May the Fourth

For the Star Wars fan in me, this is a good day. And a day to be distracted. But it is also a solemn day - it is the day my dad passed away 2 years ago.

And how did I start the day? With a 3 mile run! Girls in my running group were going out at 5:45 so I decided to join them instead of doing it on my own. And we did the less flat 3 mile loop which I hadn't done in a while - it is the same route as 1 of the 5Ks our town holds. It is the site of my 5K PR 3 years ago (31:32). I am glad we did this route so I can use it as a baseline - 36:15 (ie 12:05 minute miles).

I can't help but think about how far I've fallen in the last 3 years. My dad was diagnosed shortly after my PR. I told myself I wouldn't let him illness affect my weight loss - by that time I had lost about 42 of the 50 lbs I ending up losing. Right after that PR, I started 10K training and then 1/2 marathon training. I continued to lose until the 4th of July and my weight kept steady until the end of September 2014. But once the 1/2 was over I started gaining. I just looked and I gained 20 lbs between then September 2014 and May 2015. I kept that steady for 5 months but 2 bouts of bronchitis in October 2015 and February 2016 both put on 10 lbs each. And for the last 15 months I've been floating around in the 220s, low 230s. It could be worse - it could have been a lot worse!

 But I really do feel like I am starting to come out of this 2-3 year fog. The spring will do it to you also - May is by far my favorite month of the year. But with the selling of my mom's house done, the basement done, the family room done, vacation this summer planned, summer camps planned and booked and paid for. Yes, spring sports are hectic, but there is room there for me to go to WW on Saturdays and do my long runs on Sundays - those routines that bring me peace and joy.

And speaking of our vacation, today is 100 days - The real countdown begins!