I'm a blog slacker...

Blogger FAIL on my part lately....

I ran my half marathon and blogged my lovely little blog entry and then I sort of disappeared there for a bit.  Sorry about that!  Life sort of took over.  Between getting used to things with a new job, all of the fall activities for my kids, a knee that was still sore from my race, and attempting to raise 5 kids while working full time and doing a grad class I found it really hard to make time to run.

I also was left with this feeling of "What next?" when I got past the glow of finishing my first half marathon.

I had another one of those meetings with my health coach and my goal for the next 6 months was to get back on the horse when it came to running, because I knew I had been slacking.  I had just committed to doing a marathon relay with some people that I'd met through Moms Run This Town, and I decided to use that as motivation to get my butt running again.

I think it worked for the most part.  So, I ran the Grand Rapids Marathon Relay on 10/20 and it was really a lot of fun.  It was also super inspirational watching the first half marathon finishers and then the first marathon finishers as they crossed the line.  I still think I want to go for a full marathon someday, but I know I need more experience and at least a few more halfs before I commit to that. 

At any rate...here a few relay photos. 


4/5 of our relay team



2 full relay teams - pre-race


A funny post race group photo of 2 relay teams

Unfortunately, I was getting sick the day I ran the relay and spent the past week feeling awful.  I convinced my 10 year old daughter to try C25K with me, so we went out yesterday and did a few miles of c25k week 1 day 1.  It wasn't bad, but I still had some trouble with my breathing.  Darn illness!

It is getting cold here in Michigan now, and I'm once again left with the not so desirable task of trying to find appropriate running clothes that don't make me look like the stay-puff marshmallow woman.  Thus far, that has not been so fun.  I find myself wanting to rant all over again about the lack of cute looking, nice fitting running apparel for women who are not a size 8 or smaller.  If I can buy a size L hoodie in normal clothing there is no reason I should need a XXL running shirt or jacket.  That is messed up!  I left Dick's Sporting Goods feeling fat and inadequate last night (yet again) and that stinks!  I am going to need to find some cold weather running stuff soon...but not at that store I guess.  I am still not sure exactly what I need to be buying, since I've never run in the cold before.  It is a daunting task when I not only need to find stuff that will keep me warm, but will also not make me look awful. 

That is about where I am right now.  I'm going to pester my kid into running again today, and I know she'll whine and self-doubt the whole time.  I need to get her past that.  She is so confident about everything else, but ask her to do some physical activity and she immediately goes into "I can't" mode.  Mama is out to change that, people!  If I can do this, so can she!

And...SUCCESS!

It has been a bit between blog posts.  I planned to do my last long run before my Half last Sunday and it was a dismal failure.  As in, I had to call my husband to come get me after 4 of my scheduled 12 miles because I was on the brink of an asthma attack.  I was really disappointed and wasn't ready to share about that yet, so I just didn't.

Today, on the other hand is a day that I must share.

This morning, after several weeks of training and hard work, it was finally time.  The Capital City River Run Impression 5 Half Marathon....13.1 miles between me and the finish line.

  

Flat Mama photo the night before the race

We woke up at 5:30 and were on the road to Lansing by 6:15.  We rolled into town around 7:45 and I headed over to pick up my number and shirt.  It was almost time to go!

 

The number of people at the starting line was amazing, and the air felt electric with anticipation.  I thought about all of the work that I had put in and how amazed and humbled I felt to be there.  Then I got a text from a friend, as she said a little prayer for me and the other runners to have a good race...and I got a little teary.  The whole race ended up being a little emotional for me, but I'll get into that later.  Here is a shot waiting to get going... 

 



I started my music and got going.  My 2nd song was Eye of the Tiger...it seemed fitting as a song to start the race.  As it turned out, my music was somehow set to play in a shuffled order instead of the set order I had chosen.  This ended up interesting as the race progressed. 

By the time I was 2 miles in, I was warming up and took off my long sleeved shirt.  I was much more comfortable in the tank top, even if I did get cool a few times.

As I was running, songs would pop up that I had intentionally put on the list for inspiration...

Mile 3...Just Give Me a Reason (Pink) - Keely

Mile 4 - Gangnam Style (Psy) - Leo

At right about mile 4, I encountered my cheering crew for the first time.  Seeing them there cheering me on made me teary again.  I know that even though my running means time away from them, it is also giving them the gift of a healthy mom and a great example to follow as they grow. 

Mile 5 - Girlfriend (Avril Lavigne) and Who Says (Selena Gomez) - Hallie

Mile 6 - I Gotta Feelin' (Black Eyed Peas) - Lucy

It started to rain lightly somewhere during mile 6.  It actually felt pretty nice and lasted on and off through the rest of the race.  Overall, I didn't mind it.

Mile 7 - Super Bass (Nicki Minaj) - this song always makes me smile and reminds me of a friend.  If she reads my blog, she'll know its her.

Mile 8 - The Way I Am (Ingrid Michaelson) - Cory

That song made me feel emotional too.  Cory has been such a big supporter of this running thing.  He has done long runs with me (even though he wasn't really in the shape to do so), has bought stuff to fuel my running gear addiction, and has made the time to help me ensure that I could do the training needed for this race.  He really does love me the way I am, and he supports me unconditionally.  I could have never done this without him behind me.  And not too long after that song came on, I happened to see my gang of cheerleaders again!  This time, they tried to take pictures.  Here I am, running on by...

I saw them again around mile 10....and they took more pictures.  At this point I was sort of feeling my inner Forrest Gump come out.  "I was running...and running...."  I was still feeling okay at this point, but it was definitely getting to be a little more slow going.  My knee had started to hurt around mile 5, and it got progressively more painful as the race progressed.

 

 

At mile 11, I almost lost it.  From the start of this running journey, Mumford and Sons "I Will Wait" has been on my running playlist.  When it came on at mile 11, when my muscles were screaming at me, it instantly brought me back to that first few weeks of running.  I could see myself struggling through those short intervals, barely able to run for 1 minute...and here I was 4.5 short months later running my first Half Marathon.  The tears came then, and I think a few actually fell.  I heard the lyrics...

"Raise my hands
Paint my spirit gold
And bow my head
Keep my heart slow.."

...and even though my legs hurt, and my body was tired, I KNEW I could do this thing.  I would finish.  I read somewhere that the last 3 miles of a half marathon are run with your heart, and that was definitely true for me.  I kept telling myself, "It's less than 5k left.  I can do this.  I know I can do this!"  I also took my earbuds out and finished the race without music.  I needed it to be me and the road for that last few miles.

