C25K Graduate!!!!

It's official...I have finished my last C25K (couch to 5K) run and am a graduate of the program!!!  I am excited to put my running ability to effect on Saturday at the Colder Boulder 5K!

A little bit about the program:
1. It's actually called Ease to 5K, but I like Couch to 5K better even though I didn't start from the couch!  When I started this program this last spring I was completely out of shape and I did start at the very beginning.  It worked great and eased you in slowly!
2. I looked forward to the walking intervals in the program each day, then on week 6 the program made you jump to a 20 minutes run...when I saw that I about had a heart attack, thinking "I can never run for 20 minutes straight".  I did it and I didn't give up!
3.  I wish that the program trained you in distance and not time.  Even though you can run 30 minutes at a time, if your pace isn't 10 minute/mile then you won't get 3.1 miles in those 30 minutes.  However, I just programmed the runs into the my RunKeeper app, and the last week I programed 3.25 miles and 3.5 miles instead of 30 minutes.
4.  I always programmed my runs into my RunKeeper app, even though the Ease to 5K app will alert you to run and walk.  I used RunKeeper because it not only gave my my distance, the time, and minutes/per mile, but it also gives you a calorie count.  It also interrupts your music every 5 minutes and updates you on the progress of your run! Picture of the app below!

5.  After finishing C25K yesterday I felt like I have accomplished something getting me excited to start Bridge to 10K soon!  Finishing something that you start gives you motivation that you can do it and to keep going!  

6.  While running I had to keep reminding myself that the time doesn't matter and just keep my legs moving.  When I would finish a run even though I struggled, it was an accomplishment.  I also got some motivation from Mama Laughlin.  She told her story, was vulnerable, and kept going!  When I get tired and her typed words on her blog enter into my head and I "just keep going!"

After Colder Boulder on Saturday I will start Bridge to 10K until January 21st, my first half marathon training day!  I downloaded the program last night, and I have to say I'm a little intimadated, but I am going to do it and accomplish another goal!  Here's to B210K!!!

After I saw my aunt had liked a motivational quote on Facebook from iDrinktoRun facebook page, I was hooked!  I liked the page and their first post everyday is something motivational!  I love the quotes, photos, and motivation that they post.  The other posts throughout the day are a little far fetched because they go from motivation to running to drink...but these first posts of the day give me what I need to dig a little deeper and lace up the sneaks, pull on the under armour cold gear, strap on my phone, set my RunKeeper...and pound the pavement!  I got this little piece of motivation from iDrinktoRun!

Thanksgiving 2012

Believe it or not, but I'm glad that Thanksgiving is in the books...I'm not trying to be a sour puss, but I get this way every year when it comes to the holidays because I know there is at least one if not two holidays that I will spend without my family at work...and Thanksgiving was that holiday this year.  I go into a depressed mood and usually end up crying as I am driving to work...I spared the tears this year, but I was still depressed that I was headed to work when my sister's were enjoying their in-laws, and my parents were with my dad's family in Kansas City...but it's over and now I can look forward to Christmas as we will all be together in KS.  

With that being said, I do have to say that I made my first turkey this year!  We took in a Thanksgiving potluck to work and I signed up to take the turkey.  All the employees got a turkey and a holiday ham from the hospital, so I decided I would make it and take it to the potluck.  And....drumroll please....it turned out great!!!  

My mom bought this electric knife like 3 or 4 years ago when my older sister's knife shot craps...well so she thought...she got Jera's knife to work and I inherited this brand new knife, never to be used...until this year!!  I opened the box and thought this knife was a fancy one!!!  

My first turkey...so good!!!  I didn't have anything to inject it with, so I made the broth to inject and just poured it in the inside of the turkey and cooked in upside down in the oven!  My apartment smelled AMAZING and the turkey was delish!

Friday afternoon, Mia and I loaded the car and headed to KS to see my sister, her husband, and her cute little baby bump!!!  It was a relaxing weekend in rural KS!  Friday night was spent in downtown Oakley at the light parade, making smores, and watching the city fireworks that weren't about to be set off during 4th of July!  

Saturday I got up and went for a run, Tori, Darren, and I had Don's Drive-In for lunch....soooo good!!! We went to church and then Tori and I headed to Colby and ate at the mexican restaurant and went to the new Twilight movie....and I have to say that it was pretty good, but it's hard to believe that series of movies is over!!  Now on to the next Hunger Games movies!!!!

