Thursday Night Race

CI needed a bib for July! Since I didn't run the 4th of July race, I was risking not having a bib for a month for the first time since December. I didn't really want to commit to a weekend race as we have been so busy, plus I am starting my Half Marathon training.

I looked up on coolrunning to find a race, and stumbled upon a small all women race near my house for last night. I was a little nervous because I have never, never run at night, and especially on a weeknight! But I signed up, and then a woman on my local running group (which I have done nothing with yet) wanted to carpool so I picked her up last night.

It was a beautiful night. The humidity had gone with the storms Wednesday night. But it was still warm - 84 when I got out of the car. But it started at 7 so there was tons of shade.

I definitely wasn't planning on PRing. With the heat and it being late in the day, I just wanted to enjoy myself.

I started out a little fast - there were some inclines, but there were also some people with hoses! But then during the second mile there were 2 people watering their flowers (with a hose) but didn't react to people asking to be sprayed.

I was eager for the race to be over. I was hungry! I had had my normal waffle with jelly and a banana at 5:30, but I wanted dinner!

I saw what I thought was the finish line, but no, they just had a clock at mile 3. So I gunned it to the clock but didn't have a ton of juice left to gun it for the actual finish line. But I did smile for the camera and made sure I wasn't turning off my Garmin at the finish line. I did hit it (or so I thought) shortly after. But it didn't stop. My time was actually 32:28. My PR is 31:32.

I wasn't expecting bling with this race, since it was only 151 people. I finished 100th. I love getting medals when you don't think you are going to!

I wasn't thrilled with the post-race food. I did feel a little nauseous and dizzy from the heat. I drank a ton of water and had some chocolate milk back in my car, and didn't get dinner until after 9:00.

Here is the pic I posted. I hadn't really thought about the fact that I hadn't posted a picture of myself in a while, so most people hadn't seen the last 10-15 lbs come off, so I got compliments on my weight loss. *yeah!!!*

50 lbs and 8 miles

I didn't run at all in the month of July until this morning. My husband got home very late Thursday night and I just didn't want to get the kids up so early and head to a race in the rain, so we stayed home and had a pajama day on the 4th - It was pouring rain by the afternoon. I knew we had 2 BBQs on the weekend, so treated the day like any other,  because I was itching for 50 lb on Saturday.


I really didn't want to wake up though on Saturday. I knew my new leader wouldn't me at the meeting. I woke up at 6. Scale said 182.4. .2 shy of 50 lbs. I knew dressing lightly and going to 1 scale over another, I might be okay. But I said screw it and got back into bed. But 10 minutes later I had to go the bathroom again. 182.2 on the nose! I wore a light pair of gym shorts and a tank top with no bra and went to my meeting.


50 POUNDS GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I was beyond excited. I looked back and it was on July 13 last year I got 25 lbs, so almost a year to lose another 25 lbs.


(Granted the scale was up 2 lb this morning and who knows what it will be tomorrow)


I enjoyed both BBQ, but didn't go crazy. No alcohol. But could have been better at both.


This morning I ran on my own. I SO did not want to get out of bed, but since I hadn't run last week at all, I knew I had to do at least 7 miles.


It was no humid and not overly hot when I started at 7 am.  I knew I would try for 7.5, my previous longest run. But then decided maybe I would try for 7.75 since I had 8 miles slated for next weekend. But I didn't want to turn around at such an odd number that I went 3.96 before turning around. But still thought I would stop at 7.75. Well I couldn't just stop then! And since I hadn't gone a full 4, I had to turn around again at the end and so a little more to get to 8.0 miles.


Going to do 8 next weekend as well, and then the following weekend we will be out of town, but I mapped a 7+ mile route...with hills!


I just signed up for a 5K this Thursday night, just so I can say I have a bib for July since I didn't get to race on the 4th!

Sadness and Stress

Yesterday my father-in-law passed away. He had been battling cancer for over a year and was fighting it, but ended up getting pneumonia and in his weakened state, he couldn't fight it. It was very fast, but thankfully not too fast so my husband was able to drive 4 hours up there and my sister-in-law was able to fly up in time.

