This is it everybody, Day 365!  We’ve made it!  It was one year ago today my good friend Nick Karwoski started blogging and this awesome movement kicked into full swing.  The tremendous amount that has been accomplished this past year is truly astounding and I am incredibly proud to have been a part of it.

Commitment to the We Are One cause has never been difficult for me, but I’d be lying if I said making time and finding the energy to work out every day has always been easy.  I’ve had my ups and downs, bouts of laziness and apathy, but my commitment to the cause has never wavered and I’ve had a great time sharing my workouts with you. Having made the WAO365 pledge has kept me motivated and accountable and has helped me in leading a healthier lifestyle.  Everyone who reads the blog is truly making a difference in the ways and reasons Americans get exercise, all the while helping raise both money and awareness for the men and women in the military services.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my blogs this past year; I know I’ve enjoyed reading the other team leader’s entries.  Whether it be what upcoming races Emily is in, what latest rec league Team Baltimore team is involved with, where the Cornell Crew team is ranked, how Lauren and Donna are continuing to get in shape, or how Nick is running around in some exotic locale, the other entries have kept me entertained and on track.

While today is Day 365, tomorrow is Day 1 again.  I’m excited to keep working hard and getting into shape.  This Sunday is the Malibu Half Marathon I’ve been training for the past few months, so I’ll certainly have plenty to write about in the weeks to come.  I went out running tonight and I plan to continue to do so every night until Sunday.  My mom, who is running the race with me, plans on wearing her WAO365 shirt Sunday as well, so with any luck, I’ll have a nice new picture to kick off year two.

Keep working hard and donating to the cause.  There’s always more work to be done, so don’t stop now.  We Are One.

-Derek