Fluff

I started this blog years ago as I began my weight loss journey. I’m still amazed to look back and read the early entries...it reminds me of where I started and how far I’ve come...even if I have had peaks and valleys along the way. (That’s life). The “Fluff” was originally referring to weight. Extra fat that was keeping me from feeling like I could be a good role model for my daughters. Keeping me from being able to keep up with them. Keeping me from being able to feel comfortable in my own skin. Keeping me from wanting to be in pictures. Keeping me from wanting to
go clothes shopping.

I won that battle (the war is ongoing). But over time, I’ve realizef the “Fluff” is more than than all that aforementioned stuff.

It’s being focused on what will keep me healthy, so I can be my best for my family. So I can be present. So I can have more patience and better responses for the very trying situations my pre-teen girls are running into. It goes so much deeper than I imagined 7 years ago when I started...I was a mom of very small little girls and I just had no idea what was coming. I probably have no idea what is coming yet 😂

But I do know that eliminating as much fluff as possible means working on both physical AND mental barriers to being the very best mom I can be. Not perfect. Nobody is. But the best I can be, for my kids, where they are at.

It’s a struggle, but it will be made all that much easier if I keep battling the battles. The war? I’m not convinced that’s coming. Life is an endless series of battles...and weight loss, getting healthy and strong...that’s no exception for people like me who have to work their asses off in this particular area of life. Not that strong and healthy people don’t work hard...but some will gain nothing by looking at a piece of bread, some will gain 5 lbs when they look at that same piece of bread 😂 I also get that everyone has their own struggles and there are folks who want or need to gain weight.

My point is...do your best, for all of the right reasons. Exercising makes me feel proud, accomplished, and hopeful that my kids will see this and also want to be as strong and healthy as adults. That they’ll look back someday and remember mom and dad in he back yard playing soccer with them on a September Saturday evening (like tonight). Do YOUR best, with YOUR circumstances, for YOUR perfect reasons.

Keep on Keepin’ on

This week was a success! The scale finally started moving and once again I stuck to my training plan.
I was running naked last week (see previous post), but this week I’ve been back with my beloved Fitbit. However, I haven’t paid much attention to pace during my runs. Good thing too because I accidentally had it set to not use my phone GPS at first, and it was giving me slightly better feedback than I deserved 😂

That’s okay though. It feels great to be active again. I’m sleeping better, have more patience (usually...) and I’m feeling positive about the next couple of months training for my fall half marathon.

This weekend, I’m doing 6 miles with my friend Pamela (AKA Ely Half Marathon sidekick/bad-ass).
And I’m looking forward to it! I feel strong and motivated. Not that it means I won’t struggle... I KNOW I will, at times. But it’s all part of the journey. Running a race is awesome. The excitement, nervousness...and feeling of accomplishment when you cross the finish line. But really, it’s not the race itself that is the biggest deal. It’s all of the time, energy and sweat you spend in the weeks or months leading up to it. Whether it’s a former gym class failures first 5k (AKA me, circa 2011), or a half marathon, marathon and beyond...The biggest thing that makes you a bad-ass is that you invested and worked hard to prepare for just one day. For a matter of an hour or less, or even 5 hours. You spent WAY more time preparing...and it pays off.

The last two years, I ran this same half marathon. In 2016, I sort of crash-trained but I was coming off a marathon in June so I had some cushion left. In 2017? Crash trained, all the way. A few weeks, a few long runs and a few short runs. This year? I’m investing the time amd energy to be truly prepared. I haven’t done that since the marathon in 2016. And I’m ready. #imback

Running Naked

Running naked feels weird and unnatural. Why is that?  It’s not like we were born with a GPS attached to us, and it’s not like you NEED to track everything in order for it to count.....

...that’s right, the naked I’m referring to is being without a GPS watch or some sort of fitness tracker.

