Much like distance, travel is a word with many meanings - two of which have been particularly resonant with me lately.

First things first - think back to seven or eight years ago. Who were you? Have you changed? A little, or perhaps a lot?

Today, I want to tell you a little about the traveling I've done in eight years. The inspiration for this comes from my run today (3 miles).

Eight years ago, I weighed 223 pounds. (For perspective, I'm about 5'10") I couldn't have walked three miles, probably, without being winded. I didn't play sports or exercise. I was not healthy - in any way. If you told me six years ago that I would ride a bike to Alaska, that I would run three miles without stopping (much less one), that I would finally be HEALTHY, BEAUTIFUL, and PROUD of myself, I would never have believed you.

Seven years ago, I joined WeightWatchers and I lost 50 pounds. It took almost a year to lose, and two or three years of constant worrying I might gain it back.

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking a lot about who I was and how far I've come. I realized last week that for the first time in my life, I am not afraid of my own body anymore. I can't even describe this feeling to someone who hasn't gone through it - when you lose as much weight as I did, you carry the fear of gaining it back with you constantly. You have issues with your self-esteem in relation to your body. You are your own worst enemy.

And last week, I realized that was gone - all of it, every last piece. Over the past year, there has been very little of it left, but it was still there, just a sliver. And then, some time last week, I realized it was gone. It was possibly the most incredible and frightening thing I have ever experienced. But it was incredibly liberating.

So I have traveled a long way in eight years. And I like to think that if I can go through this process, then I can do anything - and I can inspire others to fight against the things that might seem insurmountable to them, like cancer. Nothing is unbeatable - it just takes more time than we have, sometimes.

The realization that I've closed that chapter of my life, hopefully forever, made me think about who I had to thank for it. So, a brief set of thank yous:

1. To my Mom & Mama, for giving me the push to join Weight Watchers with you. And for always being loving and understanding. It seems like a given, but this quality is more than many people care to give to their children and grandchildren.

2. To Haley Hinshaw, for first suggesting I go to the gym with her. I lost all that weight without doing anything but walking - Haley, thanks for introducing me to the concept of exercise!

3. To Parker Johnson, for telling me that I couldn't do Texas 4000. You know all of this is under the bridge for me, but I actually can't thank you enough for telling me that I couldn't do it. There's nothing that will inspire me more than someone telling me I can't.

4. To Grady Ewing, for teaching me to ride a bike. I have a feeling it may come in handy.

5. To Richard Stein, Chris Smith, Byron Dow, and every other boy who made fun of my weight in junior high. I hope that time has taught you kindness, and if not, know that your cruelty, in its backward way, helped me change my life for the better.

6. To my T4K team. I don't even know what to say here. We don't leave for over six months - I already love you. Thank you for loving me too.

In closing, I'd like to mention the last kind of travel I've being contemplating: the literal kind. I'm Travel & Logistics Chair for the Sierra route! Lots of responsibility, lots of fun...here we go! More to come about that later. I feel like I've already said enough in this post!