>Weight Update

>I haven't posted a weight update in a while. I thought now would be a good time to do so. Eating has gone okay lately. I have been using a combo of JM and SparkPeople logging what I eat everyday. It seems to be working well. I would really like to be at my first goal of 185 by Christmas. That would leave about 10 pounds to lose between now and then. Which means today I weighed  in at ....

195.6

Not too bad! However, I have a dreaded visitor here for a few days and she has already began to cause me issues today! Ha ha I admit to having had ONE Lofthouse frosted cookie. But I did limit myself to one so that's a good thing, right?

Tomorrow is a new day!

>I'm kinda skeered

>That's country for scared! ha ha

My sweet hubby is picking my kids up from school today and going home. This means I won't have to do any running around (the errand sort of running) when I get off. SO, I thought I would go ahead and get my real running (the exercise sort) done for the day.

I have two choices:

#1 - the lovely treadmill at my beloved gym

or

#2- the park!

Now, I am leaning towards the park for numerous reasons. Like, I need to run outside and get my lungs adjusted to the cooler temps. It's a beautiful day here. I hate going to the gym when it is so crowded and it will be crowded around 5pm. So, see I have good reasons for wanting to go to the park. But here is what is holding me back...

Don't laugh, please.

I have this silly fear that someone will jump out of the bush and get me. I know, crazy right!!?!
Someone tell me I will be fine. There will be other runners, walkers and bikers there. The park will be full of families and bouncing children.

No one will get me, right!?! ha ha

>Running feels good...

>and I got proof of that last night!

I haven't posted in a while. I have been in a slump all around...blogging, dieting, running... you name it and I have slumped at it!

Last night was the first time I hit the gym in several days. Booo! I made the excuse that I was just so tired. I know that usually even if I am tired if I go to the gym and get started I will feel better. Well, that's how I felt last night. I have been so busy with working, taking care of the family and all the other things I have going on (like Girl Scout troop leader and all those crazy meetings! ha) that I just made excuses not to go to the gym. Last night I went.

I seriously was SO very proud of myself. I have a goal. You all know I have a goal. I want to run my next 5k in about 35 minutes. That would be about 3 minutes or so off my last 5k time of 38:59 which I just did on October 24th.  Well, last night I hopped on the treadmill and put a podcast on that had 5 and 8 minute running and walking intervals. I went into it thinking I would listen to the girl chime in and do the workout to slowly build myself back up before my next race since I hadn't ran in several days I thought that was a good way to think. Let me tell you!

I didn't listen to that girl. When she said slow down and walk, I did NOT slow down and walk. Nope. I kept going! I ran my first mile last night in 12:10!! That is by far my quickest time! I completed the entire 5k (3.1 miles)  in 37:05! Best time yet! I felt sooooooo very good afterwards. I jumped in the car after I left the gym and called my hubby because I was so excited.

Motivation to keep going! If I can run one mile in 12:10 then I should be able to run my next 5k in 36:30... BUT that means working really hard! I plan to do just that! Work hard.

One last thing....I wanted to share this quote that was emailed to me by a fellow runner and blogger Soul From My Soles.

  “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall”. 

~Confuscius 

I won't fail. NO way NO how. 

>I've got goals...

>and dang it I want to reach them!!!

Why is it some days it seems like those goals are so far away?

I know that patience will pay off. I know that a slow weight loss is better than a rapid one.  But it isn't so much that I want to lose weight (which I desperately need to do) but more that I have running goals I want to reach and feel like I won't.

Last night after work, I picked up my son and we headed to the track. Man, it was tough. I don't know if my legs are still tired from Saturday's race and Tuesday's workout (probably just an excuse) or if trying to run while dealing with the kids or the track surface... but I barely made 1.75 miles in 20 minutes. I was majorly disappointed. I cannot understand WHY the race Saturday felt so much easier than my last two runs have felt. The race course involved hills up and down and yet looking back on that I feel like I am in a dream and someone lied to me about how long it took me to run! ha ha

As far as goals go I want so badly to run the next 5k I plan to do (November 22nd) in about 35 minutes. At this point I can't seem to even get myself convinced that I will make that goal. I know, I know... there is still time. I know, just keep working.  But man my legs hurt!! Am I just a big baby? Am I worrying too soon?