A couple of weeks ago, I misplaced (lost) my Fitbit Charger. Looked everywhere for it, and came up empty handed. And so, since I’ve started running again, I’ve been doing it NAKED! *Cue horrified face*.  It was not easy at first...I’m totally a tracker. I’m damn near obsessive about having each run tracked so I can see how I did and see the increase (or decrease) in pace or distance over time. I do tend to Che k it often during my runs, to see how my pace is and help push myself to go a little faster, or remind myself to slow down. Running without my Fitbit felt like a had a giant question mark when it came to my progress the last couple of weeks. I did use my Iphone’s Health App to at least track daily steps, which is cool, but just not the same. However, I will say, I got used to it. And even liked it. It started to feel good to run without having any kind of device to refer to. To just go, and go at whatever pace my body naturally fell into. No temptation to analyze (over analyze) time, pace, distance...I just went. Didn’t know my pace at any given time, never knew what my final exact mileage or overall pace was.

Yesterday, my husband found my charger (of course, since 2 more are on the way from Amazon). And it felt good to have it back when I went out this morning. I’m excited to track my progress as I get further into training for the Ely Half. But, I’m goung to keep in mind that sometimes, a naked run is freeing. Sometimes, you just need to run NAKED.

Ely, Year 3...Here I Come!

Total.Fail.

I’m a blogging disgrace...distracted by life so much so that I haven’t updated in months.  Obviously..In the grand scheme of things...my casual, non-money making blog isn’t really such a big deal. But it WAS one of the keys to my success back in 2011 when I started my journey. So hopefully I can get back into the habit of updating, because I could really use as much motivation as I can get

Over the last several years, A LOT has changed. A LOT has happened...as the case is for any human on the planet.

So.... how am I doing? I’m doing alright. I have not maintained the absolute low weight I was at, not have I maintained the mileage I could once do or the speed I once had.  But I’m stronger now, thanks to Orange Theory. I still do that. Also thanks to Orange Theory, I CAN go months without running outside and then pick back up pretty easily. That’s nice, and definitely wouldn’t be possible without OTF. Weight-wise, I’ve been fairly steady over the last year. I really do want to get back down a little, but it’s not my number one goal right now. (Yes it would be a bonus and I’d be damn thrilled if I lost a few, DUH).

My goal right now is to 1.) Finish the Ely half marathon this fall and 2.) Finish it faster than I have the last 2 years.

We shall see about number 2, but I am confident number 1 will be in the bag 🙃
Last week, I started getting up early to run or walk during the week. This week, I’m beginning my “plan” (which is essentially 3-4 miles, twice a week, plus a long run on the weekends. And continuing with OTF which is great for speed work, cross training, and adding variety).

So far so good.

The challenges of the Holidays

Christmas is only a couple weeks away, so we're in full swing of the Holiday craziness. Parties, shopping....treats everywhere. It's been a challenging year for me as far as getting back on track but the last few months and especially the last few weeks I've done a good job of balancing it all. In fact, for the first time ever, I've actually lost weight in November/December! Probably about 10 lbs so far. My goal is 10 more...my "reach" goal would be more like 20 more, but that will be hard knowing where my body's happy weight is.  Either way, I'll keep doing what I'm doing which is running and Orange Theory, along with allowing a couple of splurges sometimes but making sure to choose healthy the rest of the time. It's hard...treats are everywhere...at work, at parties, at everyone's houses. Fitting in the workouts is hard too, with crazy schedules. One motivator for me right now is a weight challenge at OTF. $5 buy in, and then an entry for each workout. As long as you stay within 2 lbs of your weight (or less) and you're in the drawing to win half the money (so 2 names will be drawn). The pot is something like $1180. The chance to win $590 is a great motivator 😜
With that I leave you with some pics of what I've been up to. It's been awhile since I posted any pics.


About to finish the Boundary Water Bank Marathon (Ely, MN)  in September.


Start of the Monster Dash in St. Paul.

Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot with MRTT. I'm on the far right, bottom row. 

Turkey Trot was followed by Mimosas and coffee/Rumchata (I'm on the far right)

Group pic after one hardcore 90 minute Orange Theory session (I am 3rd from left, bottom row. My beast of a husband is far right, bottom row). 

