A look back at 2021

I usually write a long end-of-year blog post, but this year I'm trying a different format with a 'Story Map' to capture the highlights of my year. 2021 wasn't an easy year, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic was (and is) very much present, but good things happened! And if you know me, I tend to see life through a positive lens. I experienced a few firsts in my endurance sport life, took a couple trips to visit family, and am making progress on a new career path. My guiding principles are that happiness comes from within and you are never too old to learn (or try) something new.

I had a big trail running year doing several races for the first time including Leadville Heavy Half, Crested Butte 55k (my first ultramarathon!), and the Pikes Peak Ascent. While only a couple of my athletes raced this year, they did have firsts as well. Team Bike MS was back at the one-day Colorado ride this year and  Team NEO  raised over $56,500 for the  National MS Society !

I successfully defended my thesis (Physical Activity Behavior and Trail Use Before, During, and After COVID-19 Restrictions) and graduated with a master's degree in Health Promotion from  UCCS  in May. I presented virtual posters at two academic conferences: the American College of Sports Medicine ( ACSM ) in June and the American Public Health Association ( APHA ) in October. I was fortunate to also attend APHA in person and meet other physical activity researchers. Now I'm applying to PhD programs to continue on a path to help make opportunities for physical activity more accessible to everyone. In the meantime, I'm working as a GIS project manager for  CONO , a local non-profit that focuses on community engagement.

And yes, I still am coaching endurance athletes achieve things they thought not possible!

2022 will likely bring some big changes, especially on the professional front. Here's to a happy and healthy year!