Friday, May 28, 2010

>Worst pre-race week ever

>Tomorrow my hubby and I are going to be running the Tennessee Sports Medicine EXPO 5k. I go today to pick up our race packets. This race has been held for a long time but this will be the first time my hubby and I are running it. I have been pretty excited about it for a few reasons. One being that I was told it was a good race. Secondly, we are running as a team (whatever that means since my hubby will more than likely smoke my butt!!). And finally, the hubby and I aren't your typical runners so we fall under the athena/clydesdale category and this particular race actually has those! Woohoo!

My excitement halted a bit as of Wednesday following my run. I did intervals that day (which kicked butt.. 8:56 min/mile for 3.15 miles in 28:07). I felt great. Too bad I can't keep a pace like that for an entire 5k. Anyway, I didn't have time that morning to grab my running clothes so my hubby packed them for me and dropped them off on his way out of town (booo). Well, I had gotten a new Nike under wire sports bra. I wore it before to workout (elliptical/weights) and it was fine. Wednesday that is the one he brought me to wear and it was a scheduled run day. I knew right away that it wasn't a great bra for running but it really didn't hit me until I got home. I have the worst burn spot smack in the middle of my girls. OUCH! I will spare you any really gross details but those of you who run know this is not a good thing to have happen just days before a race!

As if dealing with my little boo boo wasn't enough add to that my husband being out of town for 3 days AND  me coming down with a sinus/allergy/head cold. I have been treating it all week with sudafed but apparently that is not the right drug for me. I woke up so stuffy this morning. SO, out with the sudafed and in with the stronger stuff in hopes that I can kick this crud before tomorrow morning! lol

The forecast for tomorrow morning is this:

Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

I don't mind showers so much but I do hope they either make an early appearnace (6am) or late appearance (after 9 am). I like wind as long as it is on my back. Thunderstorms might make for an interesting race though I would rather not find that out! 

As with any race I have not previously ran I do not have any set expectations other than to cross the finish line. However, my last race time was 36:35 (although they listed 36:32) so I do hope to beat that time. I would love to finish under 34 minutes but am not going to beat myself up if I don't. I hope to have a full race report by Sunday!

Monday, May 24, 2010

>Progress pictures

>It's hard to believe that I have been at this weight loss thing for a year now (faithfully!!) but it is true... a year has passed. A year ago I weighed over 220 lbs and looked like this...


Last year I remember thinking I looked good after having lost a little bit of weight and was happy to pose with my family for pictures. This fall I felt even better because I had lost around 25-30 pounds and could really tell the difference since the summer.

As 2010 rolled in I felt more comfortable with pictures of myself being taken because I could see the difference. It's weird because looking in the mirror some days I do not see the difference at all and still see myself as the girl in the first picture. And sometimes I feel like that is the girl other people see too.  But by January/February (actually it was Dec, but I can't find those pics) I was proud to say that I had gone from a *gasp* size 20 jean to a 14....


But today I am even more proud of my accomplishments and what I can finally see...

Yesterday my hubby snapped these pictures of me at thisclose to 50 lbs lost. I have decided that I want to keep going with this and lose another 25-35 lbs before February 27th, 2011. That is 40 weeks away (roughly since I got side track after I counted) and 1 day before my 32nd birthday. I have my heart set on running my first half marathon. And if everything in my life goes accordingly (haha) that will happen!  For now I am going to keep pushing on and running forward.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

>What makes a running Mom proud?

>

The awesome running form my 4 year old has! I swear the kid runs better than I do and I am proud. 
I can't wait until our youth track program starts this summer.

Monday, May 17, 2010

>Where've you been?

>Or maybe you are asking where have I been?

Here, there and everywhere.
Last week was busy and I wasn't feeling great about my efforts to lose. I got in 4 great workouts though, so that accounts for something positive in my week!

I can't say whether the scale moved last week or not because honestly I didn't pay a great deal of attention to it even though I can assure you I was on it more than I should have been.

I never even came here to discuss my May goals but I wrote them down. SO, maybe now is a good time to share them with you..lol
1. 170-175 before vacation (June 19th)
2. run 5k without stopping
3. PR 5k on May 29th - goal of 34 minutes


I only set three goals. And yes one of them carries over into June. I've been using my beach vacation as a motivator especially with the weight thing. There are other things I want to work on and achieve before vacation as well. I want (and need) to start a more core work (How often do I say that!?!?). I also want to tone my arms/shoulders and back more before vacation. I am running out of sweet time here! I have a month before we leave. My plan is to take measurements again tomorrow and begin the extra work I need today! :)

So, let me break down those goals and discuss them for a minute.
1. 170-175 before vacation (June 19th)
I am pretty sure I can achieve this goal. Based on my last (recorded) weigh in I only have about 5 lbs or so to lose to meet this goal. And that is completely obtainable in a month's time. Maintaining that weight while on vacation will be a completely different quest!
2. Run 5k without stopping
This is a goal my husband helped me set. I *think* if I can get over the mind games I deal with while running I can meet this goal too. However, my mind messes with me and plays games with me while I am on the treadmill. It's brutal some days. I worry about things I shouldn't be worried about while I am running. Crazy.
3. PR 5k on May 29th (goal of 34 minutes)
First let me say that my last 5k race time was 36:34 (official results). And while I do not yet know the race course for the 29th I know it may be unrealistic for me to set a goal of 34 minutes. I do realize though that anything under 36 minutes would be a PR, so why not shoot for 34?! If I meet that goal GREAT, if I do not well then I have a little more to work on but either way I won't be disappointed because finishing is a great accomplishment anyway.

