Wow kinda wild that I was even thinking of writing another one of these. Felt like I just wrote the recap for 2022, but I did do that 3 months late, so I guess it’s okay to feel like this one is so soon. I’m starting to finally catch back up after the holidays and this is one of the things on my list to knock off.
Not being able to run (well) for most of the year has put me into a funk, but I’ve been able to expand and experience some things that I probably wouldn’t have done if I focused on as much running as I did in 2022.
Now compared to last year, I was trying to do better in any stat category in running compared to 2022. However, 2023 wasn’t my year in the sport of running, but rather a time of experiences.
I got to cash in this year.
The biggest shock to start off 2023 was getting laid off from my full-time job at the end of 2022. While I was apart of the big tech layoffs, it was a vacation if I could call it one for about 6 months. While many of my peers and friends were losing jobs and struggling financially with no end in sight, I got to enjoy some of the things that life had to offer me. All of those weekends staying in, working the nights, weekends, selling items online, working multiple jobs, and studying to get the better jobs and grades finally provided a little sense of security.
I don’t want it to be about money, but having a cushion allowed me to keep my stress levels low, and actually be okay with not working for a little bit. 2023 was the year of adapting. It was about enjoying life, having some more fun, not having a routine, and still trying to succeed at some of the goals even if they had to be adjusted. To put it into a quick summary I listed a few of those below;
- Gained a couple of lbs
- Drank some beers
- Ate some food
- Made a ton of new friends
- Got two new jobs
- Got back into group fitness coaching
- Continued to run despite the worst injuries, warmups, schedules, or conditions
- Traveled across the states
- Traveled back to Europe
- Took about 3 vacations this year
- Visit some friends from my last job in their hometown
- Drank some more beers
- Still hit my yearly mileage goal of atleast 1k miles
- Lost an apartment
- Started a run club
- Made the big boy jump into Manhattan
- Worked out a little too much
- Accepted another job to be a professor
- Paid off some more student loan debt
Didn’t run a marathon
This past year had a lot of ups, downs, surprises, and just about everything else. What I learned from this year, was that you have to be resourceful. I think if I didn’t work all the side jobs that I have in the past, or had that drive 2023 probably would have been different. I pulled my skills from every aspect of my life to keep pushing and moving forward despite all the “setbacks”. So go out enjoy it, try a new job, hobby, travel or anything. Life is to short and you’ll miss out on it, if you don’t.
Lesson learned this year: Enjoy it.
Christopher Sandoli 
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