Body Transformation Challenge

I've been participating in a Biggest Loser type program at my gym (Gold's Gym) for 12 weeks now. It ended this weekend with final weigh in and measurements as well as photos. It has felt amazing to lose some weight and just overall, feel fantastic!! I feel stronger and more confident as well as excited that clothes I haven't worn in forever are now fitting! It was hard walking in there the first day and having someone take my picture and do my measurements, it made what I'd done to my body a true reality for me. Although it was difficult, it was the best thing I could have ever done! It made me aware and it made me not want to sit by and watch myself while I self distruct. Anyway, my final numbers show the work that I put in over the past 12 weeks because, I lost 13.5lbs, 8.3% body fat, 4 in off my hips & chest, 4.5 in off my waist, 2 in off my thigh, and 1 in off my arm! This is just the beginning, I still have a long way to go, but it has really educated me on how to take better care of myself. The best part about it is the change in my running! I 100% attribute my time differences to the change I've made to my body and the crazy workouts I've been doing at the gym. Thank you so much to everyone at Gold's Webster, this experience has changed my life!! :)

Boston Marathon

So, a dear friend of my husband and I ran the Boston Marathon today! She finished in 4hr 8min and said it was not too bad! Congratulations to her! Maybe someday.....right, who am I kidding! Anyway, it was exciting to track the events online and track her progress. My husband and I moved a little over a year ago to Rochester from the Boston area and we miss marathon monday!! Sitting in Newton watching the wheelchairs whiz by and then when the elite runners come through, wow, it is amazing! The make it look effortless! The barage of photographers, police cars, bikes, and helicopter crews is also pretty awesome. So, congratulations to Dawn and the other 25,000 runners who ran Boston today, Great Job!!

Bad Idea....

OK, so I decided I would run to the gym so I could get my run in and get my weights done. It's only 3 miles one way, so I strapped on my IPod and headed out. What I didn't think about was that it was noon, I had only had a bowl of cereal at 9am and I was running out of fuel! I jokingly told my husband if I wasn't back in about 2hrs to come looking for me. I got to the gym no problem, nice run, did my weights and abs, went tanning, and realized I was famished!! I was also bound and determined to continue the run home. I started out from the gym and was a bit slower this time, but I was trudging along in the 80 degree, sunday afternoon weather. All I could think about was what I would eat when I got home! So hungry and losing steam fast!! I get about a mile and a half into the way home and coming down the road I see my husband! It was like seeing water in a desert! I dragged myself into the car and he just looked at me, shook his head, and then said...Did you run out of steam?? Um....yeah, the fuel tank is past empty! I was determined to make it home, it just would have taken me a while, but really, I was thanking the heavens that he came looking for me! Aside from that, it wasn't a bad run!! I'm getting the hang of this!

YAY!!!

What a perfectly beautiful day for running! Although, halfway through, I felt like I was running in the dead of August! It was in the 70's and I felt great! I kept with the same group of runners for the entire 5K and I beat my best 5K time by almost 2 minutes! My best time last year was on this same course, so it is easy to compare how much I have improved. I finished in 33:34 and it felt great! Can't wait to get even better! My goal for this season is to get my 5K times into the 9 min per mile range. I think that would put me in good shape with my marathon training. Oh yeah, I also decided to join Team in Training for the Marine Corps Marthon in October! I'm super excited!!

Tomorrow!!

Is my first 5K since last season! I'm trying not to get myself too worked up, but I really want to beat last years time! I'm really competing against myself and I certainly won't give up my spot as a "back of the pack" runner, I just want to continue to improve. It was so frustrating last season when I just hit that plateau. Anyway, I feel as though I'm better prepared to hit the running scene this year and I'm very much looking forward to tomorrow! Oh yeah, it's going to be in the high 70's tomorrow! Happy Spring!!

Beautiful Running Weather....

Wow, finally the weather has broken and it is in the 50's/60's which translates to perfect running weather! I went for a nice 5mi run on sunday and felt great! Of course, armed with my new I-Pod that my husband bought me for my upcoming birthday and the new workout mix I burned from one of the trainers at the gym, how could I not have had a great run! In addition to the running, I've been doing a crazy weight/cardio program (Body Transformation Challenge) at my gym and it has really helped to enhance the running. I'm getting faster! Yay! I can't wait to do my first 5K of the season to see how much I have improved. It's coming up on April 19th, so I'm trying to gear up for that, but also not forget that I have a 1/2 marathon in June and have to keep my long runs in the schedule.

I was talking to one of my fellow challenge participants about running, during our training session last night, and it got me thinking about why I run....... Most people I talk to find it incredibly boring. That isn't my feeling at all. Running is extremely therapeutic, even with my music revving in my ears, I can think about what is going on in life, breathe in the fresh air, and just center and ground myself for whatever is coming at me in life. I guess the thinking part is what I really love. I don't know that people really spend time just thinking anymore. Running provides me an opportunity for pure thought and clarity. It is also a mental game for me. It is amazing to me how far my mind can push my body. When I feel like I've hit the wall, I can convince myself to run just a little bit farther and that seems to get me over the hump and running longer. It's amazing. Anway, that is my 2 cents for today........Can't wait for my 5K on the 19th!!