So, stay tuned for an update (12 days) soon about my next 5k! And check back in on my measurements and those results! Next topic -- kicking negativity goodbye and thinking positive! Woohoo!

Monday, May 10, 2010

>I think I am obsessed

>With running.
Or at least the "racing" aspect of running.

I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that I would be a runner. And I still have a hard time saying that I am a runner but you all know my issues there! lol But the more I run (especially races) the more I want to do it. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment I guess.

Anyway, I had told myself that after the last 5k in April we (my hubby and I) would take a racing break until July. I've ran a particular race out of town the last 2 years and decided that race would be our next one. Well....

I signed us up for another 5k. It will be in exactly 20 days. I'm not sure if I am ready for it or not. Actually, today, I know I am not ready for it. But I am excited about it. As always, I love that my hubby is willing to take part in these with me. We are both excited about there being a Clydesdale/Athena division in this race too! haha That might give us a better shot at placement (not that it matters to me) and has us "competing" against not just our age level but runners who don't have the typical skinny runner physique! lol

Anyway, we will be taking June off from racing to enjoy our vacation with the family. We are going to the beach. I'd like to say I plan to do some beach running while on vacation but I won't make any promises that I might not be able to keep. ;)

In July we will be heading out of town (and hopefully joining my sweet friend, she knows who she is) to run the race I mentioned before that I have done the last couple of years. After that I plan to get started on my fund raising efforts for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure that will be held in October. That race is awesome and means a lot to me. This year my hubby will be joining me for it, too! Lots of excitement there!

After that I have no idea where my running will take me during the fall/winter months. BUT if things go as planned I will continue my training all the way to a half marathon! I have picked out the half I want to run. It is the day before my 32nd birthday. I am thinking that would be the perfect birthday gift to myself! And it would be a great goal for me to reach. I *think* I can do it.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

>Failure is not an option.

>Ever.

Failure - n. an act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success.


This definition does not apply to me. I will not prove to be unsuccessful nor will I lack success.
What leads me to this topic?
Well, Sunday we were supposed to have lunch at the in laws after church. My hubby's mom called Saturday to let us know what she would be cooking (cubed steak). Those of you from the south know exactly what this is and also know there are no healthy qualities about it! I had told her that since we were grilling steaks on Saturday that I probably wouldn't eat the red meat again on Sunday (especially since it would be covered in greasy gravy.. except I didn't say that part!). So, she offered to bake me some chicken. Nice. :)

Well, fast forward to Sunday. The chicken was burned/overcooked by accident. No big deal, she offered to go get some but we declined. Then I peaked into the kitchen to see what else had been cooked.
-corn bread
-corn (butter added)
-mashed potatoes (salt and butter added)
-fried okra

Now the other thing you all from the south know is that is a mighty tasty meal there.
The other thing you know is that there is nothing on the menu that says,"I am a healthy option."
So, I declined the entire meal and said I could just go get a salad. I knew that even at the minimum portion size of any of that meal I would be over my daily points and it just was not worth it to me. I knew that if I fixed even a tiny plate of a few bites of this or that I would feel like a failure.

Failing for me is not and will not be an option. I've worked too hard (especially lately) to let one meal make me feel like a failure. When I thought about that food I kept seeing Jillian in my head shaking her finger at me. That is not a pretty picture at all!

Maybe I have gotten a little extreme with this whole thing. Maybe I am a little obsessed.
Or maybe, just maybe, it really has become a lifestyle change for me.
Either way you (or anyone else) chooses to look at it...

I choose to not fail.


And by choosing not to fail I have lost 47 pounds in a year. That my friends is success even if I have to be the one to say so (lol). By choosing not to fail I have gone from running 3.1 miles in 49 minutes to running 3.1 miles in 36 minutes. By choosing not to fail I have realized that my goals (long and short term) are all very within my reach even if it takes a year to reach a goal, I can do it. It hasn't been easy. And the rest of this quest won't be easy. I have hit roadblocks and will hit many more. There have been days that I have wanted to throw in the towel and give up. I am sure there will be more days like that too. Some days I curse my will power (today was one of those days!) and there are days I will pat myself on the back for the good choices I am making.

But the most important thing I have learned is that failing just is not, will not, and cannot EVER be an option