The last mile was hard.  I probably walked as much as I ran, because that is what my body would let me do.  I just needed to finish.  And when I came to the bridge and the track volunteer proclaimed, "You are almost there!  Just two tenths of a mile and then you are done!  You've got this!" my heart started to sing.  I ran the rest of the way with a smile on my face.  I did it.  I really did it!



 My gang was waiting for me at the finish line...and you guessed it, I cried.  I cried with relief that I had made it, and with incredible pride in myself for sticking with it on this journey. 



 

Five months ago, if you would have told me that I'd be running 13.1 miles in September, I would have laughed you right out of town.  I never in a million years would have thought that I would ever be capable of doing something like this....but I did.  I'm so very proud of myself and the changes that running has brought to my life.  As my best friend Marcie posted today, I went from couch to crazy!  And, I wouldn't have it any other way!  

 

I am officially a Half Marathon Mama!  My sister has a lovely 13.1 magnet for the back of the Mommy Van, and I'm slapping that little lovely on there as soon as I get it.  I did it, people!  I know I have posted this here before, but I think today more than any other, it is a very appropriate ending for my post.   



 

So very true...and I'm so proud that I went crazy and took on the challenge of Couch to 5k in April.  I never could have known that it would take me to where I am today, but I am so glad that it did. 

 

OH!  I almost forgot!  My "realistic" goal time for my Half today was 3 hours.  I finished in 3 hours and 42 seconds....so I'm calling that a goal realized.  SUCCESS!!

 

Just keep swimming...I mean, running!

The reality of this half marathon is staring me in the face right about now.  I have 13 days until race day.  Part of me feels like I'm ready and I can totally do this thing, and the rest of me feels like I might just throw up thinking about it. 

 

 

This past week was not my best for miles.  I had so much planned, but then I got this painful, unexplained bruise on the top of my right foot that sort of sidelined me a bit.  I got in 2 short runs - 2.5 miles and 3 miles - during the week and that was it.  Kind of a bummer since those were supposed to be 5 miles each.    The 3 mile run was actually the 1st ever Reeths-Puffer Adventure Run, which I did with my nieces Alexis and Krista, my daughter Hallie, and my son Leo.  I think we look pretty good here!

Yesterday, I decided it was time to suck it up and get back out there.  My supportive husband came along as I knocked out 10 tough miles.  I felt good, but we were slow, because most of the run ended up feeling like a trail run instead of a road run.  It was hot and humid, and I somehow got a blister on the bottom of my left foot.  It started around mile 5 and by mile 8 it was really starting to hurt.  I was determined to finish those 10 miles though.  We took a few little walk breaks here and there, but the important thing is that I got the miles in.  My sore right foot wasn't too bad, and that was encouraging too.

This morning, I was supposed to run the Labor Day 5k here in town, but decided to give my legs a rest and did the 4 mile walk instead.  It was a good choice, and gave my muscles a chance to get some of the kinks out from yesterday night's run.

This weekend is kind of a big deal for me, when it comes to running.  I read somewhere that it takes 21 days to make something a habit, and 4 months for it to become a lifestyle change.  4 months and 1 day ago, I started the Couch to 5k program.  I think people think I am being funny when I say this, but C25K changed my life.  And now, 4 months later, I've officially made a lifestyle change.  I'm a runner.  I made the choice to get up off my butt and DO SOMETHING to become a healthier person.  I did it for my kids, and more importantly for myself.  I am so proud of the progress that I have made over these months, and can't wait to see where the future will bring me.  It has also been 2.5 weeks since my last coke...or any type of pop for that matter.  Eventually I'll let myself have it as a treat every now and then, but I know it was an unhealthy habit that needed to go. 

So, in celebration of making it 4 months into this running adventure, I have new progress photos.  the scale may only say that I'm down 7lbs (on a good day, LOL), but my body definitely looks better, and feels better too.  Here goes nothing...

 

Front view...these are different pants because the others ones are just too darn baggy anymore.
And here is one with the shirt pulled tighter, so you can see the belly shrinkage.  It is funny because even though I don't feel like its smaller, when I look at these photos, I can see the progress.  I should also add that 4 months ago, I would never even have entertained the idea of wearing pants like this in public...so that is some progress too!

 

 
The back view...I feel like the 18 week picture makes me look bigger because it was taken closer up and the shirt is bunched funny.  Trust me when I say that the back fat is still shrinking. 





And the side view.  I pulled the shirt tight again for this one, because the one with the baggy shirt didn't show the progress like I wanted it too.  My butt looks huge without the shirt hanging over it though.  Darn muscles...my ass used to be flat before I started this running thing.

It may be slow progress, BUT it is progress. Plus, I swear I read somewhere that slow progress is more likely to be a permanent change, so I'll take it.

For now, until September 15th my mantra is like Dory's.  I've got to "just keep running!"  Even when it is hot or I am tired, or the kid's schedule seems crazy.  I can't let myself slack off now.  In 13 days, I'm going to cross the finish line knowing that I put forth my best effort...and I can't wait!

9 miles today...and 3 weeks to go

The past few weeks have been pretty rough for me running-wise.  Summer finally came back to West Michigan and brought with it humidity and warm weather.  These things are not my friends when it comes time to run, and my runs have suffered lately. 

Crap is starting to get REAL when it comes to the half marathon training, folks.  My "short" runs are supposed to be 5 miles long now.  That didn't quite work out for me this week, but I did get in 10.5 miles worth of short runs this week (2.5, 3, 5), so I'm calling it good.  Most days, it isn't an issue of being able to run the miles, but actually finding the time needed to do so before it gets dark.  I had to hit the dreadmill to get in the mileage for those 2 shorter runs this week because it got too dark for me to feel safe enough to finish outside.  That was not so fun.  (I hate that thing.)

This week's long run was 9 miles, and I ran it this morning.  First, I have to say that I am SO thankful to the people who clued me in to the port-a-potty locations along my route in North Muskegon, because I had a little potty emergency about halfway into my run.  I hate public restrooms, and especially port-a-potties, but I was in love with that thing this morning, spiders and all.  We were fast friends, and then I was back on my way. 

The first 7 miles or so were actually pretty great.  I kept a nice pace and aside from the potty emergency, I felt good.  Mile 8 wasn't awful, but I started to get hot because I was running in direct sun for most of that mile.  I was a little slower, but still not awful.  Mile 9 was tough.  My asthma started to bother me and I ran out of water.  It was hot, and I struggled to finish.  I may or may not have run into a few yards with sprinklers on to get myself wet to try and cool down during mile 9.  Alright, I admit it.  I totally did...and it felt wonderful.  Anyways, I survived the 9 miles and didn't die, so we'll call that run a success.

