November 2015. A part of me wishes that this book had been published earlier in the year, because her words really resonated with me. I took a photo of this page so her words could serve as a reminder of how I want to live my life in 2016 because I did not live bravely (or as bravely as I could have) in 2015.