Las Vegas 5k?

We are going to Vegas in May for my 30th birthday. I just found out that there is a 5k during the time we will be there. It goes right down the strip, and so obviously it is nice and flat. I think the total elevation change is like, 4 feet.

Should we do it?? On one hand, how cool could that be?! On the other...do I really want to get up early one day to go for a run, while I'm on (a short) vacation? Am I just being whiny? Should I STFU and do it?

I am torn. Hello, first world problem.

Reflections

You know what is great about signing up for races? The motivation. Sure, there are all sorts of other amazing things that come after the fact...the sense of pride and accomplishment at finishing and even more so if you beat a goal you set for yourself. The emotions at the end of the race. The awesome crowd support. The free stuff.

But one of the best things about it for me, is the motivation. Once I sign up for something, that is IT. I am in. I cannot back out. I would be failing myself, everyone close to me who I have told, and my wallet (can you say WASTE of a registration fee?!) Because of all these factors, I am pretty much forced to train, whether I want to or not. Whether I am having a bad day or not. It's just not much of an option any more. It becomes more of an appointment I have with myself for training days.

Another of the best things about this whole racing thing? Being able to say, I can do a 5k. I can do a 7k. I WILL do a half marathon. This is especially amazing for me, considering my background. I know I have talked about it before...but it really is a huge deal. I grew up overweight. I don't think I was ever "obese" in school, but I was definitely overweight and I definitely avoided physical fitness. I was just not into taking part in the intensely competitive nature of most of my school sports. I liked watching them and supporting them, sure. But to be directly involved? HA! I hated gym class as it was. If we were playing basketball for example, and I missed a shot or didn't catch the ball when thrown to me, there were people who acted like I was the dumbest person on earth and that it was some earth shattering event. Seriously - I distinctly remember being treated as though making a mistake in a gym class game of basketball or softball was equivalent to robbing a little old lady. This in turn made me nervous, which made me hate it. And made me not want to even try. Hence why I skipped out on gym class so much in 8th grade that I failed it and had to repeat it.

And now. All these years later here I am. The overweight girl who was not involved in any sports to speak of, and who hated gym and once even failed out because she skipped so much. And I am becoming fit, and healthy, and I enjoy working out. I have done two 5'ks and a 7k. I am signed up for another 5k in July and a half marathon in June, plus keeping a 5k in May in mind as a possibility. Who would have EVER thought this would be me? Sometimes I wonder, people who knew me way back then - what kind of reactions do they or will they have when they find out that I am a runner? I would be willing to bet SHOCK is one of them...I still have some shock myself.

Shock or not, I am happy and excited to keep going on this journey to good health and fitness. A journey to a healthy body and an active lifestyle. A journey to being a good role model for my children, so that they don't end up struggling like I did!!

A roll

I lost another 1.2 lbs and am now at 174.8
Who pulled my weight loss plug, I'd like to thank them!

Milestone

As I had a feeling I would, I hit my 50 lb mark. Actually, I kind of skipped the 50 lb mark and skipped right on to 51 lbs in stead!! Holy shit.

And this is after a weekend!! I am SO proud of making it on a Monday because weekends are always a struggle, particularly weekends where we travel (which we did this weekend). So yeah, I am pretty much thrilled. Holy shit am I thrilled!

I had a comment on my last entry regarding the "before" work badge pic I posted. They said they had no idea my face looked like that before and that they didn't mean that in a bad way.
But it's funny...honestly, I don't think I had any idea either! Once again...Holy shit! What a difference!

A little update on my current stats:
Weight: 176
BMI: 28.26 (roughly - I forgot now what it was exactly on the Wii Fit but it is close to that).

At this point, I want to see how I look and feel after another 26 lbs lost (150 lbs). I am 5'6" and my apparent preferred range is 120-160 so that would put me in the upper-middle. I might decide to go for another 10 lbs at that point, but then I can't see myself wanting to be any less than 140. That would be right in the middle of the range. I guess I will have to wait and see...I've never weighed 150 in my adult life so...who knows.