And then something weird happened when I got home.  I drank chocolate milk.  I stretched, and then I sort of had a little mental breakdown.  It took me 2 hours and 2 minutes to run those 9 miles, and by the end I was tired.  I laid on my living room floor thinking, "How the hell am I going to run 13.1 miles in 3 weeks?  At today's pace, that would be another HOUR of running!"  I cried a little.  I'm still not feeling super confident and that makes me sad.  I made it through my run today and most of it was good.  I should be feeling proud instead of this.  Maybe I'm all emotional because my monthly visitor is here, I don't know.  I just know that I need to find my confidence again somewhere between now and September 15th.  I need to believe that I can do this thing.  I cannot let the self-doubt ruin this for me.  I just can't. 

So, that is where I am right now.  I need to get in a new head space, and quickly.  This next week is bound to be interesting, as I have some really exciting stuff on my plate.  I am going to need to be flexible to get my runs in with everything going on, but I'll make it happen.  I hope!

I've gotta feelin'....

I've been trying to figure out exactly how to put what I'm feeling into words.  And no matter how I do it, I am pretty sure that it will sound corny and silly.  Oh well, I'm going to try anyways. 

For the longest time after I started running, I didn't feel like a runner.  I felt like, I don't know...a running imposter who was pretending to be a runner or something.  I'd heard the whole "If you run, you are a runner" thing, but I wasn't buying it.  I didn't feel like I'd earned the right to call myself a runner.

Somewhere along this journey, not too long ago, something changed.  I started to feel like a runner...still a beginning runner, but a runner.  I've still got lots to learn and that is okay.  I think it is part of the journey.  Somewhere along the line, running changed me and became part of who I am.  I may not be the fastest person out there, (Let's be honest...I know I won't be!) or the most experienced, but it doesn't matter.  I run for me.  I don't run to meet someone else's perception of what a runner is or isn't.  I am a runner, and my runs are mine alone.  Fast, slow, in-between...they are all part of my journey.

So now that we've established that I am a runner, let's move on to the corny and silly thing.

It is kind of hard to put into words the changes that have gone on inside my brain.  I joke that I went crazy and decided to run, and lots of days I still feel like that is true.  But in all seriousness, running has changed me for the better.  I'm not talking about physical stuff.  I'm talking about changes in my psyche or something.  I've found this strength and confidence inside me that I had lost somewhere along the line.  It makes me feel sad to admit this, but for a long time I have felt very self-conscious about clothes and particularly colors.  I made myself wear lots of dark colors and stayed away from anything fitted for the most part, because that hid the fat the best in my mind.  I wasn't happy with my body, and I'm only now starting to see it as a work in progress.  The change started with the running clothes.  I found myself willing to wear a hot pink shirt, or those cute argyle print socks when I ran.  I didn't care what other people thought about how I looked, because running in those things made ME feel happy.  Slowly, that confidence and willingness to add color back into my life is creeping into my regular wardrobe.  Not only that, but for the first time in YEARS, I'm willing to wear a dress in public...and because I WANT to, not because it is what is appropriate for some occasion.  Not only have I worn dresses, but I've even felt (gasp!) a little bit pretty in them.  I cannot even tell you the last time I really felt pretty before this summer.  Sad, but true....but I'm getting there and I blame running.  Instead of hating my entire body, I can look at myself now and find things that I do like.  (My legs are looking pretty darn awesome these days, I think.) 

I went shoe shopping the other day and the salesgirl was this super chatty college kid.  She asked me about when I started running and then how I liked it, since I'm only in about 4 months.  I looked at her, smiled and said, "It has changed my life."   And I meant it.   Not quite 4 months ago, I was a lump.  I couldn't chase my kids.  I couldn't run around the block if I tried.  Now, the kids struggle to keep up with ME.  I can run for miles, and in less than a month I'll finish my first half-marathon.  It is pretty darn amazing.

I ended up with these shoes on that little shopping trip.  I love them, of course.  How could I not love hot pink running shoes?!?!?

 

 

As for my runs this week...I've had some crappy ones.  My 8-miler on Sunday was rough, but I survived.  The heat and humidity have kicked back up and that is always a challenge for me.  But, I'll keep on keeping on.  There is no other option for me, because the miles need to get done.  Crappy or not, I'm running them!  They can't all be great runs, and I sometimes think I learn more from the crappy ones in the long run anyways. With that said, I'm hoping today's run will be a good one. If its not, oh well...at least I'll have gotten in some miles!

Time for a little change...and other random stuff

Today's little installment is going to be a little bit scattered.  I'll apologize in advance.

I know the blog is not that old, so this change may seem a little fast.  But, let's face it folks, I'm definitely taking this journey past 5k and I want the blog title to reflect that.  So, I'm changing it up a tiny bit.  I hope no one minds!

After a few days of rest, stretching, cross training, and some super fun foam rolling (or not so fun), I went for a run last night.  I had 4.5 miles on the schedule and it went really well!  My first mile was around 11:33, which is good for me, and the following miles weren't bad either.  I think I ended up with an average pace of 12:30.  Its better than it could have been, so I'll take it! 

And then something weird happened.  I woke up at 5am with this weird pain in my left inner thigh, especially when I rotated my foot.  It was almost like a strange sciatica or something.  This happened after my last 4 mile run too.  I ate some cottage cheese, took some ibuprofen, and when I woke up at 9am, the pain was gone.  Weird stuff, right?  I'm just glad the pain is gone now and I am feeling good again.

I am feeling so good, in fact, that I am tempted to run a few miles this evening instead of doing the cross training I had planned.  Maybe I will...we'll see. 

OH and one more thing!  Although the scale is still my mortal enemy because it refuses to move past the 5lbs I initially lost, I am noticing some good things.  I used to always need to buy XL shirts to accommodate for my, um...ample, chest region.  When I registered for the HEY 5k, I had checked the box for no shirt, but somehow I still ended up getting one.  Its a large and it actually fits comfortably!  I also bought some hoodies at an art fair last weekend because they were 2/$15.  One is an XL and the other one is a L.  I thought maybe I could shrink into it, but I put it on today and it fits great!  I'm geeked about that, because it is super cute!

Really though, I want the scale to start moving.  I read on another blog that for every pound lost, you gain 10 seconds of speed per mile.  I could really use some of those darn seconds! 