Enjoying a fire at a Tree Farm where we cut down our Christmas tree this year....and trying to get the kids to let us take a decent pic. (HA).

Epic socks I bought last night while out for a night of sushi and shopping with my awesome friend Katie.

Return to Running!

The last year or so has been a pretty challenging one, personally (who doesn't have those bad weeks/months/years), so I mostly stopped running. I can't recall if I've talked about the whole not-running thing, but it was mostly due to a lack of motivation/enthusiasm/time.  It was weird because I WANTED to run, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.  I had other priorities and no motivation to add running into the balance. 

Fast forward to August, and I finally decided to give it a go again.  I had run maybe once or twice a month for most of the last year, so I knew it would be a challenge.  Although, I was much better off than I would have been if I hadn't been doing Orange Theory the last several months.  Thank God for Orange Theory (yep, still going, still loving it). 

As a motivational piece to running again, I signed up for the Boundary Waters Bank Half Marathon (AKA Ely Half Marathon) again.  This was the last race I ran...a year ago.  It's an extremely hilly race and I decided to "crash train" for it. Again.  I crash trained last year too, but I feel like that was a bit different because at least I was coming off a full marathon in June and had still been maintaining at least some short runs.  This time around the only thing I was coming off of was a year's worth of logging almost no miles.  My first training run was 6 miles, and the rest of training consisted of Orange Theory twice a week, a few 3-4 mile runs sprinkled in here and there, and long runs of 7, 9, 10, and 7 miles. That was it, that was my training plan. I don't recommend it for a new runner, that is for sure.  I think there is something to "muscle memory" at least, and I also had a mindset where I knew I was fine with walk breaks, etc. Over time I worked out a system where I'd run 5-10 minutes and take a walk break NO MORE than 1 minute long. That seemed to go really well!

So this past weekend, we did it. My friend Pamela and I (and our families for added fun and support), headed up to Ely to tackle this beast once again.  We stayed in the same cabin we stayed in last year and it was a super fun weekend. The race itself was about as expected given my year off, lack of training, and the tough course.  I ran with some short walk breaks here and there, and finished in around 2:31.  But that's okay and it was definitely one of the only times in any race where I truly didn't care. It sure did feel good to be back though!  Now that I am trained up (well, somewhat), I decided "What the hell" and signed up for the Monster Dash Half Marathon on October 28th.

It felt crappy to fall off the wagon so long, but it feels amazing to be back on.

Progress!

Like many moms (and dads), my life is crazy busy....filled with busy days at work, kids activities, trying to keep a livable house, and doing never-ending loads of laundry. Lately it has been particularly crazy, with 2 kids in softball and husband coaching both their teams (bless his heart).
Although I still haven't been running, I have been sticking with Orange Theory. It's hard to carve out the time but I've figured it out and I love it! I am motivated to push hard, more so than if I were on my own. For the first month, I felt great but didn't see any results on the scale. I definitely know I've gained muscle, so that explains the delayed weight loss (along with "a few" not-so-healthy food choices "on occasion"). But I weighed in this morning and am now at a 4 lb loss. Finally! Feeling AND seeing results is the best motivator of all.  I'm taking the approach I took with my initial 90-lb loss, which was to break it up into smaller goals. My next goal is 4 more pounds. I can do this!!

It's really funny how wanting to lose 15 lbs has been feeling almost as overwhelming as it felt wanting to lose 77 (which was what I wanted to lose when I started the blog...I just ended up surpassing that). I know it's not the same...trust me, I know. But weight loss it hard, any way you slice it. Whether it's 5, 20, or 100 pounds. Your journey is YOURS. Your journey can change. And when you're like me, your journey may never really end. I'm not someone who can eat whatever and not gain a pound. It took a lot to lose 90 lbs, and it's taking a lot to maintain. But one thing I know better now than I did when I started this blog is just how worth it it is.  It's worth it, not only for my own sake but my family, too.

Never give up!

