Official Gasparilla photos were released this morning!
And somehow I ended up with a picture that I kinda, sorta love.
So that’s what finishing strong looks like? Noted. 
Of course my favorite photo is the one the photographers captured of my sister right before she crushed it at the finish line.
Check out that look of determination on her face! She was flying!
Please excuse me while I brag about my little sister for just a bit.
Kelly is a teacher at a high school back in Orlando. Her school hosts an annual 5k every year as a fundraiser for the school and this year she encouraged her kids to run the race by offering to drop their lowest grade if they participated. On top of dropping their lowest grade, she also offered a ‘special prize’ to any student who beat her in the race. Only a few of her students were up to the challenge – but those who were – were certain they could beat Ms. Anderson. I mean she is just a girl, right?
On Saturday Kelly lined up with 300 runners (8-9 of which were her students). For the first mile or so two of her students managed to keep up with her, but they couldn’t hold the pace. Kelly ended up finishing 9th overall and was the FIRST FEMALE across the finish line. She won the race!!! GO KELLY!!!
Kelly wanted to prove to her students that with hard work and dedication, you can achieve anything. None of her students thought she ‘looked’ like a runner, but you don’t need to ‘look’ like something to succeed at it. All it takes is a goal and the dedicated mindset to get there.
So, yeah. My sister is a running rockstar. She won a 5k on Saturday and smashed her half marathon PR on Sunday (all of which she trained for as a first year teacher who is currently planning her June wedding). I could basically brag about her all day. I’m so proud. 
Lunch today was last night’s leftovers paired with more leftover quinoa (I swear the batch I made last week is never ending!)
Those meatballs were so easy to make,super flavorful and they held together beautifully. I think it was the fresh parsley and the use of panko flakes as the breading – the perfect combination.
{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
Kelly rocks. I definitely miss her blog.
I love to brag about my sister, too. I love her!
Nicole of Raspberry Stethoscope recently posted..Concentration
Go Kelly!! Rock it out girl, what an inspiration!
mindy @ just a one girl revolution. recently posted..happy birthday, mom and mary.
Aw, you are an awesome sister for being so proud of your sister
Family rocks!
Sana recently posted..OurSisterLife Day 14
Awesome pics! Congrats to you and your sis on finishing strong. That’s such a good thing to hear that she is encouraging running at her school. Love it.
Jen @ Whittle My Middle recently posted..Weekly Workout Review Feb 27 – Mar 4
Yeah!! Go Kelly!!!
Krissy @ Shiawase Life recently posted..Awesome bloggers!!
I love that you want to brag about your sister! She is definitely an inspiration to your readers too! Great job Kelly!
Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life recently posted..Gymnastics, and Cheerleading, and…Art? Oh My!
Congratulations to Kelly! She dominated! I think it’s fantastic that she is finding ways to motivate her kiddos to run. It’s so important to get kids to love being active at a early age. The race photos are great by the way.
Britt @ Run with Britt recently posted..Livestrong Austin Half Marathon Recap
Great pictures! I almost never find a good picture of myself during a race…
And Go Kelly!
Lindsay @ Running the Windy City recently posted..Monday Goals: Week 2
Go Kelly! That is an awesome lesson to teach her students.
I kind of hate it when people say “you don’t look like a runner”. I don’t know if that means they think you aren’t fit looking or what? I think we all know from doing races that runners come in so many different shapes and sizes.
EXACTLY!!! But to these kids – or anyone else who has never done or spectated a race before – they THINK runners are ultra lean, muscular, and tiny. What they don’t realize is that runners come in all shapes and sizes.
LOVE the muscle definition in your arm in that picture of you! I can tell that NROLFW is producing results!
Also, GO Kelly!! She’s amazing. I have no doubt that she (and YOU) will crush your marathon goals this spring at flying pig! I however just hope to beat my Chicago time. even by a minute
I love that she is pushing and challenging her students while at the same time breaking the mold of what a runner looks like. Hardworking does pay off! Congrats to you both
Wow, winning the 5K for women, awesome! That’s a great idea to offer to your students – rewarding them with something they truly work hard for (and also promotes getting active). Go Kelly!
Heather @ Housewife Glamour recently posted..2012 Gasparilla Half Marathon
Yay Kelly!
I love surprising the little ones too…I certainly don’t look like a runner but, on our family 5K I was still hauling a$$ as the youngings were breathing heavy….then as the littlest (just turned 8 at the time) started to REALLY complain I stopped with him and walked just long enough for him to say…..I feel better now mom…I am going to run and beat you…which he did!
UGH!
Next time Mom is out for blood…hahahhah!!
Kathy recently posted..One Day!
What does a runner look like anyway?? AWESOME job Kelly! Way to get your students involved. You never know, you might have sparked someone’s running bug. Miss your blog!
Wow, your sister Kelly is a rockstar! That’s an awesome idea to get her students motivated to challenge themselves and try something new!