Soooo, in hopes of jump starting a bit of weight loss, I'm going to give up my beloved Coke.  I don't drink a ton of it, but that caffeine is what gets me going each morning so I know I will have a few rough days.  We have a 2 liter in the fridge and when that is gone, that is it.  I know I will be healthier without it.  Plus, if I can get myself to run all of these miles when I used to hate running, I can certainly give up this one little thing if it means I might lose some pounds and gain some speed.

And, in closing, here is my thought for the week.  I've got a lot on my mind, which I'm sure I'll share soon.  But this has been going through my mind lately....

Mission Accomplished! YAY!

Back in June, right before my first 5k, I set two goals for myself:

1. Run the entire race without walking.
2. Finish in 40 minutes or less.

Now, if you've read my blog you already know that I didn't meet both of those goals.  I finished without walking, but my time was 41 minutes and something seconds.  I couldn't let myself feel bad, so I just told myself that I'd meet that goal next time.

TODAY, my next time came.  I ran the HEY 5k this morning.  Check out my lovely flat mama...minus the hot pink compression socks that were in the dryer.  Cute, right?

 

The course promised to be flat and fast, and oh boy did it deliver!  Well either that, or something magical got into my shoes, because it was an awesome race for me!  My first mile was the fastest mile that I've run to date - 11:24.  Miles 2 and 3 were 12:10 and 12:13 respectively.  I felt great and it was a fantastic run.  As far as I am concerned, I blew that 40 minute goal out of the water with my finishing time of 37:15!

I have to admit, when I was heading toward the finish line and I saw the time on that clock, I could have danced with joy.  I was just so happy and proud of myself!  Today, I feel like all of my hard work these past few months has paid off at least a little, because this 5k was almost 4 minutes faster than the one on 6/22.  That is a huge improvement!  So, I'm patting myself on the back today. 

After finishing the 5k, I set out with a running buddy, Teri, and we did 3 more miles since we both had more mileage to get in today.  After the quick drive home, and something to drink, I ran my last mile for today in the neighborhood with my son.  In total, I got in 7.3 miles today and it took me 1:33:09....not too bad I think!

Once I got home, I ate a boiled egg and some cottage cheese (gotta get in the protein!), drank some water, and chilled for a little bit...and then I prepared for my new torture.

You see, I read a few articles and have had recommendations from several people about foam rolling, and I think I blogged a bit about it at some point.  I am a wimp and holding myself up to roll is HARD...so I've come up with a new method.  It is called, "Jen lays on the floor and the husband does the rolling instead." It works fabulously!  Except, you see, my husband is not a wimp and when he rolls out the knots in my muscles it hurts!  Looking at it, you wouldn't think that a foam log like this:

would cause me to writhe around on the ground and scream like a little girl.  But, it does....and it also gets rid of any muscle tightness and knots, so I sort of consider it a necessary evil at this point.  It is helping me to prevent injuries, so we'll keep on rolling!  Plus, when there aren't any knots it sort of feels like a deep tissue massage, and that isn't so bad at all!

Now, I've been rolled.  I showered and at a yummy lunch of leftover lasagna...so I think its time for a little nap.  I'm in a great mood today.  Perhaps is the afterglow of the runners high or something.  Either way, I dig it.  :-)  Success feels good!

Officially HALF CRAZY....I've done lost my mind all over again!

I'm freaking the freak out as I write this.  Seriously, I feel like I could throw up.  And WHY the sudden freak out?

I lost my mind all over again today people.  I officially registered for the Capital City River Run Impression 5 Half Marathon.  Wow, that is a mouth full!  But the point is this - I'm in - 100% committed now, and there is no backing out.  I registered and paid and in less than 6 weeks my butt will be running a half marathon.  13.1 miles of me and the road....Oh Em Gee!  It is exciting and scary all in one!

Now that I'm all in, I have to be totally committed to this training plan.  I guess I picked a good time to commit, because I've reached the point in the plan where stuff starts to get real.  Even my short runs are 4 miles long now.  I know that I can tweak the plan as needed but I really need to follow it the best I can so that I'll be prepared when September 15th arrives!

I think I'm doing pretty well so far though.  Last week, I did my first 10k (6.2 miles) and the plan only called for 5 miles.  Yesterday night, I convinced my husband that he needed to run with me and we did HIS first 10k.  He told me mid-run that he was nuts to agree to do the run with me.  I told him that the crazy must be rubbing off on him. 

I planned to use this run for a virtual 10k that I registered for, but I think I'm going to give the husband the medal instead.  Grumpy cat suits him, and he deserves a medal for his first 10k.  Also good to note, the man might be able to finish a 5k faster than I can, but *I* can run a 10k faster than he can.  Bwaaa haaaa haaaaa! (That was my evil laugh.   

My schedule has been off a bit because of the whole delayed 10k thing and then we went camping this weekend which messed me up some more.  Word to the wise - sleeping on the ground when temps are in the upper 40's does NOT make the body happy come running time.  I knew I wasn't up for 6 miles Sunday night after we got home, so it got postponed to yesterday night instead. 

Now, I'm trying to get my crazy self back on track.  Tomorrow, I'm planning to run 4 miles.  Thursday, I'm only doing 2.  I know, that isn't in my plan...but there is a good reason!  You see, on Saturday morning, I have a 5k race and I'm tapering a bit so I'm not all tired and stuff.
 
Remember that goal I set way back when (in June...it seems like forever ago now!) of running a 5k in less than 40 minutes? 

 I'm planning to meet that goal this weekend, not hoping...PLANNING!  Then after I finish the 5k, I'll run another 4 miles to get in my 7 total for this week's long run.  Yes, it sounds a little crazy.  Would you really expect anything less from me at this point?

So yeah, I'm riding the crazy train right on towards a half marathon, and it is official now.  Even crazier?  I have decided that I want to do a full marathon before I turn 35.  That gives me 14 months to get it done.  I figure that if I'm going to be crazy, I may as well go ALL IN!

A day late, but not a mile short....my first 10k!

So remember that 10k I was planning to do on Sunday?  Yeah, it didn't happen.  First, because I was still feeling pretty icky (darn kids and their viruses!) and second because when we all got up in the morning to run, it was pouring rain.  The running gods must have been looking out for me on that one.

A running friend shared a great article yesterday evening, and it really resonated with me.  You can read it here, if you are interested.  It was about how slow is all relative and how we need to stop being so hard on ourselves and just believe that we can be great.  I took that to heart last night and woke up today feeling ready to run.