Keep on Keepin' on

I'm still going to OTF 2x a week. One thing I love about it (aside from the friendly awesome staff & trainers, variety of workouts, splat points, live stats up on big screens, motivating music and going with friends) is that you have to commit to your classes by signing up for the days/times you want. There is a cap on amount of people, so the earlier you sign up the better to ensure your spot...but you can still signup more last-minute, if a class isn't full. But anyways, when I first started my membership, I scheduled my classes for quite a ways out. Tuesday nights and Sunday mornings.
Haven't missed one yet! This is a miracle considering how busy we are right now, between softball x2, dance x2, Girl Scouts x2, and gymnastics. This time of year is crazy because the school-year activities are not quite over but some simmer activities already started. This results in a month of overlap where we sometimes juggle/choose between 3 different activities in one night. It's insanity - and it leaves little time for me to do my own stuff. But with OTF, I committed to certain days/times and it's on my calendar. I have to do it. Whereas with a normal gym, or running - I can have great intentions but it's easy to shrug off when it comes down to it.

I haven't lost much more for weight but I am definitely getting stronger and feeling better. There is still room for improvement in the eating habits 😂
But I'm doing better than I have in a long time.

Cheers to a never-ending journey!

Comfort Zone

So I've changed the plan for this year. I was originally thinking Marathon #2. Instead, I've somehow been convinced to try something TOTALLY out of my comfort zone...I signed up for Orange Theory Fitness.  One of my friends is a die-hard Orange fan and she roped me in.

The whole group fitness thing is new to me, with the exception of Zumba. Weights and floor exercises are new to me, aside from the limited stuff I've done at home on occasion. There is also a water rower, which kills me but I love it! I've been twice now and both times were different. I'll love the variety. I love that you can see your stats up on a big screen as you work out. I love the workout summary email afterwards. And I know I'd never push myself like that working out on my own. I think it will be a great motivator.  Especially the "Splat Points" you earn for time spent in the "Orange  Zone".

Because of this new venture/unfamiliar territory, and crazy life, I'm going to forgo the Marathon this year. I'm hoping to find a Half Marathon later in the year, and I think that level
of training plus OTF will be manageable and a motivating enough.

I have lots a few pounds since finally focusing on getting back on track again. And I feel muscles I didn't know I had!  Stay tuned...it's a never ending story when you're naturally and biologically inclined to gain weight just by looking at food. It's a great eye opener that the weight loss journey is not just the period of time when you initially lose all the weight. It's a lifetime commitment to keep up the good habits, knowing that you're not one of those people who can eat whatever and never gain an ounce. Though even if I could...I wouldn't get stronger without actively working for it...and that is want I want. I want to be strong and fit and feel good.

Maybe, probably.

There have been at least a few times over the last several months where I told myself I would get back on track - but didn't.  

I told myself I would get back on track after Christmas. That didn't happen.
I told myself I would get back on track after the peak of Minnesota cold weather. That didn't happen.
I told myself that I would get back on track prior to vacation.  That didn't happen.

I mean...even a trip to Mexico didn't motivate me to get back on track enough to at least lose a few winter poundages. So to say that I have been lacking...something...is an understatement.

However - I think I'm ready now. For real. Maybe. Probably. Here is why....

This past weekend, I was able to get out for a run with a friend.  It was my first actual run in nearly 4 months (yes, 4 months) and it was hard.  Like, really hard.  We did 3 miles (and then a short walk afterwards). That 3 miles included a couple of walk breaks.  My legs are sore like I just ran a half marathon.  I am so out of running shape.  It feels like a lifetime ago that I ran my first full marathon, but it was only 10 months ago!!!  How is that even possible?  Now, I feel like I'm starting from scratch. 

However... Getting back out there this weekend was just what I needed.  I had forgotten how I actually kind of miss that soreness after a good run that challenges your muscles.  I have been missing my running friends. I realized I physically felt so much better the whole weekend, just from getting in that run.  I didn't even bloat as much as I normally would on a weekend after eating weekend-y stuff.  All of that, plus recent conversations with my husband about the possibility of doing Marathon 2 this fall, and I am starting to feel (dare I say it) excited. 

