Strength In A Race

I started a journey to lose weight and adopt a healthy lifestyle in May of 2013. In December 2013, after losing about 40 lbs, I joined a gym and decided to hold myself accountable by posting my progress on Facebook. One year later and I've lost a total of 109 lbs, dropped from a size 24 to a size 10/12 and I completed a mud obstacle course challenge in October 2014. I was blessed to have such encouraging friends and family to keep me going. One of my friends was an acquaintance from High School who was always very athletic and thin-- someone who honestly intimidated me (since I was so unfit and lacked self esteem). Well, she became one of my biggest cheerleaders and encouragers. She also was on a journey to complete the Reebok Spartan Ultrabeast race. When I started my journey, she had tried one race and was 'taken out' early in the race, the second attempt, she got much further into the race but also was 'taken out'. Many would quit, but not my friend...she is already training for this year's Ultrabeast in Vermont in the fall. She posted on Facebook that all she wanted for Christmas was to complete the Ultrabeast this year. I knew at that moment, she was deserving of my key with the word STRENGTH inscribed on it.