1/2 Marathon

My husband and I made the decision the other day to start training for a 1/2 marathon. I know it sounds crazy, but I have seen what drive I have had to run this 5k. I need to have something I am working for besides weightloss. I have a doctor's appt on friday to see how my lab results compare to the ones taken at the end of the challenge. When I went to give blood they only had to poke me one time and she found my vein right away. Usually they poke me several times in several different places before they get my vein. She said the weight loss was probably the reason it was so easy. It was so nice to not get poked all over. Now I am excited to see the lab results since I have been running 3-5 (mostly5 days) days per week for 2 months. I gained a little weight while on vacation , but within 4 days of being home I had lost it again plus some. My eating is really changing. I have found food that I love that doesn't make me feel deprived. I feel great. I ran an unofficial 5k on Saturday with a friend. Today I'll do it again with my husband. This is my first week of 1/2 marathon training. I am so thrilled. It just excites me so much. I have no time goal. I just want to finish it. I figure that October is a good time to run a distance race too, not too hot. I hope to hear from you all soon.

Mother's Day

Well on Saturday I ran another 5k. This one was in honor of my mom. I made a t-shirt that says, "In memory of Mom. I run!!" And it has a picture of Mom and I together. The miracle is that after only 6 weeks of training I ran the whole way except 1 minute of it. I had my family at the end cheering me on and that was really exciting. So I am now on Week 7 of training. I exercise 5 days a week without fail. I am doing weight watchers. Yesterday when I weighed in (I missed last week) I was down another 7+ pounds. So I am almost at 25 lbs weight lost after 6 weeks of exercising and 4 weeks of weight watchers. I bought a few shirts yesterday that were a size smaller than I was wearing. I am so thrilled with my progress, but I'm even more thrilled with the mental aspect of things. When I have a "bad" day, which doesn't even touch the bad days of before, I wake up the next morning and I start again. I have been so in control of my eating it is amazing. Even when I am stressed and sad, or bored and mad, or whatever I am feeling I am staying within all the points I have. My Mother's Day was wonderful. It is so different for me than a few years ago. I used to dread the day because it was a painful reminder that I didn't have the very thing I wanted most. Well, I have been blessed and I no longer dread it. Love you guys. See you soon.

Hello Ya'll

Hello everyone who looks here. I hope you all are doing well.
Mary, it is so good to see you here. Im so happy for you. Getting the husband to do it with you is such a great idea. Wish mine would too. I can't wait for us all to get together again. It has been awhile. I did see Marcia at the Huey Lewis concert at Black Bear Casino and she looked wonderful! I have been walking about 5 miles a day now. Kasey, my youngest daughter, has been walking with me at home and sometimes we run, skip, jog and we have even run backwards just to "spice" things up a bit. She is doing great too. Kickboxing is coming to the workout sessions at work, I think I will give it a try. I have talked to some people and they say it is fun and one heck of a workout.

Mason, my new grandson, has also been keeping me busy. I forgot how much work babies are.

Have a great evening everyone!

checking in

Hi everyone, Sound like those who are blogging are doing well. I am still going to the Heart to Heart Program at SMDC and enjoying more than ever. I even have my husband going. I joined an ultimate challenge about 4 weeks ago and am working my behind off. Monday and Wednesday's I do kickboxing for 1 hour. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday I do kickboxing followed by an hour then an hour of bands which is core training. I feel great. The clothes are getting loser and I have shed a few more pounds. Really don't have much more going on. Katie and her husband are coming home for the summer. We will be doing a fair amount of travel with the RV which I am looking forward to. I am really impressed with those who are still blogging. A true inspiration. I am still planning on having everyone here in June. I will try and get down to the William Irving to watch you all. Keep in touch. I sincerely miss you all. Mary

Go, Mama!

Wow - congrats, Jamie! Kudos to your husband as well!

I saw a group of young runners led by several adults yesterday, and everyone was laughing and smiling - I realized that the Irvin 5K will be fun like that, because people will be running together. So far, I'm training on my own (on a track so I can keep count/time better) but the thought of the camaraderie on race day keeps me going.

I am weighing myself more frequently these days and, thankfully, have finally shed that "rut" mindset that Jamie referred to. It used to set me backwards, but now an upward creep of a pound or two is a word to the wise, and nothing more sinister than that. Like Jamie, I'm running for my heart and health...the weight loss is a bonus that makes the running easier, and the running makes the weight loss easier.

Melissa, did you sign up for the race?

I'm helping to distribute flyers for "Sing Your Heart Out", the American Heart Association's fundraiser - an evening of celebrity karaoke night, slated for Thursday the 13th at Grandma's in Canal Park...at $10, this is a fundraiser/social event that I can afford...and I'm going to pin down Ron O. to see if he signed up for the 5K! If he didn't, we should make him watch us from the sidelines, wearing a red minidress - right?!

Mary, how are the newlyweds?

Happy Mothers/Young Women Day to all.

First Official 5K

Well, I did it. I completed my first official 5k in 47:36. I ran the majority of the course. I had my husband with me every step of the way. I went from training on a treadmill to doing a very hilly course AND I dropped 5 minutes off my treadmill 5k time. That was pretty impressive to me. I was soooooooooooo sore for the next few days. Today I only feel a little sore. But despite the soreness I ran yesterday and today. I am running 5 days a week and am so thrilled at the progress I am making. My husband and I made a schedule of all the 5k races we are going to do for the rest of the year. Our goal is to do at least one per month. Eventually I will start training for a 10k then half marathon. I am actually comtemplating triathlon training after that. I know it is crazy, but it excites me about being active and having a goal I am working for other than losing weight. If I focus on just losing weight I get in a rut and self-sabotage, but if I have another goal as well and the weight loss is one of the benefits I am more likely to succeed. I am running this weekend and then no races until our Irvin 5k. Nice job Rose on your 5k training. Is anyone else training? Hope to see you soon.