Beautiful.

Great pictures. Good for you – that 1/2 marathon is going to be a piece of cake for you!

Hey, what a second…you didn’t mention your kids in this post. What kind of mommyblogger are you?

Kidding.

My husband is a runner and I can always tell when he hasn’t run in a while. Life is just better when you are getting that excellent combo of good stuff you get from running (alone time + fresh air + endorphins= life is better). Glad you are in this good place.

I know this post was all touching and shit or whatever, but all I can think is damn, lady, you look amazing!

You are awesome.

I loved 2009, too. I’m glad you did, too. I KNOW it was a sucky year for many, I KNOW. But for me, it was amazing. And for you, too.

Bring it on, 2010.

Your vitality shines, shines, shines in that last picture.

You are such an inspiration. I’ve beenm aking some changes in my life, all I need to do now is get the allergy meds right so my asthma doesn’t kick in and I’m starting an exercise regimen. I doubt I’ll be running any marathons but hopefully I’ll feel better and get healthier. Right now that’s all I’m asking for.

You rock. And you truly are an inspiration. That’s all.

Great pics! I always was looking for new places to run, as the same scenery day-after-day doesn’t quite motivate me. Of course, now the only thing motivating me is leftover fudge in the kitchen…But, I’m pregnant. And the baby needs the fat. (I keep telling myself that, anyway.)

anxiously awaiting your annual end-of-year meme!!

I can’t take my eyes off… the carrot and glass of milk. Oh, and you look great!

Rock on!
Here’s to a fab 2010!

You. Are. Awesome.

I have no better words than that.

Cheers to 2010!

Beautiful pics, as always. You’ve denied having a special camera before, but I don’t believe you. MY photos never look so good!

For the first time in my life, I told myself “no” a couple of times over Christmas. I didn’t deprive myself, just moderated myself. One chocolate covered cherry after lunch, not four. My husband gave me his traditional gift-a box of Godiva chocolates. BUT–he gave me the eight count box instead of the 36 count that he used to give me. He didn’t want to toss our tradition out the window, but he didn’t want to sabotage me either. You know what? I haven’t had more than one of those truffles a day. That’s a huge victory for me. And I exercised nearly every day. I took Christmas Eve off because I was so busy, but otherwise, I pounded pavement or shredded every day this week.

It’s because of you, Linda. Because you’ve shown me that discipline and hard work will pay off. Thanks for the lesson.

I hope 2010 is blissful for you.

Wow, I love that 2nd to last photo of the meadow with fog and dark trees behind. So eerily beautiful, I had goosebumps.

I’m impressed by your dedication and the internal strength it has given you as well as the physical. May 2010 be everything you want it to be.

beautiful post and all but when I scrolled down to the last photo the first thing I saw were 2 blue balls and a very large carrot stick on that plate. I nearly had coffee come out of my nose.

Isn’t it awesome?! This rebirth of yourself. Or at least this is how I feel. Like I am back to being me only better. And I feel so strong and less sad/depressed wound up/free. I think that is amazing!

You are amazing too. Thank you for your daily inspiration. Here’s to 2010!

You’re inspiring, which I feel I’ve said to you nine gazillion times, my god, but you are. Anyone who tries to lessen your accomplishments or poke holes in your successes is having a tough time with their own obstacles, and I bet it’s hard for them to see you knocking down your own.

I think 2010 is going to be the best year I’ve ever had.

You too.

You are so inspiring, Linda! I think 2010 is going to be the year I get (back) off my ass and start exercising again. Your posts remind me how much I loved running. I miss it!

You are awesome.

Nine-and-a-half miles is kind of a long DRIVE. Happy new year!

Jesus, that is a big carrot.

Have a happy 2010! You are a very inspirational person!

Wow! You are awesome! Beautiful pictures and that is a big ass carrot! Have a happy 2010.

You look awesome, the photos are gorgeous, and my amaryllis hasn’t bloomed yet either. Is it just me or are they late this year?
Also, I know why the carrot is so big, Santa has to break it into 9 pieces for each reindeer plus rudolph. Ha!

Running does amazing things to one’s perspective on life. Enjoy, and merry Christmas, you deserve the peace that a sunny run brings :)

I haven’t run 9 miles in quite a bit. Proud for you, though, and just a little bit jealous!

Congratulations.
On the new outlook, improved health, hard work, the eye for the simple and beautiful.
They are well-deserved riches.

