Hello?

So, I'm still around. Still working towards my goals! I'm down 71.8lbs now and still running! So, what have I been up to since I last wrote?

I completed my first 15k and (then) longest run in September. 

Kim and I before the race

Coming in to to the finish line at about 2:05

The race was pretty good, except the last 3/4 mile was really tough! I felt like I was going to vomit, but I didn't and I finished it!

I also started coaching Girls on the Run in September!


In October I ran my (then) longest run and first ever double digit run when Kim and I ran 10 miles on October 6, the week before the Prairie Fire Half Marathon. The run was fantastic! The last mile was HARD! We finished in 2:23. We had great conversations about the upcoming half marathon, our goals for the future, and how far we've come!

10 MILES!

October 14th was the Prairie Fire Half Marathon! I got there early and it was dark and chilly. I just missed seeing the early start for the marathon. I found the GoRun tent and waited for Kim. She got there and we got to the starting line. The first 3 miles went as expected. My brothers fiance, Mary came out to cheer me on and she was in the first mile. There was a guy in the first mile that had a sign that said "Only 13 miles left!" It was funny!

Miles 4-10 were AWESOME, though Kim was struggling and she had to make a port-a-potty stop at about mile 8. Mary met up with Paul and Elliott and they were at miles 4 and 7 cheering us on!

Miles 10-13.1 were SO SO SO tough! So much tougher than I had imagined! Kims' boyfriend Kevin, was there to cheer us on at mile 11. Paul, Elle, and Mary were at mile 12. And then Stephanie came out to cheer us on at about mile 13. Kevins' SIL Brandi ran the half too and finish before us and saw us at mile 13ish. She came out and ran with us and I was so upset about it! I said "NO! NO! She is tooooo fast! I cannot keep up with her, especially not right now!" Those last miles, I couldn't tell if it hurt more to walk or to run! We crossed the finish line at 3:06:50. I was so happy to be finish! I was so happy to get my medal! I'd never been more proud of myself!

Kim and I pre race

Just after starting!

About the first mile, still smiling!

Paul and Elliott! My wonderful cheering squad!

At about mile 4

Mile 7, notice the girl in front running the marathon and passing us :)

About Mile 11, almost done!

Just before the finish line!

And we are done!

Half Marathoners!

So proud!

A gift from Kim. She has one too!

Also in October I hit my 1 year weight loss anniversary! 70lbs down my first year. I had it expected it to be more, but I'm happy with the 70lbs!

Down 70lbs!

Elliott was Cinderella for Halloween!

After the half, I didn't run for almost an entire month! The next time I ran was November 11 for the Girls on the Run 5k. As coaches, we didn't have to run, but I wanted to. Kim was a running buddy for one of my girls and I ran, mostly with them. It was awesome to see my girls on the course!

On Thanksgiving I had my anniversary race! The Say Grace Thanksgiving Day race. The one that I walked last year! I finished last year in 56:52 and my goal was to finish in 36:52 to take a full 20 minutes off my time. I fell short of my goal and finished in 38:01, but got a PR! And I even got hit by a bicycle on the course! Yes a bicycle! People had their kids riding bikes! That is obviously dangerous, seeing as I got hit. I didn't get hurt, but the kid crashed into the other kid on the bike after he hit me and I went to make sure they weren't hurt.

I am training for another half marathon in May and my goal after that is the Route 66 Marathon next November!

I've been doing lots of yoga lately, and have really found a love for it! And I think its helping my running as well! I'm also doing a bootcamp at the YMCA right now with Mary, my brothers fiance. We are in our 3rd week right now. It's pretty tough, but I like it!

I had the best run of my life on Sunday! It was awesome! I was totally in the zone! I was able to think about things and enjoy my music and not just count and want it to be over the whole time! And I ran the full 3 miles with no walking at all, which I haven't done in a really long time!

I'm very optimistic for the future! I'm going to finish my weight loss in 2013. And hopefully I'm back to regular blogging as well!

I'm Glowing!

Jen, Me and Sarah Pre Race

I'm still here.

I did a 5k on Saturday. The Glow Run. I was dreading it, because since I had decided that I wasn't going to do the Half, I pretty much quit running all together. So I figured the 5k was going to be awful! Stephanie, my SIL, Jennifer and my niece Sarah were doing it, so I was just going to stick with them and walk when they needed to.

When I went to pick up my packet Friday night, I saw Kevin, one of the S2F coaches, and I immediately felt guilty. Earlier in the day, I saw Lori, from S2F and also felt guilty when I saw her. Jennifer told her friend, who is training for the Prairie Fire Half, that I was training for it also, and I felt guilty. I was feeling guilty and ashamed...