 

I went about my day, which happened to involve a trip to the allergist because I'm getting some patch testing done this week.  They got my patches, all 36 of them, situated on my back and taped things into place.  Then the nurse told me I couldn't shower until I have them removed on Thursday, and that I could not run tonight because they would fall off.  SAY WHAT, LADY?!?!?!?  I could not abide by either of those things....simply could not.  I stopped at the store on my way home from the allergist and bought some heavy duty water-proof tape.  I was running my freaking race tonight, thank you very much!   How could I not do this race?  It's not everyday that a girl who went crazy and started running gets to run in a race called Running Mad after all!

We were scheduled to head out at 7pm.  The race was part of a virtual race for the Moms Run This Town national group.  My local chapter (which is awesomesauce, by the way!) had the half marathoners do their race last weekend, so it was just the 10k people who could make it tonight....so all in all, there were 5 of us running.  Not the same as a big race like my first 5k last month, but to me, it was just as big of a deal.  This was me, climbing another mountain on this running journey. 

The route was a fairly straight out and back with a few decent hills. By the time I hit the halfway point, I knew I had this thing.  I was feeling good.  My breathing was steady and I was maintaining a comfortable pace consistently.  I knew I would be able to finish without walking, and that alone was enough to keep me going.  The weather was lovely and I rocked out to some great tunes (like the lovely Gangnam Style added by my son) as I just ran. 

Yes, I was at the back of the pack and guess what?  I didn't even care!  Those people running ahead of me all had way more than 3 months of running experience under their belts.  And do you know what those amazing ladies did for me?  As I headed into the last quarter mile or so, they came back to join me so I didn't finish alone.  I can never put into words what that meant to me.  These people, most of whom I've met just once or twice before, rallied me on and ran with me as I finished my first 10k.  And even though I was technically in last place, I felt like a winner.  Because really, for me, it was a win.  I finished and I ran the whole time.  Even a few short weeks ago I wasn't sure if I'd be able to run it all, and I DID! 

3 months ago, I started running because I lost my mind one day.  I could barely run for 1 minute straight and felt like I would surely die.  Today, I finished my first 10k race in 1 hour, 24 minutes, and 25 seconds.  That is a pretty darn big deal, I think. 

I even earned my first ever medal.  And for the record when my 6 year old asked me if I got last place, I told her that technically I did...but I think I prefer to say I got 5th place.  It *is* true after all, and 5th place has a much nicer ring to it.  Don't you think?  ;-) 

 

 

(And YES for anyone wondering, I DID bathe tonight after the race as well! If I was going to break the rules from the Dr. to run, I figured I needed to go all in and be a clean rule-breaker.)

10k, here I come...I think.

So tomorrow is the big day....my 1st 10k race. 

I am a bag full of mixed emotions about the whole thing today.

This past Tuesday, I had a rough run/walk on the dreadmill (3.5 miles) which involved 5...count 'em...FIVE stops to run to the bathroom.  Lesson learned:  An hour after lunch is NOT a great time to run.

My oldest daughter did a 5 mile bike ride with me on Wednesday for cross-training and that went really well.

Thursday, I had a really cruddy run.  It had been cooler outside so I foolishly thought that I would be okay to run at 6pm when Cory got home from work.  Wrong.  My asthma bothered me terribly and my legs/ankles were super sore.  I ended up giving up at 3.3 miles...couldn't even make it to finish the 3.5 I had planned.  That was a bummer.

Yesterday was a rest day and I ended up getting hit with a stomach bug last night.  I still feel icky this morning and I am really worried about tomorrow.  On a positive note, I weighed 5lbs less this morning than I did yesterday morning.  Nothing like a stomach bog to jump start the weight loss, right?

To be honest though, I'm struggling mentally lately.  My mileage is supposed to increase next week on the training plan and I am worried about making the time to get my runs in before Cory leaves for work during the week.  My runs lately have been rough and the voice of self-doubt is there in the back of my mind so often.  I hate feeling like this.  I sometimes wonder why I keep going.  I mean really, I'm not losing weight and I'm so slow...yet I keep plugging away and running.  Its like some strange virus in my brain that makes me keep going....its the crazy.  My confidence for the half marathon is waning, and I wish I could find something to bring it back.

Tomorrow, I am going to do my first 10k.  I am praying that I'll feel healthy enough to jog the whole thing, but I guess if I have to walk, that is better than not doing it.  I know I'll be slow, but seeing this the other day was a nice reminder that my miles are still miles, even if they are slow ones.

I'm nervous about tomorrow.  I don't know how I'll be feeling health wise, and I'm not sure how confident I'll be feeling, but I'm going to do it.  I'm not giving up...even if that evil little voice in the back of my mind desperately wants me to sometimes.  I need to work to get that confidence back, and hopefully tomorrow's 10k will be a step in that direction.

Keep Calm and Crazy On...

First things first...let's get morbid for a  minute!  I got my new Road ID bracelet last weekend!  So now, I can officially pass out or injure myself and people will know who to call to claim my dead or mangled body!  Woo hoo!!!  In all seriousness, its good to have some sort of ID when running as a just in case, and I do feel better having this on me when I run.

This past week has been our busiest of the summer.  My older girls were in theater camp M-F from 9am-3:30pm, and then my son had football camp for a few days in the middle of the week as well.  Add that to tech week and performances of the show that my oldest 2 kiddos were working on, and it meant lots of time spent as the "mom taxi" this week.  It was also the hottest week we've had thus far, with temps in the upper 90's and wicked high humidity on top of that.

With all of the stuff we had going on, it shouldn't surprise me that I didn't quite complete my training schedule as planned this week.  Let's recap the week, shall we?

Monday: Stretch and Strengthen - I definitely stretched and I tried to do some foam rolling, which is definitely an exercise in strength for me.  Why?  Because in order for me to use the stupid foam roll thing, I have to hold my upper body up and move myself over the roller.  For a girl with NO upper body strength, this is definitely a work out!

Tuesday:  Run 3.5 miles - I tried.  I really did, but it was HOT outside and I had to use the dreadmill.  Even in my cool-ish house, I was just miserable and my body was not feeling it.  I *did* complete 3.5 miles, but probably have of that was walking and most of the running was at a snail's pace.  I felt defeated and exhausted by the time I finished.  It pretty much sucked.  :-(

Wednesday:  Run 2 miles OR cross-train - I needed a good run after my failure on Tuesday so I opted for the 2 mile run.  It was like 84 degrees when I left my house at 6:15am, but I had a much better time than I had the day before.  It was still slow, but I felt much better about myself during and after the run.