Damn, girl! Looking gooooood!! ;) Seriously, the colors in that sweater are great on you.

This is so inspiring. You deserve to feel so proud of yourself. I am really aspiring to do this kind of thing. I used to be so outdoorsy and I am so out of shape after having my baby. And everything you’ve described is the exact reason why I want to be stronger. I just want to feel that nothing is holding me back from getting out there and tromping around with my son.

Such great pics! It looks like you are having a lot of fun and saying “yes” to every new adventure.

Awesome pictures and awesome accomplishments for you in 2009. May your 2010 be even better!

Thank you for your inspiration.

Good for you, beautiful. Good for you.

well I know that I cannot wait for everything you feel like “talking” about in 2010. It’s awesome that you realize how important taking care of *you* is for your family. One day I will reach that realization (and implement it!) too!

Bravo!
I loved everything about this post: the words, the photos, the inspiration.

Thank you for sharing.

so inspired! beautiful photos.

I’m proud of you, too. I can’t even imagine running 9.5 MILES, never mind kilometers. (Still trying to figure out how one embraces discomfort and pain, as described in Born to Run. I meet it and find myself defeated most of the time. If you have any insights in to this, would love a blog post.)

Btw, you also look hugely classy in your gear. I love the red running shoes. I don’t care what they can do, I just love the colour.

You are not only inspiring to the oh so many people who read you, you are also an inspiration to those amazing two little boys you are raising. They will learn from your example, and I think it’s a fantastic one.

Keep up the great work!

Agree with Maria (12:50 pm) comment above. You are setting an awesome example and role model to your boys. They’ll grow up learning that women and moms can be strong, work hard, and do anything, and that will extend to relationships they have with women throughout their lives (teachers, co-workers, classmates, bosses, girlfriends, wives etc).

You’ve inspired me this year. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish in 2010!

Awesome! I thought about you yesterday during my long run — when all that would get me through was John Butler Trio. I was thinking that I needed to recommend them to you for your ipod list. So, there you go. I recommend John Butler Trio — Sunrise Over Sea, Grand National, etc.

If you look this good in 2009, You’re gonna be smoking hot in 2010. Keep up the good work!

You inspire the hell out of me, lady.

Also: I am wondering how you like those Nike Free shoes.

Dude.

That was my barn!

It’s awesome that you have achieved so many of your goals. But I’m mostly in awe of that carrot!

I’ve always felt uncomfortable in my own skin…..Most sober people I know say the same thing….something to do with being an alcoholic! :)

You are inspiring and you look GREAT too!!!

I followed all that bullshit on Swistle’s comments and I’m so happy you wrote this. I knew you “before”, and seeing and hearing you now, you are just so much happier. You’re confident. You’re content. And that is what makes you beautiful.

You’ve inspired me to treat my own body with respect. I’m not overweight – I’ve never had a problem with that. I’ve eaten anything I like and remained small. But I don’t treat my body well. The food I put into me makes me tired, makes me perform with less energy. I don’t exercise. And I want to change that, partly because I’ve seen how much it has changed you.

It’s not about fitting into size 0 jeans. It’s about treating yourself well. It’s caring about yourself enough to do good things for yourself. Thanks for being such an inspiration.

Sundry….I love your blog. Its so inspiring and I love seeing pictures of you- I mean that in the most non-stalker, non-creepy sort of way– its so awesome to see that hard work pays off. There was a blog you wrote a long time ago (and I wish I could go back and re-read it if I remembered when it was) but it was basically saying that you have a choice every day when you get up to work-out or not. You have to put yourself first (and then I remember you getting a lot of backlash about how not everyone has as much “money or freetime” and that exercising is a luxury not everyone can have). Anyway– I think of that “message” every morning when I get up and get busy with Jillian and I don’t want to. Im so impressed with everything you’ve done and for whatever its worth *you’ve* inspired me to kick my ass into shape. I feel stronger/healthier/more beautiful now than I ever have. And while I’d love to lose say another 10lbs (just ten damn pounds– why is it so hard!!) I feel good about the way I look. I wish I could know you in person, I think you are so awesome.

You totally captured it. I haven’t run hardly at all during my pregnancy, and I can’t WAIT to get back to it next year for all the reasons you mentioned. Thanks for being so inspiring. And ditto everyone else – you look fantastic.

You look so badass in that first picture.