Had My First Race!

So I finally got to do it! I had my first 5k race! I'm a little surprised that offical times and pictures have not been posted yet. I was going to wait to write this until I had them, but at this point I know that I won't be back to the blog until Monday the earliest and my brain doesn't hold on to things for long anymore.

It was a gorgeous morning. It was in the 70s I think. My girlfriend texted me early that morning and surprised me by letting me know she wanted to attend my first race. This was great! It gave Greg someone to talk to while waiting for me and her kids are close in age to mine, so they got to play on the playground with friends :)

I was sad at the starting line. Desmond was so overwhelmed with the three playgrounds the school had that he would not walk over to the starting line with me and give me a kiss. Since he didn't want to go, Greg obviously had to stay with him and couldn't come over to get any prerace photos of me. Even though I was a bit sad, it was still exciting nonetheless.

Since it was at a school, there were HUNDREDS of kids running the actual 5k, which made for a crazy first mile. They would fly past you, stop suddenly and then once they regrouped with their friends they'd take off like a bat outta hell again. So all the stopping and swerving seemed a bit much, but the kids definately made you smile and brought a positive energy with them!

I don't know why, but I expected something flat; maybe because it was a family run, so to me that equates to easier. It's not that the hills were really steep, just that they were long. Sometimes I didn't really notice until it hit me how tired my legs were getting. I'd turn around and notice that I was slowly going up hill.

I also started out too fast for myself, but there was something to want to keep up with the initial rush of the crowd, though the crowd seemed to die off around a half mile. I kept pushing, my first mile was just over a 10 minute pace. After that my gps lost satellite :( Now I know just how dependent I am on that thing. I walked way more that I'd ever "allow" myself if it was on, because I know that I can push it through the mile, but now I had no idea when that mile was up. I took 4 walk breaks in the last two miles, when typically I'd allow myself two. It didn't seem to hurt me too bad. When I crossed the finish line the timer read 37 mintues and change. I'm pretty happy with that for a first official race, but really want to know what the change was! lol

I texted Greg when I was about .1 -.2 miles away from the finish line. He never got my text! :( So I crossed the finish line with no one to greet me or take my picture, but I'm over it now. It hurt like hell when crossing the line though. There's always next time (fingers crossed!).

So this is why I have no pictures and I'm impatiently waiting for them to be posted online. Since it was a fundraiser they had a raffle. We won one of the baskets! I got a call yesterday to come and pick it up. We put tickets in a couple baskets so I'm not sure which we one. I'm only working a half day today so I will be picking it up after work. Will definately update with what goodies we won. I plan on asking someone when everything will be posted when I stop in. Hopefully I will have pictures for my next update!

Found a Race!

So I finally found a good 5k to make my first race. It's a charitable run for a nearby elementary school. Since it's at a school it's geared towards families and kids. My kids won't need to be bored waiting for mommy to run the race. They'll have the school playground to keep them occupied. Afterwards there's a free buffet, dj, face painting, auction, and other activities for the kids. I'm super excited!

I did notice a downfall though. I was totally negative in my thinking this morning while running. That I am too slow, that I'm too accustomed to the treadmill and there's no way I'll make it outdoors. I started out stronger than usual this morning, which means I needed an extra walk break during the last mile. This was failure in my head. However, I'm pleased to say that it was my fastest run (that was longer than a mile) to date. Overall I had a 12:05 pace. So, I don't know if this negative mind monster is a good thing or bad thing. It challenges me, but I hope it doesn't get destructive.

I actually started getting comments about my weight loss. It only took 23 pounds to get there. I received nice words from my old boss yesterday (a feat in itself), and a super nice girl at the gym I've been chatty with was exclaiming how well I've been doing. It feels good to hear. I also think my husband is appreciating it, which is a big motivator, though I don't expect him to come out and actually say it.

I think the next time I go clothes shopping I may be trying on a size 16. That will be a nice feeling. Hopefully then I will only have about 20 or so more pounds before I hit the 12 I want. It will be nice to not have to shop at over-priced plus-size stores!

Personal Milestones

Sometimes the small, personal milestones might be the sweetest. Greg and I will have been together for 10 years next week. It's crazy to think about. Desmond also happens to turn 4 that day. I can't believe that nearly half of our time spent together has been raising children. It seems like we were together for so long before having kids, but it seems like Des was only born yesterday. Time is flying way too fast.