Here are the pups in front of Tori's Christmas tree...I'm was shocked that we got them to stop playing for a few snapshots of their cuteness!

CONFESSION TIME:

So, I haven't logged my calories in at least 3 days and I have only ran one day since Wednesday...and well the scale showed my lack of motivation!  I knew that I wasn't going to run Thursday because I needed to carve the turkey that I made for work and pack for the weekend back in Oakley...and i knew Friday wasn't going to happen either because I needed to get a quick nap in after work and then drive to Oakley not getting there before dark.  Saturday, I ran 3.25 miles...and well Sunday, I was tired and my back was killing me...so it didn't happen!  

And well, I didn't eat the greatest either!  So, it's back to the calorie counting and running!!! With that being said...I have a race on Saturday and I need to light that fire under my arse...so I'm off to run in 30 degree weather!  

Today's Motivation!

C25K: W8D1

I got a phone call at 0dark:30 {ok it was 0845} this morning from a fellow nurse...and a dayshift nurse at that...I answered that phone call with a groggy, you just woke me up voice and I got this happy-go-lucky voice on the other end that I wanted to punch...what did she want??  She wanted me to meet her at Sloan Lake in 15 minutes to go running...I had a list of questions that went something like this...

"What time of the morning is it?"

"Are you serious?"

"How do I get there?"

"Like, right now?"

With every question I had, she had an answer and a good one!  So, what happened...I peeled myself off my bed, got dressed, made a cup of coffee, took Mia out to potty, and was then headed to Sloan Lake to complete my daily run!  

I would have to say that I am so glad Rosa called me this morning to go for that run because it felt so good and for once today while I was pounding out my steps on that pavement I thought to myself..."I'm so glad that I made this commitment."  Truthfully, I can't wait to get up tomorrow morning and do my W8D2 (Week 8 Day 2) run at Washington Park!  

After the fabulous morning run we had brunch then headed to Sports Authority for some much needed Under Armour cold gear.  Right now the weather is fantastic, but give it a week or so and it'll be the freezing CO weather that we are used too....I have made a vow to run outside as long as the temperature stays above 30 degrees...any lower and you will find me the gym at my apartment complex!!!  

I purchased this top....

...and these pants!  I can't wait to wear them tomorrow!!!

As I read one blog, I find another blog about weight loss, running, half marathon training...which most of the time I become addicted and then follow them to see how they can continue to inspire me to become healthy and become a runner, but one thing that I haven't had the balls to do yet is share my weight with the world...I don't know that I will ever be able to do that...and for right now I'm ok with that!  I have been staying on a 1200-1500 calories/day diet and doing my running/cycling 5 days/week...and in the last 2 weeks I have lost 7.6 lbs...and I am more than happy with that.  When I started C25K at week 4 I wasn't counting calories...just running thinking that starting one thing at time it plenty...but then it happened...I was running outside in the opposite direction of the sun and I about had a heart attack with the way my shadow looked as I was running...the thighs, hips, and arse...well they jiggled and jiggled a little too much for my liking....I kept thinking..."I wonder what people that are running or cycling behind me think."  So, I started the calorie counting...and I have seen progress on the scale, but not yet in my clothes, body, etc.  As the scale goes down...all I can say MOTIVATION!!!!!  It's an amazing feeling to have that scale drop 4.0 lbs in one week and 3.6 lbs. the next week (I have only weighed myself 2 weeks in a row).  So, with that being said...I still eat what I want but in moderation and I count every calorie that enters my mouth!  Maybe, someday I will be ok with letting the world know my weight...but right now it's between me and that little bathroom scale that has made me happy the last 2 weeks for the first time in a long time!