Me, Sarah, and Jen Post Race

But back to the Glow Run....We started out, and I was surprised right away! Running wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be! I actually felt awesome! I stuck with Sarah and Jennifer as planned and walked when they needed to, but I could have run a whole lot more! I finished in 43:35, which is not my best, and also not my worst. I think the temperature had a LOT to do with it! The run was really fun! It was at night and everyone had glow necklaces, bracelets, glow sticks. There were 2 black light zones on the course with a DJ! It was a really fun race! And we even got medals!

Me and Stephanie Pre Race

Elliott watching Mama Race!

Elliott said "Yay Mommy! You run fast!" It made my night!

Me and Stephanie Post Race

On the way home, I told Paul that I thought I could have PR'd that race if I'd ran the whole thing! Then that night I started thinking about the Half and I decided that I am going to resume my Half training!

So yesterday morning, Kim and I met at SCP to do 4 miles at 5am! I maintained a 11:30 min/mile pace for the first 10 minutes which is super fast for me! We ended up walking a lot after the first mile, because she had been in Rhode Island for 2 weeks and we had a lot to catch up on, but it felt great to be back out there! We ran into about 3 animals, skunks and raccoons, we think, and they picked up our pace for awhile there! I also saw a shooting star! It was a nice morning run! I think that the heat wave is over and that my training will be much smoother from here on out!

I have a 7 mile long run this Saturday, which I'm nervous for. I've never run 7 miles before, but I'm going to do my best and finish it out.

I had to take my dog to the vet (my work place) this morning because she was limping. She had gotten a sticker in her pad and it was really irritating her. She has a little bandage on her foot now! Elliott said that she had on a sock!

Marley and her sock!

October 2011 vs Aug 2012

After that, I met up with a guy to buy a couple of child bike seats. Paul patched up my tires last night and we bought a helmet for Elliott. I'm hoping to take her out on the bike today, but it has been raining all morning so far.

I'm going to run 2 miles at some point today and I have Hip Hop Hustle tonight. I'm kind of thinking I want to try the Ultimate Strength and Cardio class that is before Hip Hop... we'll see.

Although I haven't been running, I'm still losing weight. Slowly, but surely. I'm down to 191.6. I want to be down to the 180's by September 1st.

First Race November 2011 vs Most Recent Race August 2012

I start my Girls on the Run coaching the first week of September. I just found out today that I am going to be working with 6-8th grade girls, which I'm not thrilled about. I was really wanting to work with the 3rd-5th grades. I don't think that the older girls will like me. I hate that I'm so self conscious! I just know that the older girls are going to be much more aware that I'm the fat one! :/

Well, I hope everyone is doing well!

GOTR

Jennifer, Sarah, and Me Pre Race

Girls on the Run 5k race was today! My 10-year-old niece is in the GOTR program, so she and my SIL, Jennifer, were doing the race! I was so excited to run this with them. Jennifer doesn't run, so I had decided before hand that I wasn't going to try to PR, and I would run with her and walk when she needed to walk.

Before we started it was raining a little bit, but it stopped pretty much, as soon as the race started. Jennifer was asking when there would be water and I told her that there is usually water around Mile 1. We passed the 1 Mile marker and there was no water. She said "You said there would be water!" I told her "There will be! It probably right up here!" It wasn't much further up. We got water and started running again.

The Keeper of the Plains with Exploration Place (pointy building) the background Source

I REALLY liked the course! It ran right by the river and past one of our museums, Exploration Place, that has some really pretty water and bridges. Then it crossed the river at the Keeper of the Plains.

We crossed the bridge at Keep of the Plains and it had the 2 Mile marker on the bridge! There was another water station at about 2.5 miles and there were some people with some inspirational signs! One of my favorites was the one about courage. "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." I think of that quote often. I feel like it describes me perfectly! I pointed it out to Jennifer!

After we passed the signs, I looked at my phone and saw that, even with the walking we were doing, I was on time to PR. So I started pushing Jen more! The last time she stopped to walk was at about 2.9 miles in, so I didn't stop, I continued running.

I've said it before, but there is really nothing like the finish line! There are lots of people cheering you on, telling you "You're almost there! You're doing great!" Then to see the finish and just to push so hard and give it everything you have, and then you cross the finish and you feel so proud!

Me, Jen, and Sarah Post Race

When I saw the finish line, I saw that the clock said 42 something and I just started gunning it! I crossed the finish and there are boy scouts and firemen there giving out pins and carnations. Then they had water and bananas and apples and the best freaking salted caramel biscotti that I've ever had!

Jennifer 2 and I

After the race I saw a girl I know from running and Facebook. Her name is Jennifer too and we chatted a bit. She told me that she did this race last year as her very first race and she took 10 minutes off her time! That is awesome! We got a post race photo, also!

I was so bummed about not being able to wear the race shirt. Oh well, I'll wear it next year!

All in all, this was a great race! I'm glad I got to run with my family and I'm glad I PR'd!