Thursday:  Run 3.5 miles - I skipped this and told myself I'd do it Friday morning because it was supposed to cool off by then.  It didn't and this run became a big fat FAIL because it never happened.

Friday: Rest - I don't know if I'd say that I rested, because we were busy from 7:30am until 9:30am with camps, shows, etc...but I didn't run.  So, we'll call it a rest day.

Saturday: 40 minute cross-train - Again, a super busy day.  The kids had shows at 2pm and 7:30pm with a cast party in between.  I did some walking but probably not 40 minutes worth...so, we'll call this another FAIL.

Sunday:  Run 5 miles - Today was a SUCCESS!  I actually ran 5.5 miles because I'm trying to work up to my 10k next week.  I took my son and he rode his bike while I ran.  The weather was considerably cooler than it has been, and there was a nice breeze.  I was slow like molasses, and walked for about 100 yards due to a cramp in my foot (which the walking took away) but the rest of it was jogging.  I would have much rather seen myself with a better time than I had, but I am trying really hard to remind myself that slow and steady may not win the race for me, but it WILL finish the race...and that is what counts right now!

All in all, it was not the best week for me running wise.  But, I'm not just a runner.  I'm also a mom and my little people had some really cool stuff going on this week!  This week, THIS:

 

was what was important in my life.  My kids had a week of great shows and made me super proud as they did something that they love to do.  I can't feel bad about spending my time helping to make that happen this week, even if it means I was not 100% successful in following the "plan" for my training.   

 

When it comes to this running thing....

Today's 5.5 miles will be the start of me getting back on track.  I've got my first 10k a week from today and even though I said before that I might not run the whole thing, I am thinking that I may just be able to do it after all!  Tomorrow is a stretch and strengthen day, and I've got a hot date with my foam roller. 

The heat and the DREADmill

Let's just call today a failure, shall we?

Ugh.

So I mentioned that we bought a treadmill.  It has now officially been re-named the dreadmill....because I dread the days when I have to use that thing.  It took me an hour to do 3.5 miles today.  It was supposed to be a 3.5 mile run, but that wasn't happening for me.  Even with the fan pointed at me, and our window A/C unit going, I was still just too hot and it was miserable.  There is also something about the treadmill that makes my legs hurt when I run on it...I'm not sure why it does that, but it stinks!

So today was a walk/run day...which I'd much rather not have for a short run like 3.5 miles.  I am okay if I need to walk during a 5 or 6 mile run, but today was borderline ridiculous.  I just couldn't get it together.  My breathing was all wonky.  My legs were hurting.  The sunburn on my back was bothering me, and I was super hot.  It was a recipe for disaster.

I've been lucky so far this summer, because our temperatures have been pretty mild.  This week, summer is here in full effect.  I don't like it one bit.  3.5 miles in an hour is a joke and a half.

Tomorrow is a new day...I'm supposed to either cross-train or do 2 miles.  I think I'll do both...a run in the early morning and a bike ride with the kiddos later on.  Hopefully those 2 miles will be better than today's encounter with the dreadmill.  I don't want these crappy runs to become the norm.  That is no fun.

Why yes, yes I did make it 5 miles today!

Well, well...week 2 of my half marathon training is pretty much complete and I survived!  This post will probably be pretty uneventful, which in the grand scheme of things is kind of a good thing.

The heat and humidity has been really wearing on me lately, so I went out and bought a treadmill on Tuesday.  Cory put it together for me and I did 2.5 miles on it that night.  It was quickly obvious that I'm even slower on the treadmill (which is SAD!), and that I'm going to need a TV to keep me entertained if I want to use it often.  When it is super hot or cold, I'll resort to the treadmill...but my outside runs are much more enjoyable.  I like feeling like I'm going somewhere!

At any rate, I did 3 miles outside yesterday and it was a good run.  I felt like I was able to squish down that voice of self-doubt that was creeping in.  You see, I go back and forth on feeling like I am totally crazy for trying to train for a half right now and feeling like I can do this thing.  I also really struggle with the whole run-walk thing.  In my head, I know it is okay to walk some.  Yet, I don't want to walk.  I also don't want to injure myself though, so I'm trying to trust my body to tell me when I NEED to walk.  We'll see how that all goes, but I hope that plan doesn't backfire on me somehow.

Today, a group of ladies from Moms Run This Town planned a 5 mile run at a nearby bike path.  I decided to join them.  My training plan only calls for a long run of 4 miles this week, but I have my first 10k in 2 weeks so I decided that it would be okay to try to step it up a notch a week early.  I told myself that I could walk if I needed.  I even told myself that I probably would need to walk at some point.

But guess what?!?!?

I made it and I never felt like I needed to walk!  Now, I did walk for about a minute near the halfway point, but only because the people who were nice enough to slow down their pace to stay with me (who were running like 14 and 16 miles today) said they were going to walk for a minute.  I was definitely the slowest person of the 7 of us there, but I did it.  Slow and steady....and doing it is what counts the most!  I didn't even really mind being the turtle at the back of the pack, because 2 months ago I never would have even attempted this run.  I have realized that I need to get over any self-consciousness that I have about running with other people.  The only person judging me (as far as I know anyways!) is ME.  So yes, I'm freaking chubby and my fat probably blobs around when I run.  Oh well.  I really doubt that the other people running give a crap about my blobby fat anyways.  And the people who DO want to concern themselves with my blobby fat are probably driving past in their cars (You know what I'm talking about - the ones who say, "Oooh fat chick running on the side of the road, that would be 500 points if I hit her!" or something similar.) and most of them probably couldn't run 5 miles if they tried!  I ran 5 miles today, and it felt good.

Eventually, maybe I'll become one of those skinny runner chicks...until then I'm learning to be happy just being a runner chick, no matter what size I might be.

So, that kind of sucked...

Three words to describe today's run:

Oh. My. Glob.

It was supposed to be an easy 3 miles.  Let's just say it didn't work out quite that way.

I woke up at 5:45 with no motivation.  I was actually sort of hoping it would be raining.  But, it wasn't so I got ready and made myself run.  I may have been better off to stay home.First of all, it was 93% humidity outside.  This made it kind of like running through air made of pudding, except it didn't taste good.  So, where is the fun in that?  It was thick and heavy, and my lungs did not like it one bit.  Running in that level of humidity seems to bring out the voice of self-doubt for me.  I'm not a fan of that voice.

That wasn't the worst part though.  You see, I read that I should be trying out different running "fuels" to see which ones my body can and cannot tolerate.  I'm going to need to ingest something when I run longer distances so that I can keep my electrolytes and all that other stuff that keeps my body functioning properly in balance.  So, I went to the store and bought a great variety of things of to try out.
 

