Sprint Thanksgiving Day 5k

Who would have ever thought I (along with my sisters and nephew) would get up on Thanksgiving morning and run 3 miles.  This time last year that was only in my wildest running dream. This year it happened making this my 6th race this year!

Of course I could focus on the negative.  I'm think I've gained about 5lbs, I haven't went out for a training session in weeks. But I won't.  I am still doing better this year than I was last year. So take that negative voice in my head!

I will admit, I was not enthused about this one.

My sister and I spent the night at my parents house so that we could help my mom cook. (FAIL) So not only did we eat TONS of snacks we probably didn't go to bed until close to 2am. 

The race started at 9am and we made it probably about 20 mins before then. Besides the Race for the Cure this was the biggest race I had ever done. Lots of people and the enthusiasm was high which always helps!

Because of the crowd we probably didn't cross the starting line until about 10mins after the gun.  Good thing we opted to pay the extra $2 for the chip. 

As crazy as this is, when we were just passing the starting line there were people making the loop back on their way to finish! Amazing speed!  I think the first person finished in less than 15 mins!

It's always fun to see those people racing back and clapping for them as they dust me. LOL. As competitive as I am, I KNOW my desire is not to win, but to complete and beat my own time.

The crowd remained heavy for about a 1/2 mile. So I'm thinking my time definitely could have been faster if we were able to maneuver through the beginning better.

The first mile came very quickly.  I never look at the route beforehand so I'm usually clueless on where the markers should be or where the heck I'm running. I was surprised that after a few hills and inclines the 2nd mile came very quick as well.  I wasn't tired at all and was ready to push myself to run a little faster to finish the last mile. 

About a quarter in to mile 3 my side started hurting and I had a weird pain in my foot. UGH. Never has happened before.  I told my sister to go ahead a make her time because I was slowing up a bit.  But both pains quickly passed and I was back in there.

My sister usually runs a quicker pace than I do so I begged her to go ahead if she felt like speeding up but she kept saying she was ok actually. So maybe my pace improved to where she runs! 

The last quarter mile seemed long as heck, but maybe it was because we were running faster or that I had mentally checked out since I knew the finish line was near. I wasn't tired at all though.

We finished together at 36:16 and I as I crossed the finish I was thinking "that wasn't bad at all, in fact I almost want to say it was EASY"!

We met up with my nephew (who finished about 5 mins before us) and waited on my other sister to finish (only a few mins after us)

The last two races I got VERY sick to my stomach, but I was ok after this one. I passed on the after race snacks this time and drank a juice. Maybe that is what I need to do going forward.

All in all, it was a very good race and a great way to start the holiday. 

Buck O'Neil Race - 2.2 Miles

I will admit, I was a bit cocky with this race. "2 miles, PSSHHHHH, no problem. I got this"

I haven't run in 2 weeks and it was freakin cold outside. Wait. No one told me this was a hilly course. Hill. After hill. After hill.

I was tired after this one and will never disrespect another run.  This was my nephew's first race (he's 11) and I just KNEW we would be waiting on him. HAHAHA. Yeah right. That sucker finished in 19 mins and was sitting at the finish line drinking orange juice waiting on his mom and I to finish.

My pace started too fast. The first block or two was all hill and I tried to keep up with the crowd (and my sister and nephew) I was able to, but had to catch my breath going down. That is when they passed me and at that point I could never catch up with them.I completely lost my nephew, but my sister wasn't too far ahead so I could see her the entire race.

Of course I didn't look at the race map so I assumed we were making a loop.  Had I known the finish line was coming up quicker than I thought, I probably could have picked up my pace more at the end. I was preparing for another hill, but there wasn't another one.

Anywho. Results. 22:41. (10.19 mile) Fastest miles yet. I'm shocked by this because I swear I felt like I was running super slow.  But I wanted a good pace. Come on. 2 miles. I definitely wanted to have a PR and I did. YAY.

Next race? THANKSGIVING! I need to hurry up and register. AND force myself to get out there and train. SAD. I know. Slacking.

Progres Pictues & the Return of the Red Dress!

Since I've gotten  rid of my scale, I've taken a lot of pictures of myself and they have been very helpful.  It feels good to take pictures and be ok with them.   I wish I would've taken more pictures when I was heavier for comparisons. I guess I probably did, but instantly hated and deleted them.

For anyone starting take LOTS of pictures. Take them of every single part of your body at every single angle. Those times (like now for me) when the scale doesn't move fast, you'll be happy you did it.

This blog is picture heavy! Let's start with the red dress pictures! I bought this dress in 2010 for a cruise. Size 16 from Target.




April, 2010- 215 lbs - I guess I was just happy it fit!



July 2011 - 200 lbs

August 2011 - 195 lbs Now it's looking wearable! 



Nov 2011 - 185lbs Too big (check out the stomach area)! Needs to be altered and it looks longer!



It's amazing the big changes in the way the dress fits, with very little scale movement behind it! Oh and check out those arms! Guess the "real" push-ups are paying off!

Now on to my new progress pictures. I'm so loving this. Yes, I need to tone (see tummy pixs) but shooooot not bad at all. Wow what a crazy journey (that never ends) Thankful to God for seeing me through this far!  Here it is folks!



yeah buddy!



And this last picture is to show the work I still need to do. TONE TONE TONE. Nope this isn't excess skin. This is fat that needs to GO!

 I put my \hand on my belly so you can see what I'm talking about.



I'm feeling good about where I'm at. Oh trust me, that doesn't mean I'm done. You are NEVER done. My focus is no longer big drops on the scale. I want to SEE changes in my body.  On to the next I suppose......

TGIF