In the past, the stress and sadness would have had me running for the pantry. But I am trying to stand my ground this time. I had a bottle of Nutella in my grocery cart this morning and later I took it out. It would not be good to have that in the house right now! The scale said 183.4 this morning! 1.2 lbs away from 50 lbs! I know i won't lose that by Saturday morning, but if I stand my ground, I could be next Saturday.

Running has become a source of stress-reduction over the last couple of months. In June I was getting in a run 3x a week. I haven't run since Sunday and it has been so hard. Tuesday I was overtired and the last 2 mornings I have had the kids on my own. The weather has been way too humid to run during the day. And no, I am not desperate enough for a run to go on the treadmill! Last night we didn't get home until 7 and I didn't go to bed until 11:00. I am home today, with no kids, but I have too much to get done - the house is a disaster! - before my husband comes come.

So last night my daughter had her first soccer practice. No way I was going to stand out in humid weather in work clothes (especially since i was kind of dressed up to wear light clothes for our work WW meeting), so I wore short athletic shorts, a sports bra, and a hugging tank top. People at work thought I was going out to play soccer! I loved that I felt confident to wear so little clothes around my daughter's friend's parents.

Off to make sense of all the food I bought. We aren't supposed to be home to grill this weekend, but I may skip one of our BBQ in order to stay home. But I bought way too much food. A lot of it was fairly healthy - not perfect, but ok.

Good June, uncertain July

How did we get to July so quickly?? How is 2014 1/2 over??!!

June was a good month! I ran 11 times for a total of 50 miles. I ran a Color Run, an Obstacle Race, and my first 10K. I was diligent about getting up and running 2 times during the week.

And July 1st, I didn't get up. I barely got any sleep - maybe 3 hours. We are dealing with health issues with our parents, so it is very stressful. Running helped me a lot this past month with the stress, but last night sleep did not happen and I just couldn't get myself up. But that is okay. I hope to get over 50 miles this month (I am slated for 65-70, but with the family illnesses, that might not happen).

Saturday I went to Kohl's and did a little retail therapy. I pulled Size 14 pants off the rack in the non-Women's section and they fit! (I don't understand Petites though. I have short legs, so pants are often too long, so I decided to try 14P and I couldn't get them over my thighs :( )

I ended up with 1 Size M shirt - I loved it and they didn't have a L, and the cut looked large so I tried on the M and it fit! I also ended up with white jean capris!!!

Sunday morning I ran 7 miles with my running partner. I wore my Nathan hydration vest with the Camel Bak bladdar I bought and it worked out much better. I think I may just run with it on all runs in the hot weather, short or long - I hate carrying water in my hand, and I like that I don't have to wear the arm band with the vest.

This morning the scale said 184.6 and that is during full on TOM!!!

Weekly Weigh-in (no longer obese!)

Starting Weight: 232.2
Last Week: 188.8
This Week: 185.2
Change from Last Week: 3.6
Total Loss: -47.0
Goal: 149


185.2 = BMI of 29.9 - "Overweight" - no longer Obese!!


I really kicked ass this week - I was in such a funk of the bloating, that I just stayed on plan this week.


Though on Wednesday, when my At Work WW meeting, I was at 188.6!! I had decided that I was going to go to my regular WW meeting this morning, so I stayed vigilent and it paid off.


Not only am I at 29.9, I am at 20% lost! I got the new 10% charm (opposed to the old key chain) and I got another one too. 50 lb washer is just 3 lbs away!


I will admit, I am pretty terrified. I've seen 185.2 before. I saw it on 2/27/2011. For one day. And then work got crazy and I started gained. Then at the end of March 2011 my husband got laid off and started cooking wonderful dinners and I kept gaining. And even when I did C25K the first time in the Fall of 2011, I kept gaining. And in February 2012 we decided to move, which required a selling of one property and buying another and I kept gaining. And we moved and it took a while to get settled, and I kept gaining. Until 12/1/2012, when I re-joined WW after seeing pictures of me at Disneyworld and after my MIL passed away. I had seen the scale say 236, though it was 232.2 when I re-joined WW. Yep, 50 lb gain in 21 months!


And what I didn't mention was that I was still going to WW during the first 6 months of gaining. That is part of why I am scared of the At Work WW - The atmosphere was not the same. I didn't feel the same support from co-workers. I didn't feel comfortable talking to them about issues.