C25K

The past 4 weeks I have been doing the C25K program (couch to 5K), and I have to say that I am in LOVE!!! (I started at week 4 because I did so much cycling this summer that I felt I was in a little better shape then to only run for 30 seconds at a time). I started this program in April or so to prepare for the 5K race that I ran in Oakley the beginning of June, but I never finished it...and I started from the beginning, but I as I worked my way up I got frustrated that it was only having me run minutes and not distance.  All I was thinking back in May when I stopped doing the program was, "Just because I can run for 30 minutes without stopping, does not mean that I can run 3.1 miles"...so I started doing distance running and not minutes!  I made it through my 5K just fine and even finished with a faster time then I ever dreamt possible.  Then I came back to CO and bought a road bike, which took the place of my running because I loved it so much (there's something to be said about the adrenaline rush you get going 30+ mph on a bike down a mountain with the wind blowing in your face).  So after my first 5K ever, I never really ran again until about 4 weeks ago.  Which brings me to what happened about 4-5 weeks ago...
In January, I got a phone call from one of my greatest friends from college asking me if I would be interested in running the Kansas City Half Marathon...and at the time I was like sure...that's 8 months away and there is no reason that I couldn't run 13.1 miles by October...well, Oct. 20th has come and gone and I didn't run the 13.1 miles that I told my friend that I would...did she?  Of course she did, with another friend of mine. I am so proud of them, but when I read my friend Mel's blog about their race (you can read it HERE!!!!), I cried....I cried because I know how hard these girls worked to run this race and I was so happy for them, and I cried because I was supposed to run this race and I don't think that I have felt the feeling of disappointment in myself worse than I felt that day reading Mel's blog.  I was so disappointed because I was supposed to be there running that race, and I didn't...there are many excuses I can come with for reasons as to why I didn't run this race, but the bottom line is...I didn't stick to my training, I rode my bike more (I actually rode around 700 miles this summer), I didn't push myself, I didn't make time for it, and I just didn't do it.  I remember one day begging Mel and Lexie for some motivation...and my girl's pulled through and gave me different quotes for motivation, a blog entry to read that kept Mel. motivated...etc!  In fact I still have my 13.1 sign hanging on my mirror in the bathroom that Lexie made me, and now it haunts me!  (I will have one of them on my car in April)

So, Mel. and Lexie are working toward their 2nd half marathon in April...and I WILL BE RUNNING IT WITH THEM!!!  I am not backing out of it this time...and I am training in the winter so that I can't push my running off because I want to ride my bike (I really do love my bike).

My motivation???
When I was begging for motivation that I didn't take seriously, Mel. sent me a link to a blog that you can access HERE, I did read the post that she sent me and that was it.  I never went back, and I thought oh geez, that b*tch is already running 10 miles and I can barely run 4 miles...I was not very motivated and I didn't go back on her blog to read about her journey nor did I care.  A couple weeks ago, I remembered that blog post, and well tonight I finished reading Mama Laughlin's entire blog, and I'm telling you this girl has wit, humor, motivation, and inspiration!  I couldn't stop reading it when I saw her pictures comparing her at the 200 lbs. that she used to be to the 140 lbs. she currently is!  Needless to say, I have become a groupie and follow her blog now.  My motivation starts with her story and how she lost weight, became a runner, and now inspires a ton of people to start moving!!!  Mama Laughlin ran her 2nd half marathon this weekend and I can't wait until she blogs about it!

So, in 2 weeks I will be a C25K graduate and will be running the ColderBolder...yes, that is a 5K on Dec. 1st...I know, I know...it's gonna be freezing, but I can't wait...of course, I am looking forward to the beer and Chick-fil-A I get at the finish line!!!



So April 13, 2013....

I WILL OWN YOU!!!!

Twenty Nine

Here I am, in the second day of my last year in the twenties!  How did that happen?  Where has the time gone?  It seems like just yesterday that I was graduating high school, in fact I got a text yesterday on my birthday from my best friend from high school saying that it's hard to believe we are almost out of our twenties!
Yesterday was a great great day to start my 29th year of life...I slept in, sat on the couch and drank my coffee while Mia snored in my lap, caught up on some of my DVR'd shows (I'm so far behind), and then after much self-motivation I laced up my sneaks and went for a run!  I spent the afternoon at the spa with a great friend getting a massage, mani, and pedi...I needed that massage sooooo bad and it was wonderful! We met some more friends out for sushi and I got to take a bath in white wine when the beloved Rosa hit her wine glass and it went all over my face, that stuff seriously dripped off my chin...all I can say is that thanks be to the Lord that it was white wine and not red like the rest of us were drinking! After dinner we went to a wine bar and just had girl chit chat until we closed the place down!  I can still remember the birthdays when I had to go to the clubs and dance until me heart was content, but I can't tell you how much more I appreciate a nice relaxing evening with a bottle (or 3) of wine with great friends!
This weekend is one full of relaxation, DVR, and running!  I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to relax and fly by the seat of my pants for a couple days!  The last two weeks have been completely packed with things to do and I haven't had a free night to relax until last night!  Well, I'm off to take Mia on a walk to the mailbox so that I can get all my birthday cards, I was given instructions from my little sister to wait until today to get my mail so that her card would be on time!!!