10K

Well, I sit here writing to you now as an official 10K runner! Yesterday, among flurries and 20 degree winds, along with about 270 other runners, I ran 6.2 miles outside in the middle of February in 1 hour 11 minutes and 38 seconds.

I woke up at 7am to run in 30 degree weather with a lower wind chill and flurries. And I just kept saying myself "LOOK AT THE PERSON YOU'VE BECOME." I'm sure most of you are thinking that I've become a crazy person. But let me put it to you this way:

Last year at this time I couldn't run a mile. I couldn't run for 5 minutes. I did not wake up early on Saturday mornings to go to the gym. And while I was working on changing my life and making progress, I was SO far from many of my goals. And let's not even talk about where I was 2 years ago or before that . . . I don't even remember that person.

Yesterday woke up early. I left the house, even though it was cold. I ran for 5 minutes. I ran a whole mile. In fact, I ran more than 6. Look at the person I've become!! What a change I've made in my life in just a year's time! And those changes might not be hugely evident on the scale. But they are most definitely evident in my actions and accomplishments.

Even though I'm tired from yesterday, my muscles are sore and my joints are popping, the excitement of completing that race made me even MORE excited for the half marathon. I will definitely need to invest in some knee braces of some kind. (Any experienced runners out there with suggestions, please let me know!) But I'm still so excited for that feeling when I cross the finish line!

Remember this: You can surprise yourself. You can do things you never imagined. You can reach your goals, even if they are lofty. And once you do, you will want to do things that seem even more impossible. So aim high!! Get a training plan! Find someone who believes in you and don't let them let you give up!!

Weigh-in Day, February 9

I'm sure many of you are wondering where I have been! These last few weeks have been frustrating. So here's what has happened to me over the last 2 weeks.

Yesterday, I weighed in at 184.6. This is a pound down from 2 weeks ago. I went up and down, gaining and losing weight every day it seemed. I worked out some, but not enough. I ate well sometimes, but not enough. I was not having a great time of it. And it seems like even when I try REALLY hard, I can't lose weight like I want to. So I've decided to make a big change over the next month to kick me into high gear.

So I've decided - No drinking til St. Patrick's Day. It's not that I drink often, but it inhibits my ability to eat well. I have fewer inhibitions and I feel much less terrible about eating badly. And I usually drink late at night, which makes it harder for me to get up early and work out in the morning. I think this is the best way for me to kick my body into some weight loss, and keep me on my diet plan until I get a little more used to it.

Tonight's the first Friday night! I'll let you know how it goes! I have already worked out today, so that's a start.

In other exiting news - I run a 10K tomorrow!! 6.2 miles. I'm hoping to finish in about 70 minutes. That's about 11 minutes miles, with a couple minutes of wiggle room. I hope the adrenaline of the race helps push me. I know I can run 3 miles pretty easily, but doubling that is tricky! I'm anxious because it's supposed to be REALLY cold, but I don't think that will bother me for too long.

More updates to come soon! Thank you all for reading!