So now I think I may continue with the 2x/week WW meetings! The scale from the At Work doesn't get registered into the main computer, so I can keep them separate. I may not make all of the Saturday morning ones, but knowing that I can go there and weigh-in (if you go to 2+ center meetings in the same week, you can only weigh in at the first one) at both.


But I need the scale to keep going down and I am going to do everything I can do do that, even if it is just .5 lb a week - slow and steady wins the race!

Didn't mean for a 2 week hiatus

Work was crazy and so was the end of the school year and getting adjusted to summer schedules and all....and I will admit the eating has been far from stellar - but that isn't the reason I have been away. I just really haven't had any time.


Shortly after I last wrote, we went away for the weekend, including all of us taking Friday off (well, except for my son, because the previous day was his last day of daycare, ever!!!!!)


I was nervous about going away, especially since the day before I hit 185.8 which is a BMI of 30, but is also a 20% weight loss. Of course I haven't seen that number since :(


The day we drove up, it was pouring so we couldn't go to the theme park, so we hit the movies, but not before hitting the Lindt outlet and the Stonewell Kitchen outlet! But I did eat my bag lunch from home. And made wise choices at dinner. And at the park the next day (I didn't get to go ziplining because our schedule got thrown off because of the rain :( ).


Being in the White Mountains made me long to be back hiking and backpacking and rock climbing and camping and kayaking. Someday. Soon! The second night and at the 2nd theme park on Sunday, my food choices weren't as good.


I felt bloated and gross. On Tuesday my weight was up 5 lbs!!!!! Which was a decade up - ugh! I only went to work 2 days and then had 3 days off - my daughter's last day of 2nd grade, and planned and executed her early birthday party and generally ate poorly. Again, it left me feeling bloated and awful.


But I am back on track. I hope to have a good weekend eating! Though TOM will be here soon.


So back to running.....The week I last wrote, I got my 2 runs in, including 4.5 miles the day before we left (more than my "normal" Thursday run, and then 4.25 the Tuesday after and 4.75 that Thursday. All of this without any fuel in the morning. I've got to start getting up a little earlier to get a little something in me so I am not so tired when I go out.)


Saturday the 21st me and my friend did Foam Fest, which is a foam, water and mud obstacle race. So much fun!!!! I purposely didn't sign up for the BAA 10K the next day because I presumed I would be sore and tired, but not so, so I got up and ran a 10K (not race) anyway. I ran in the same time as my 10K race (with all the hills) so I probably could have done pretty well in a race.


I got out this Tuesday and today I woke up to what sounded like pouring rain, but I knew I wanted to get my miles in to hit 50 for June. When I went to the bathroom it didn't appear to be raining much at all so I decided to head out to get in 3.9 miles. Part way through it started pouring. But it was a warm rain :) It was a lot of fun. And by the time I got home, soaked, it had pretty much stopped.


I am a little worried about my left foot. I am feeling slight plantar fasciitis soreness. I am so worried about overdoing it. Running a 1/2 is just not worth it! I don't have to get in all the miles - I just want o be able to do some running and strength training and biking on the bike trainer. So I will proceed with caution as I go into the beginning of 1/2 marathon training (I am doing 7 miles this weekend).

Running: Where to now?

I am at this weird place, feeling a little lost.

Not only did I not run this morning, because I am still sore and no reason to push it. I am going to try to get in 5 miles on Thursday because I won't be able to get in a run this weekend.

And then next week I can run my "normal" 3 miles on Tuesday and 4 miles on Thursday. Then I have an obstacle race on Saturday the 21st. And then my weekends should be able to get back to "normal"with a long run on Sunday. Half-Marathon training is slated to start on Sunday July 6th. But I will get a long run (probably 10K) in the weekend before since my mileage for June won't be high.

I looked at Hal Higdon's Novice 1/2 Marathon training plan and I am not thrilled - I want more miles! And I worry about so much cross training the day before a long run. I had adapted my own plan off of the "Train like a Mother" 1/2 Marathon plan, which I think I will adapt more closely, though I think my runs during the week may be more "just runs"versus hills and speed and tempo and all that.

I've got to get into strength training and cross training.

For now I just need to be patient and enjoy the fun things I've got going on the next couple of weeks, and once June 23rd comes around and our summer schedule kicks in, I can start a more organized training schedule.