Sarah @ BlondeBostonian recently posted..Robot Cars
I love some of the pictures they took! I’ve never had so many good ones that I’m pleased with! Props to them. Do you ever buy them? I did the Beck’s light challenge and am considering it of I get all the races pics in one package.
Wow! Congrats to your sis (and you!)! that is awesome. I love sisterly love! Aren’t sisters the best??
jobo recently posted..An unexpectedly unplanned weekend.
Wow that’s so great of your sister! If I were a student of hers I would totally hop on that “drop your lowest grade” train haha
That’s so sweet that you posted this! Loving the sister love <3 Congrats Kelly
Lynda @ Hit The Road Jane recently posted..Savannah Love
Aww, yay Kelly! I miss you!
WOW. GO Kelly!! YAH for putting your mind to something and gettin’ it!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife recently posted..The Link: Body Fat & Dietary Protein
So sweet! Huge hugs to you and Kelly.
Gwen recently posted..Hoarding for the Win!
I love those proof pictures!
Dena @ 40 Fit in the Mitt recently posted..Boot Camp Recovery Smoothie
Go Kelly!!! Such a rockstar!
I’m actually really excited with the Gasparilla pictures. I look like a giant, but they took good pictures.
Andrea @ Run, Eat, Date, Sleep recently posted..What a Week!
Well, if Kelly doesn’t ‘look like a runner,’ then I don’t know who in the heck does.
And it’s moments like that that make me very sad indeed to be an only child – you’re both amazing people and my world would be so much brighter if I had a big (or little) sister like either of you.
xxx
~Jessica~ recently posted..Sushi ‘Sisters’
Congrats to your sister! Pretty awesome! And that meal looks so good, both the meatballs and the roasted veggies!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats recently posted..Random Musings of My Life
That’s an awesome running pic!!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape recently posted..Words
Wooo! Fantastic pics … and I would DEFINITELY brag about your sister, too. She sounds like a rock star!
Yellow Haired Girl recently posted..A Great Time
WOW!!! Way to go Kelly!!
Great pics =)
And…..I can really tell the diff in your arms from weight lifting….now if I’d just get my butt going on it!!
Thanks for all of the sweet comments guys!!! I wanted to get my students to complete the 5k (I encouraged run/walk/crawl/skip/whatever!) so that they could get that awesome feeling of accomplishment that finishing a race gives. Those that made it out there were all proud of themselves!
Please start blogging again soon! I would love to read about teaching and training and see your wedding planning
Great race pictures! Congrats to your sister on killing it. Teaching is hard, especially the first year!*
Army Amy* recently posted..Searching for the Silver Lining
I love that shes motivating her students to get out there and run. Very cool!
Sara@RunningInPinkProject recently posted..Better Together
Ok, how did you snag the pictures?! I can’t find out how to copy the proofs! And you were in the background of one of my pictures close to the finish line!
They’re screenshots of the zoomed in pics
Congrats on good race pictures! I thought race photographers were paid to take horrible pictures!
Sounds like your sister is a great teacher! We need more teachers like her!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Faster Than A Bobcat
Congratz to you Kelly! Quiet the accomplishment, and all for a good reason. Thanks for sharing this post!
Dr. Evan recently posted..Foods To Help Prevent Breast Cancer
I love both those pictures of you girls! Totally buy-worthy.
Congrats Kelly!
You two look so alike in running pictures!
Katherine Acronym recently posted..TB: Tofu Brownies
So glad the run went awesomely…I love the pics – I find it’s rare that the photos come out great…
xoxo from Trinidad
corey @ learning patience recently posted..Boot Camp and Protein Dessert Puffs
Those pictures are great! We all know how rare good running action shots are. Congrats to your sister on the 5K too!!!
Lily recently posted..A New Found Love
Well done to your sister!
I love what she did for her students as well (dropping their lowest mark…I would sooo take that up!)
Joss recently posted..Behold: The Curly Wurly
congrats to kelly! i wish i had had a teacher in high school who promoted running like that.
SkinnyRunner recently posted..Running for a greater cause
Way to go, Kelly! I miss her blog, but totally understand why she’s soooo busy
She definitely needs to do a guess post on MnM 
I cried a little reading this. I always get teary when I read inspiring run stories! It truly is such an accomplishment! AWESOME!!!
Part Time House Wife recently posted..All Day Simple Slow-Cooker FALL OFF the BONE Ribs!
I love that the guy you used for motivation is in the picture right behind you!
You & Kelly rocked it! Way to bring it to the half, you give me hope someday I’ll run fast like you haha Congrats!
Carolina @ Peas in a Blog recently posted..The 20 Minute Treadmill.
Whoohoo!! You go girls!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More recently posted..Unexpected Tears and March Photo A Day
That is so cool that she beat all her students
Sue Kauffman recently posted..How to Start A Fitness Support Group on Facebook
Don’t worry, bragging about sisters is not only totally allowed but encouraged!