So wow. Holy shit! And um, sorry about all the swearing. I am just so dang excited!!!

"Success doesn't go to you - you go to it".
- Marva Collins

Get Lucky 7k, weekend will power, and pics!

This weekend I participated in a "Get Lucky" 7k on St. Patty's day. Turns out it is the largest timed 7k in the world, and the largest timed road race in Minnesota! It was SO fun. My goal was to be under 50 minutes, but I unfortunately did not make that. There were some large hills that helped to mess with my time and I came in at 52:26. I am not super thrilled about it, but I am okay with it, if that makes sense. In any case, it was super fun and I am glad I did it for SURE! Every time I finish a race, I fight back tears because it feels so good!

I am also proud to say that I stayed on track with my eating this weekend! I did indulge in a glass of wine, and a delicious bagel from Panera, so it's not like I ate perfectly, but I kept within my calorie budget and made mostly good decisions...such as turning down a cupcake, or turning down 5 Guys burger and fries. It smelled great but when I looked and saw that one small burger is almost 500 calories, and the fries just as bad, I couldn't do it! I am at 48 lbs lost - so close to 50. I decided that it wasn't worth it. I had some seasoned (not fried or breaded) shrimp instead and saved myself hundreds of calories.

After a weekend of eating decently, increased regular daily activity (compared to sitting at a desk all day on week days) and running a 4.35 mile race, I am hoping that my weigh in tomorrow is a positive one. Okay, I don't just hope it's positive, I hope I hit 50 lbs. I will of course post it here if I do. Fingers crossed. I do feel positive about it, but the Wii Fit scale will be the judge :-)

I leave you with some pics...

First is the picture from my work badge, taken in April 2009. It is blurry since its a cell phone pic of my badge, but you get the picture. Next to it, a picture of me from a few weeks ago.



Next, is my husband (he has lost 90 lbs!) and me before our 7k:


Here is me after the 7k:



Here is my medal!

Cheers to the freakin weekend!

What a week it has been. My husband was out of town for work, I started training for a new job, and I still had kids and working out and a class in Grad School to juggle. I did it though - YAY!

Now I am so glad Friday is here, and apparently Friday is glad to see me, too. I weighed in this morning thinking I may have fluctuated up a little, because I got a really good workout (run) in last night and sometimes I see myself gain a little right after that. Not "real" weight, but like my body holding on to water weight or something.

Low and behold...I LOST. I lost TWO POUNDS!!!! I haven't seen a loss like this in one week since..last summer probably! It feels SO great to be back on track. I did have a really good week, diet wise, and I have also been doing work weights lately along with a bit more variety in work outs. For example, Wednesday night I did 30 day shred (and I put my all into it). So it looks like, for once, my hard work paid off. It's about damn time.

This brings my total to 48....obviously I am super exited to get to the big FIVE OH.
I am also now about 7 lbs away from what I was when I got married. WOOP!

Progress

I weighed myself this morning and am exactly what I was when I last posted...29.09 BMI... 181 lbs...46 total lost. Which is fine. I had a bad weekend and I have been sick so I missed a run as well. I am just glad I didn't gain! But last night I got back on track with my runs and yesterday I got back on track with my diet, and I hope for this week to be the one I break into the 28's. More to come....

OH EM GEE

I lost a pound!! This brings the total to 46. After all of this freaking time (since September, really), I am finally on a downward trend instead of steady steady. (Okay, I won't lie...more like gain, lose, gain, lose, gain lose...the same 5ish lbs over and over again. And at the end there, after the holidays finished...I found myself 10 lbs up. Seriously. Ugh.

But I have made it through! Holy crap! I feel like I've been waiting forever for this. Even though it has only been 6 months I guess.

My BMI this weigh-in was 29.09...just a tiny bit more and I will get to the 28's.

Awesome!