2023 Lea Genders Fitness Year-In-Review: The Good, The Sad & The Injured

This is the time of year I annually request you to indulge me in my yearly recap. My humble blog began in 2009 with my first-ever year-in-review and has continued every year since. While my blog and subject matter have grown and evolved, it is always fun to look back at the highlights of my year. Please stay tuned because I promise to continue to work to provide helpful running, strength training, and health topics in 2024.

As the years go by, I become more grateful for the opportunity to coach and help people grow with their health and fitness. My year reflects my joy of running, training, music, friends, and family, and while there were ups and downs this year, it has been a net positive (or I’m actively learning to view it that way)!

In February, I ran the Cowtown 10K. It’s my favorite local race! Maybe the guy behind me is saying “I got passed by a girl?!?!” hah

I coached a great group of ladies for the 10K. We all crossed the finish line happy and healthy! There are still a couple of spots for women in Fort Worth in our 2024 half-marathon training group (at the time of this post).

In March I took a too-quick trip to Pittsburgh to visit family on my way to Philadelphia for the Love Run with friends. Always great to hug my not-so-little little brother.

Ran the 7.6K at the Philadelphia Love Run and broke all my PRs in distances under a 10K. Cold weather and flat course for the (3rd place age group) win!

Philly tour with friends. It was COLD and rainy but a good time and education was had by all.

We said goodbye to our sweet Ollie. It’s always hard but he lived a long, happy and healthy life and enriched ours beyond measure. Goodnight Bubby.

We had a sauna installed in the ShredShed. It’s a dream come true for this heat-loving gal!

Relived my youth with a Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’s concert with friends.

More Yeah Yeah Yeah’s concert fun! We spent way too much time trying to get the sign behind us to switch to the concert we were there to see, but to no avail.

In May I ran a local 5K and won first overall female! You gotta love a small race!

In August we celebrated 18 years of marriage! Our marriage is old enough to be an adult!

I attended Dallas Mania, my annual fitness professional convention, to earn my continuing education credits and introductory Yoga teacher certification.

Home remodeling fun. We refinished the wood floor and designed an accent wall!

I look great for 94, if I do say so myself! (This joke won’t work next year!)

More birthday shenanigans in September. All dressed up for sushi!

Uh Oh. My warranty expired. The day after my 49th birthday, my foot started hurting. It has been a practice of patience and trust. I have been leaning heavily into upper body strength and a chin-up PR. I am not letting what I can’t do get in the way of what I can.

I started my six-month PN Level 2 master health coach certification to get NBHWC board certified.

I couldn’t run the Dallas half because of my foot, but I trained a group of runners and walkers to finish 13.1. It’s disappointing not to run, but helping a great group of women achieve this fun goal was the next best thing! I loved seeing these women accomplish their goals!

Overall, it was a great year, and I think my setbacks are teaching me essential life lessons in patience and a positive mindset. My health coaching class is stretching me in the best way possible, and I am looking forward to who I can help and what I can achieve in 2024…and getting back to running my best!

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Questions? I’d love to help.

Coach Lea