In theory, this is a good thing to do.  Unless you are me, and you have cursed yourself by recently blogging about the trots.

This morning, I ate my normal banana and then I decided to also chomp down some of the Clif Shot Bloks in the middle of the photo above.  I ate 2 of the 6 cubes in the package.  They were chewy, kind of like a giant square gummy bear and the flavor was decent.  My first thought was that they weren't too bad.  Oh how wrong I was!

About a mile in, I got the normal weird tummy rumble.  From there, it got worse....much, much worse.  By 2 miles into the 3 mile run, I was entering panic mode.  I needed to go, and I needed to go NOW.  I ran the .65 miles to my house as quickly as I could...and by as quickly as I could I mean as quickly as a slow, fat chick can run while squeezing her butt cheeks together and praying that she won't crap her pants on the way.  It was not pretty, folks.  Not pretty at all.

I put my run on pause as I busted through the front door of my house and made a beeline for the bathroom.  Cory called out, "So I guess those are the trots, huh?"  Gee, you think, maybe?  It was awful.  Seriously, no more Clif Shot Bloks for me, because that was the worst .65 miles of my running life.  So far anyways... now I'm scared to try my other goodies for fear of similar results.

Once all of that was done, I took my sweaty self back outside to finish the last .35 of my 3 miles for today.  That was quick and uneventful, thank goodness! 

In the end, despite the crappy nature of my run (I'm being figurative and literal there, people!), I finished.  Tomorrow will be a new day, and will hopefully be a better run for me.  And if not, perhaps these running "fuels" will be a weight loss aid for me.  LOL  Gotta look for the positives, right?

Stuff I've learned....and the training begins

It's been sort of a big week for me when it comes to running.  I finished c25k, I started my first week of half marathon training, AND I got some new stuff!  I LOVE new stuff!

So, let's start there!

I have kind of short hair and was having issues with hair in my face.  I tried the normal stretchy elastic type headbands, but they hurt my head and sort of made me feel like my brains were slowly being squeezed outward.  Not so good.  I'd heard lots of good things about bondibands and decided to give one a try.  Cory helped me to choose which one to get, and I already know I'll be ordering again because there are tons of them that I liked.  Wanna see the one I got?  Of course you do!

 

Isn't it awesome?  I think my next one is going to say "Suck it up, Buttercup!" 

 

I also got some amazingly cute new compression socks from Lunatik Athletiks.  I'll be honest, I was a bit peeved that I ended up paying $9.50 for shipping plus 13% tax since they had to come from Canada, but they are awesome so I'm over it. 

 

 

Obviously, that is an action shot...of me being lazy in my back yard.  I bought another running tank from Old Navy too, because they had a good sale for the 4th of July. 

 

As the title hinted, I've learned a few things when it comes to running.  I'm going to share them now, but I must warn that they are not exactly, um, pleasant things.  Let's just get right to it, shall we?

 

I know I've mentioned a few times that I have 5 kids.  Four of those, I've pushed out and one of them was a 10lb baby.  As most moms can tell you, sometimes as a result of pregnancy or pushing, or a combination of the two, hemorrhoids pop up.  What NO ONE told me is that running can make those little suckers pop up too!  I noticed this a few weeks ago, and was too mortified to share at first.  But hey, I'm posting pictures here of my fat inner tube shrinkage, so I figured I may as well go for full disclosure.  Thankfully, this is nothing that (so far) a little cream hasn't taken care of, but seriously, shouldn't there be a warning statement out there somewhere?  Like:

 

"Hey girls!  Have you had children?  Be warned that running can make those hemorrhoids that you thought were gone resurface!  Run at your own risk!" 

 

Or something along those lines...at least then people would know instead of being like me and wondering what the hell was causing all that!

 

Know what else I have to look forward to as a runner?  Toe nails that turn black and/or fall off.  Yup, learned that not too long ago as well.  Doesn't that sound super fun?  And yet, I keep on running.  I told you I am crazy.

 

And my last little tidbit of gross-ness for the day.  The trots.  You wanna take a guess where they got that name?  Yeah, apparently running can make your digestive system really, um, happy...so happy that you feel the need to trot right off to the bathroom.  Now, thankfully I have NOT experienced this little gem of wonderfulness yet, but I have this sense of total paranoia about it.  When I run, usually a few miles in, I've been getting strange rumblings in my tummy.  Thank god they have passed so far, but what the heck am I supposed to do if I've got to go and there is no potty?  Now you know the inner workings of my mind.  So far, I've figured out a few potential stops on my running routes (Meijer - yuck but tolerable, My sister's house - the best option, Port a Potty at the school - double yuck!). Let's all say a little prayers that I never have to use those options, okay?  Oh, before I move on let me share my husband's suggestion.  He says - "Just go in the woods."  Who the hell just drops their pants and craps in the woods?  Not I people, not I!

 

On to the training stuff!!!

This week was the first week of my half marathon training.  I'm following Hal Higdon's Novice 1 plan for Half Marathons, in case anyone cares to know.  It seems like a very do-able plan for me, and so far I like it.  It includes cross training and strength training in addition to the running, which has been fun so far. 

 

For my first day of cross training, I got this little beauty and my son and I did 4.3 miles together.

 

 

Then yesterday, my daughter, sister, and I kayaked about 2 miles for my other cross training day.  I think I'm going to like this cross training thing, because it is a great way to get my kids involved in my training and it is fun! 

 

Today was my first "long" run.  The plan will build me up to running 10 miles the weekend before my race.  This week's long run was 4 miles today.  My goal was to run the whole thing without walking, and I did it!  It was crazy humid and I sweated buckets, but I did it!  About 1/2 mile into the run, I was adjusting one of my earbuds and not really paying attention and stepped on a branch the wrong way, which caused me to roll my left ankle.  It hurt like a mother, and I know the old Jen would have given up immediately.  The new Jen, she is a freaking warrior or something.  I gimped along for a bit and it definitely slowed me down, but I ran through it.  Right now, it is a little achy so I may ice it later today, but I was so proud of myself for not quitting.  The long runs are a little intimidating to me, because most times I do one, it will be my new "farthest distance I've ever run."  I made it 4 miles today.  It took me like 55 minutes to do it, but given the 80% humidity and my asthma, I knew pretty much right away that I was running for distance today and not for time.  

 

I've had a few people who have sort of insinuated that I'm crazy for trying a half marathon less than 5 months after I started running.  You know what, I don't even care!  I'm crazy, but I'm going to do this thing.