I don't know the answers I am asking myself and I don't expect anyone else to either. I just know that I have a goal and by George I plan to keep working until I reach it. :) So, stay tuned.

>5K update - Official Time

>I didn't want to edit yesterday's post so I thought I would just do a new one to update my time. I got the official results this morning.

38:59.05

>I Raced for the Cure....

>

and I sincerely hope they find one!

I had set a goal of $150 as my personal fundraising efforts but thanks to some fantastic friends, family and bloggers I exceeded my goal and raised $400! Thank you everyone for your support!!

I woke up at 5:50 am this morning to get ready for my race.We were to meet my great friend and race buddy (Toni) at 6:45 am. I got all of my stuff together last night and had two choices of outfits to wear. The only thing I couldn't find was my watch. I really needed it to help keep track of my time. I was bummed as it was nearing midnight and I couldn't find my watch to save my life.

My wonderful hubby, who had just walked in the door from coaching a football game, graciously grabbed the keys and headed to Walmart to pick me up a new watch. Love him!! :)

I went to bed with a bundle of nerves and woke up relaxed.

I didn't get nervous again until we got to the start line!

Runners ----> That's us!

Toni and I headed out for a warm up jog. It was still dark out!

Running in memory of my Nana who lost her battle to breast cancer in January of 2008.

Where's Waldo?? Ha ha

Can you spot me in the pink hat?

Approaching the finish line...Notice thelady in black with her hand out..

I kicked it up a few notches and ran right past her. ;)

Crossed the line at 39:20.

I had a personal goal of 38 minutes but told myself I would be thrilled with anything under 40 even if it was 39:59! Yay, I did it! My last 5k time was over 43 mins..so this was a huge improvement since July!

Between a smile and tears.

My wonderful hubby and I. Thank you, Justin for supporting me 100% every step of the way.

I can't think of anyone else I would want by my side. xoxo

Me and the kids post race!

We were sure to stop by the Pink Ribbon tent to pick up tees for them. :)

These babies are tired tonight!!

I was sweating really bad afterwards. Funny, my friend's hubby said, "Man, your hat is so ruined!"

I thought he meant just wet.  I took it off when I got home and then noticed the discoloration!

It's going straight in the washer!

Toni and I. Thank you my friend for doing this with me.

I appreciate you. It means so much to me that you too wore a sign on your back in memory of my Nana.

I am looking forward to our next race! Rock it!

>What's going on.....

>I haven't posted in a while about what's going on with me as far as what I am eating, my weight or my working out/running progress. I thought I would do that now. lol

My current weight : 196.6

Normally I weigh in on Fridays but decided to take a gander at the scale this morning. Since I hadn't posted a current weight in a while I took today's as my weigh in weight. Not bad. I wish I was closer to 190 right now though. Slow progress is much better than no progress though.

I plan to also get hubby to take my measurements this weekend and will post them next week. I am not sure they have changed much but it's worth taking them to find out.


As far as my food goes, I do a little of the JM plan and I do a little of Spark People. Either way I am watching and logging what I eat. I think it helps! 

Running: Just some thoughts on it. 
I have been running off and on for a while now, completed 2 5K's in the last couple of years... when can I officially call myself a runner? ha ha 
Saturday is my 3rd 5K and for whatever reason this time I am sooooo very nervous! It's all I can think about this week. Will I beat my last 5K time? Is it going to rain like the weather man predicts? How will I handle that? Should I run tonight as planned? Should I just take it easy and not run/exercise at all tomorrow? What do I eat? Ugh, it is totally consuming my thoughts this week. I don't know if I am afraid of disappointing my friend running with me or myself or my husband. I don't know what in the world it will be like to be in a race so big (12K people!). I know in my mind that I am stressing and making myself nervous over nothing. I know I should just enjoy the race. I plan to do just that! :) 

Anyway, my goal is to NOT take a huge running break after Saturday. Yes, I will rest Sunday and even thought about resting Monday then realized it's just a 5K. It isn't like I am running a marathon. I haven't even thought about ever doing that actually. A half marathon... maybe but I need to get more comfortable with running. I just may need an extra push this time next week when my brain says, "it's okay you finished the race, take a break." Uh uh uh... keep on moving! So, someone, anyone.. if you read this... please whatever you do.....

REMIND ME OF THAT!!!!

thanks. ;)

Stay tuned for race pictures and details.