We had so many adventures in 2025, it was hard to pick what to write about...
In January, I joined the River Valley Running Group, which was life-changing. Rick started his final year of coaching archery and of running his shop.
Cassie's birthday is in January, so we had our first birthday brunch together.
I spent a lot of January working on quilts for the camper van. I used fabric that my Mom had saved over the years to make them. So many memories of the clothes she made for herself and us in those quilts. It makes me happy every time I look at them.
February brought an epic adventure for us. We took our longest trip yet in the camper van, going to South Carolina.
Rick had never seen the ocean before.
We had a great time hiking, biking, and simply relaxing.
We also had lots of snow and cold to come home to.
March is my birthday month, so we had my birthday brunch.
March is when I really started to up my mileage running.
April had its highs and its lows.
After 14 years, we lost our sweet Morgan. It was so heartbreaking...
We went to the MSAA State Archery Tournament. Rick was so excited to have both Liam and Josie shoot it this year with him.
Amy put the crazy idea in my head that I should run the Zumbro 17-mile trail run. So, of course, I did it. Amy Carey and I had so much fun!!! It was the beginning of, let's do lots of races this year.
May was full of adventures.
We had our first warm-weather camping trip of the year, going to Lebanon Hills Campground.
Amy got into the Brooklyn, NY, half-marathon and asked me to go along to cheer. New York has been on my bucket list for years, so I was so excited to go.
We had so much fun. Carey did an awesome job making sure I got to see and do everything I wanted to.
May is also when I really got to know these wonderful women from the running group. It was the beginning of our summer of training for races together.
June brought my second big race of the year.
Amy, Jese, and I ran the Fargo half-marathon, and Carey ran the 10K race.
In June, my oldest Grandchild, Liam, graduated from high school.
July was another busy month.
We started out the month with a family camping trip to Wisconsin.
I participated in the National Senior Games for the first time. I ran the 5K. It was so much fun being around so many "old" people who are in such great shape.
Rick, Eli, Carey, Amy, and I all ran the 7-mile Creek trail race. We all had a great time.
August brought an exciting change to our lives.
We went back to Iowa for Rick to participate in the Senior Games. He came in 6th place overall.
We took a trip to LaCrosse, WI, and finally got to bike part of the Sparta Bike Trail.
The big change in our life came in the form of Finnegan. I have been searching for a second cat since before Morgan died. I wanted Rainy to have a companion. Rick was not on board with this. Cassie came across Finn and sent his information to me. I put in to adopt him, and then we went up to meet him.
Finn instantly bonded with Rick. He came home with us that day and is 100 percent Rick's cat.
We ended August with a sleepover with Nash and Larina.
In September, I spent A LOT of time running.
Training for a marathon takes a lot of time. The training plan had me doing a 20-mile run, so I signed up for the White Bear Lake 20-mile race. It was a hot and humid day, but we all did awesome.
Amy, Carey, and I decided to throw in a 10-mile trail race in September. It was also the first time I took the camper-van on my own to go camping. I didn't want to get up early to run, so I booked a spot at the State park where the race was.
October was probably the biggest month for us this year.
In October, Rick closed his archery shop down for good and retired!! It was hard for him to do, but it was time. We have learned that tomorrow is not promised to any of us, so we need to live life now.
All my training this summer paid off when I ran my very first marathon! I ran the Twin Cities Marathon, and it was the best experience ever!!
When I went to look for a picture of the marathon to post, I came across this one. It sums up my day. I believe Carey was saying to me, "Can you believe you just ran a marathon!" I will never forget that feeling of accomplishment as I crossed that finish line.
We took our trip to Sibley State Park the second week of October.
It was a great way to relax after running the marathon. I even managed to get out on the boat fishing for the first time this year.
Lastly, I wrapped up October by running the Mankato Half-Marathon. What is one more race for the month...
November brought another big trip for us.
I ran my second marathon for the year in Scottsdale, AZ.
It was the Every Woman's Marathon. It was so empowering to run with so many strong women.
The support of all these people was incredible.
These three women have made my year so much better. Who knew in January that joining the River Valley Running group would bring them into my life? (except Amy, who, of course, is my daughter) We have spent so much time together this year running so many miles and along with those miles, we have become friends. They are my running family.
I finished off November running the Turkey Trot.
And just like that it was December.
I was lucky enough to run my last race of the year with Larina. It was her first race ever. It was a chilly and windy day, but we had a lot of fun.
I decided this year that I did not want to put up a Christmas tree. But I love all of my Christmas ornaments. So this was my solution. I love how it turned out.
So that is a wrap of 2025.
After losing my Mom in 2023 and less than a year later losing my Dad in 2024, I have been living with a lot of grief. So 2025 has been a year of learning how to live without them. I decided that I was going to put myself first and heal. It may have been selfish, but it was what I needed to become whole again. Running has been my therapy. I am not sure that my running people know how much they have helped me on my healing journey. And then there is my family. They have been so supportive of everything I have decided to do they year. Rick has sat back and let me do my thing all year. I could not have done it without him being there and saying yes to every crazy idea I had.
In 2026, my word for the year is Balance. I am going to balance my wants with Rick's wants. I hope to do way more fishing and biking with Rick, along with all my running. We are planning our camping trips so that we both get to do things we want to do. Our first year of both of us being retired is going to be epic!
Bring on the adventures 2026....
Sharon