 

 

 

 

Its the end...and the beginning

"Something has changed within me, something is not the same...."

-Elphaba, Wicked

 

 

I'm kind of a theater junkie, so it is no surprise to me that these words have been floating around in my head the past few days.  For me, truer words could not be spoken right now.

 

I've never been what one might call an "athletic" person.  My "sport" in High School was cheerleading.  I tried to run track in middle school, and they assigned me to the mile relay.  I had to run 1 lap around the track, 400 meters, and I distinctly remember the coaches ragging on me because I was too slow.  It made me feel like crap, and it made me feel like I was just not meant to be a runner.  I had asthma anyways, so that worked as a nice excuse to not run.  Even my husband, who has been in my life for the past 15 years had the balls to say that besides c25k, the only physical activity I've done is occasional skiing and swimming.  That pissed me off.  I coached middle school tennis and little kid soccer.  I've taken yoga classes and dance classes.  I've tried several exercise DVD's.  I just never found something that seemed worth sticking with.  I didn't find anything that got into my brain and invigorated me and made me want to keep going.  As unexpected and crazy as it is, running has done that for me. 

 

I finished my last run of c25k tonight.  I planned to do it this morning, but Cory had to work at 5:30am, and then it rained pretty much all day long.  For some reason though, I was determined to finish today.  I took my kids to rehearsal until 9pm, and called Cory on my way home to tell him to get my running stuff ready.  By 9:30, I was out the door.  It was misting and darkness was falling.  At first, Hallie and Leo followed me on their bikes.  Yeah, I know...what are a 10 and 8 year old going to do to keep me safe from the boogie man?  My theory was that there is safety in numbers.  But then it got darker so I sent them home and told them to have Cory load the littles in the van so they could all follow me while I finished...because I wanted them safe but I also didn't want any creepers coming to get me.  It was humid and sticky, and at some points the rain poured down on me, but I ran...and ran...and ran.  And I felt good.  I felt strong.  I felt powerful. 

  

When I started this Couch to 5k thing, I didn't know if I'd finish the first week, let alone the whole program.  After the first few weeks, I kept running mostly to prove people wrong...and somewhere in there, it changed to running because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.   And then, I started to secretly (and then not so secretly) enjoy running.  Don't get me wrong, I hated it too - especially on the days when I had really crappy runs that made me doubt myself over and over again.  But something made me want to prove that voice of doubt in my mind wrong, and it kept me coming back time and time again to run.

 

I am not the same person who started Couch to 5k nine weeks ago.  I'm like Jen 2.0 or something.  Somewhere in the middle of this journey, I became a runner.  For a long time, I had a hard time calling myself that, but now, I feel like I've sort of earned that label.  I have found a strength inside myself that I didn't know existed.  I found willpower that I've probably only tapped into previously when giving birth to my children.  I found the confidence to put myself out there and challenge myself to strive for even more than I ever knew I could do.  I found a Jen that isn't just a mom, wife, and teacher.  I found something that could be MINE, just for me.  Something that I can do and be proud of, and its ALL me.  When I run, it is me and the road ahead of me, and the possibilities are unlimited.  Anything is possible, if I let myself believe that I can do it.  I can guarantee you that I would not have typed something like this 9 weeks ago, but like Elphaba said, something has changed within me. 

 

Tonight, my Couch to 5k journey is over.  But I'm no where near finished.  This is the start of the rest of my life as a runner, and I have some big plans!  In 26 days, I'm going to finish my first 10k (6.2 miles).  I may not run the whole time, but I promise you, I'll finish it.  In 74 days, I'm going to finish my first half marathon (13.1 miles).  Again, I probably won't run the entire thing, but I darn sure will finish.  I've also got at least three 5k races coming up (8/10, 9/2, 10/5) and am on the lookout for more, and I'm hoping to meet my goal of running a 5k in under 40 minutes at one of those races.

 

Tonight, stuff starts to get serious.  I'm making the choice to GO BIG!  Going home, back to that old Jen, is not an option for me.  I feel like finishing c25k is the beginning of my journey as a runner.  I hope you'll stick around with me for the ride!

 

 

 

 

 



Almost there!

It has been a little anticlimactic, continuing to finish the c25k program even though I already did a race, but I committed to finishing and I'm finally almost there!  My last run for c25k should be tomorrow, and then my crazy self is starting a 5k to 10k plan.  Yup, I'm nuts, and I know things are only going to get harder from here on out, but I'm going to give it a go.

In the meantime, I decided that as much as I dislike sharing photos of myself, I need to do this today.  It's time to look for results.  I learned pretty quickly when I started c25k that this wasn't going to be some miracle "melt the pounds away" thing for me.  That kind of sucked.  I was sort of hoping that I'd start running and my ass would fall off or something.  No such luck.

So, I had to start looking for results in other areas.  When I started this thing, I could barely run for 60 seconds - 1 measly minute - without feeling like I was killing myself.  Today, I can run for like 40 times that and still feel pretty good! That is amazing to me! 

So for some physical results:  I've lost like 6lbs, not much at all in the grand scheme of things, but its a start.  My pant size dropped from a 16 to a 14, and now the 14's are getting loose...but still that isn't exactly a huge result.  I had Cory take some photos of me during week 1 of c25k, and then again yesterday in the middle of week 9.  I didn't expect to see much change, so I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw in the photos.

So, the photos on the left are week 1 and on the right are week 9.  Same outfit, same location.  The week 9 photos are after a run, so my face is red and my hair is a hot mess.  (Don't worry, I didn't run in that cotton shirt!

Pleasant surprise #1 - the "inner tube" around my waist has shrunk considerably!  I love that!

Pleasant surprise #2 - The side view is better as well.  I'll take it!

 

 

And pleasant surprise #3 - I think the back fat has been reduced a bit.  Less back fat is always good! I also think my thighs may be a little smaller, but it could have been the way I was standing.

 

I know I still have a lot of work to do, but seeing these pictures was a "Whoa!" moment for me.  I thought because I was not seeing big changes on the scale, that my body wasn't changing...but it was, and in a good way!  The proof is in the photos, my hard work is paying off.  Slowly but surely, I'll get there.  

 

What is scary crazy though, is that the changes inside are so huge compared to these outward changes.  I'm sure I'll get all emo when I write about the finish of my c25k tomorrow.  I have a lot to say, because going crazy creates a ton of stuff in your brain that you just need to get out.  So, be warned, it is coming tomorrow.  I just know it.