#BreakYouMake Project

Since it’s Thinking Out Loud Thursday, I wanted to share with you the #BreakYouMake project. Chobani Flips wants us all to share who in our lives deserves a break! It can be a family member, my fitspiration, a local first responder, or even a fellow blogger. And I want to know who inspires you! If you want to learn more information about Chobani’s #BreakYouMake project, please click here! (Not a referral link!) So without further ado, I present to you my #BreakYouMake idol. Emily Abbate

Emily is a sorority sister of mine from college. We were in the same pledge class, and quickly became friends. Looking back at this time I can’t help but smile. Both Emily and I were starting out on our individual fitness journeys, but neither of us knew it yet. I had just started training for my first half marathon and Emily just began running. We shared a passion for the same sport. But this story isn’t about me, it’s about Emily.

Emily (second from left), Me (far right)

Emily is the most determined person I know. I don’t think there’s a better way to describe her. Passionate. Witty. Smart. Are all adjectives that come to mind, but at the core, Emily is inspirational.

Emily is a writer herself and has openly documented her battle and journey with weight loss. I have linked some of her own writing in this post as Emily is most definitely more eloquent than I. And plus… who knows her story better? When Emily and I met in college she was 70 pounds heavier, a size 16 pair of jeans.

The summer before we met, Emily began walking and running up and down her driveway as a way to lose weight. Each day she’d go just a little bit further. Emily persevered and before she knew it was running a half marathon.

Hartford Half Marathon 2008 – Emily’s First!

Then another. And another. And then a marathon. And last year, Emily ran the New York City Marathon. Her journey there was not easy, and it took years and years, but she did it. In fact, she crushed it. She ran NYCM, in the windiest conditions, in under 4 hours.

Emily and I still kept in touch. She has a career she loves, a total dream job if you ask me, and she is still marathoning. Next up, the Dublin Marathon. Casual runcation. #Envy. And after that? Emily will be trying on being a triathlete for size. Best believe I’m always excited to track her bib for her races, and see what an incredible athlete she has become.

Emily, you inspire me and so many others. You’ve showed us that if we keep chipping away at that really big goal, we will get there. Congratulations. : )

L&L

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Who inspires you?

Who deserves the Chobani #BreakYouMake in your life?