When I started this on Jan 1, I was about 20-25 pounds heavier than I was the day I met Greg. Not anymore! After being together for 10 years, I can now say that I weigh the same as I did when we first met. That somehow means a lot to me. Granted, it certainly does not look the same. Though, I didn't expect it to after two surgeries. After reading so much bullshit about couples fighting or the men leaving because the women "let themselves go" will not be relevant to me. Phew! Not that I really thought it made a difference to him. He's always been super sweet no matter how heavy I had gotten.

So here I am now, the weight I was when I was 19. My inital goal weight of 230 is now just 18 pounds away. I have a feeling I will need to reasses, because even though I've lost 22 pounds so far, I'm in an 18 pants. I would like to be a 10 or 12, so I'm guessing I will need to lower the goal weight. If 10 pounds per size is in fact correct, I will need to be more in the 200-210 range. I will reassess once I make my goal. Hopefully that will be in a couple more months!

Update From Outta Nowhere

I haven't been good at updating. I'm just slammed at work and at home and it seems impossible to find time to form cohesive thoughts.

I finished the C25k program! I did not end as strong as I'd have liked initially, and I'm still not as strong as I'd like to be, but I've found what is working for me, so I'm going to stick with it for now and then try to better it from there.

I still cannot run a full 30 minutes without stopping. In fact, I've stopped trying. The last few runs, I've focused on running a mile, then taking a minute to minute and a half walk break to towel down, get my breathing back and track and take in some water. Then repeat with each finished mile. Taking the planned breaks seems to have helped. I can run a bit faster than I was (at an 11:32 minute instead of 12) and think I'm still in need of the smaller goals. Eventually I'm going to aim for one break at a mile and a half, but today was not that day.

Since the program is completed, I signed up for my first race. I'm fortunate enough to have three people that want to do it with me! We've signed up for the Merrell down and dirty mud run and it looks crazy. My goal is to have the course finished in an hour. We'll see if that happens. I'm trying to step it up with the strength training. While an unassisted pull up is the logical goal, I certainly do not see that happening by the time this race rolls around on July 15. I'm a little concerned about how the mid July heat is going to affect me. I'm just crossing my fingers the excitement and adrenaline do they're part to drown that out!

Des is also signed up to do the kid course! So after I'm done with the adult race, there will be a quick break for me, then a parent is required to go out with any kid aged 4-6. I'm excited. It seems like it will be an amazing experience to share with him! Lots of pictures will be taken!

In the meantime, I'm trying to find a 5k that is near home and strictly running to sign up for. It just seems like every time I think I've found one something else pops up! I also haven't gotten out to train outside more than twice. I know that this needs to happen, but again finding the time seems to be the issue.

The weight has stopped coming off, so I'm sure that's an idicator that I need to change routine. I have an e-book I need to check out that a friend gave me. It's a strength training program referred to as turbulence training. I'm hoping if I do that 3 times a week, get a 3 mile jog in three times a week, and do a zumba or yoga class once a week for an easy day it'll start happening again. I'm currently at a 19 pound loss for the 2012 year.

I feel like a cheater, but I started a fat burning supplement this morning. I was taking one half-assedly (NOT by the directions on the bottle - much much less) for mornings I was going to run since I can't stomach food or coffee before running and needed something to help wake me up, but I didn't acutally attribute any weight that I lost to that pill. I've also been able to maintain all that weight lost (aside from the normal couple pound day to day fluctuation). I'm going to take this new one as directed and I'm afraid once the cycle is over it's going to come back - which to me means it was the pill losing the weight and not me. Hopefully this doesn't end too badly.

I suppose that's all I really got for right now. I'll try to check in again a bit more frequently, at least to update on the new training regimen and supplement.

Fresh Air Needed

I have not been a good blogger, though that does not deviate from my past blogging experiences at all.

February was not a good month in terms of weight loss. I didn't gain any from January back, but my net loss for the month was about 4 pounds. Here's to hoping March goes a bit better.

Despite the weight not coming off as quickly as would be preferred, everything is going good on the running front. I'm up to 28 minutes at 12:00 minute mile pace and have been able to meet every goal in the C25k program that has been listed. I have 5 more runs to follow until completed.

I'm not getting outside nearly as much as I had hoped I would. So far I've run outside a whopping ONE time. Needless to say, while it wasn't a bad experience, it certainly wasn't what I expected. I'm very reliant on the treadmill to pace me. I started out way to strong and winded myself within a quarter mile. It took me about a mile to figure things out. After that I found my groove, but it certainly took longer than expected.

I wanted to sign up for the Get Your Rear in Gear 5k on March 18th. Reduced registration is offered until this Friday. I wanted this one in particular because they have a kids 100 yard dash with it. I would love to sign Desmond up to be mommy's running buddy! I really want to get more outdoor runs under my belt first though and not try to figure it all out on the day of. We'll see what I can do, but I may need to start later this month or even next month.

Because I'm such a freak for exactness I bought a used garmin forerunner off ebay. It's incredible what these things can do. I loved getting to use it and want to use it again, and after making the investment I have no excuse not to.

That's about all I've got for right now. My stomach has been upset all afternoon, but I felt a need to log in quickly and attempt to keep this thing alive.

Inital Goals

So the last two times I've tried to run have been pretty bad - and it doesn't end when the run ends. When I wasn't able to finish the scheduled run the last couple times the disappointment seemed to follow me throughout the day putting me in a funk that would affect my work and my mood when I got home.

Today was scheduled to be my third time doing this same run (that I have not yet been able to complete in it's entirety). The last two attempts have ended in crazy panting, legs that feel like lead, and side stitches. I wasn't sure if I should just chalk this up to my time of the month but everything I've read makes me think I'm just trying to go faster than I'm really able.

Today I decided to try a slower pace. I still kept my warm-up and cool down at 3.5mph. But instead of running at a 10 minute mile pace I decreased it to a 10:54 minute mile. The walking parts in between the jogs I decided to bump down to 3.2mph (instead of keeping it at 3.5 like my warm-up/cool down). What a difference! There was no heavy panting, and while the last 20 seconds of the last jog really started to burn my legs, they certainly weren't lead. And best of all - I didn't feel the need to collapse in the locker room afterwards for 5-10 minutes before finding the energy to take a shower. Amazing!

I have to say at first I felt really guilty about slowing my pace. This is not what I wanted for myself when I started. I really wanted to keep it at a 10 minute mile, so when I finally transitioned to outside I wouldn't be upset when I would possibly go down to a 12 minute mile (it just looks so much harder outside - nothing to pull your feet under you and having to propel yourself forwards against wind certainly seems to slow things down in my mind). But what's the point of trying to push myself to do something I'm just not ready for? All I was doing was failing and than feeling miserable.

I think what I'm going to do now is stick with the slower paces. Once I start working up to where I can go a half hour jogging without taking walk breaks then I will focus on increasing my speed. I just need to remind myself that it is ok to take the time to reassess every few weeks and adjust accordingly.

I've already got my positive feeling back which is so much more motivating. This Sunday I'm increasing my jogging intervals from 3 minutes to 5 minutes with shorter breaks in between. Exciting!

Good-bye January! Good-bye 9.6 pounds!

So as of January 1, I was an amazing 270. Yesterday I clocked in at an amazing 260.4. Obviously, I'm quite happy with how the first month has gone.

I've had quite a number of cheat meals too. I let myself have about 2 a week (one with coworkers and one with the family). I've really come to savor my cheat meals too. I don't bother eating the things that I never really cared for but ate anyway (french fries for example), I cheat for the stuff that seriously makes my taste buds happy. On Saturday hubby and I finally had our anniversary date (you know, that one that we were never able to schedule for our September anniversary). We got couples massages and then headed to a wine and cheese place for lunch. That's my gold - cheese! We got a meat, cheese, and olive plate for starters and my lunch was a super soft pita with fig jam, goat cheese and sundried tomatoes. I should have taken a picture - it was a work of art. It was so darn good. Even though the meal was mostly fat, I still think I could have made much worse decisions.

I currently have myself set up to work out 6 times a week. 3 days running, 2 days "other cardio" (which usually takes the form of elliptical with the occassional zumba or spin class) and 1 day strength training. Strength training with Greg (husband) always leaves me sore for a couple days, but I suppose that's a good thing. At least he knows what he's doing :) Thursdays are my day off, so this morning I got to sleep in to the ripe old hour of 6:25. I've been having problems getting into work on time since incorporating excercise into my morning routine. I was able to get in on time today, because of my day off, but tomorrow I need to try to start getting to the gym even earlier so I'll be up at 5:30. Hopefully I'll be able to keep up this schedule. Methinks I'll need to stick to a strict bedtime of 10:30. We'll see if I can manage that!