If the Marathon thing is going to happen, I will know very soon.  I am looking at Twin Cities Marathon, and the price increases in 9 days.  I'm all about value so if I sign up, I will do it soon to save that $25. To be continued.....

Life happens...

And when it does, it can be a challenge to get back on track after falling off.

And I'll be honest...life happened to me. And I fell off track. Wait, no...more like I fell off, rolled down a hill, and landed traight in a pile of dog crap.  Maaaaybe I'm being dramatic but it's how I feel. I've barely run in months. I've gained more than I usually do over the winter. I'm hoping to lose about 20 lbs. My clothes are tight and I once again hate pictures of myself.

It feels shitty. It's complicated...in any case, Ive been struggling. But you know...life happened. Now I'm ready to fight my way back to where I was. Last week I was on (a desperately needed) vacation for 9 days. Now, it's time to get down to business.

First is to clean up my eating habits and start getting active again.
Then get back my running mileage...working up to 6 miles just for funsies.
And finally, my sights are set on Marathon #2 this fall.

High expectations? A fall marathon, after an epic fail of a winter? Maybe, but I've proven to myself many times before that I could do what I thought seemed impossible.

I've got this. I've run half marathons. I ran a 5k in 26 minutes. I ran my first marathon under black flag heat warnings. I lost 90 lbs. 

I've got this.

Boundary Waters Bank 1/2 Marathon

The fam-damily and I traveled to Ely, MN at the end of September, where I ran the Boundary Waters Bank 1/2 Marathon....my first experience with a smaller race, with just a few hundred runners in the half and another couple hundred in the full. I finished in roughly 2:16, and considering the crash-training I did for just 3 weeks before race day, I am thrilled with that. Not to mention the course was hilly. So very, very hilly. 

We headed up on Friday so we could get settled in our cabin, which we rented along with 2 other friends and their families. Us moms also had to grab our race packets.  And made a stop at Kohls because I forgot the pack comfy pants. Comfy pants are a MUST!!  We all ended up buying the same pair just for fun... Don't worry, I don't mind that you think I'm a giant dork (photo proof below...I'm on the right). 

  It was an exciting race-eve...this was a first half marathon for both of my friends.  I may or may not have been the instigator for the whole thing.... 😎

Race morning, my very supportive husband dropped us off at the start. This is early morning, in Northern Minnesota in late September...so it was a tad chilly.  One thing I loved about this race was that they encouraged participants to bring a blanket to stay warm prior to the start, and then ditch it....blankets are then gathered and donated to those in need. What a fantastic idea!!

The race began and I did a good job of pacing myself. Soon, that decision was confirmed in my head...as I went over hill after hill after hill. 

The best part of the race came fairly early, after just a few miles. My husbands best friend happens to live on the race course, so my family and my friends families were at the end of the driveway way cheering us on. ❤️

The rest of the race went fine, apart from feeling like the hills would never end (and they really didn't). Like I said, I finished in 2:16 and felt great about it given my crash training and the hills. My friends finished in 2:13 and 2:10 respectively (post-race pic below, me in pink). 

I loved the race and I loved the weekend at the cabin with family and friends and the kids being able to just explore the outdoors. I'd love to do that race again next year and highly recommend it to

Anyone looking for a smaller, scenic and well-organized event. 

Hawaii Ragnar Hopeful....

So.....Im in the running along with dozens of other awesome MRTT leaders across the country, to go with our fearless leader, Pam, to Hawaii (!!!!) as a part of the Bondi Band Ragnar team.  Which by the way is awesome, since I love Pam and I love Bondi Band anyways! And...running?! In Hawaii?! No brainer. 

Wish me luck...it would be an amazing experience. Thanks especially to my hubby for giving the okay...in the event I actually win.....

If you follow me on Facebook, you'll see me post about this a lot over the next 2 weeks.  Apologies in advance. Kinda. 😜

#mrttbondibuddy #momsrunthistown #mrtt #bondiband #ragnarhawaii

So I ran a marathon....

Oops. It's September. Slacking much? Sorry for the slight...ok, giant...delay in writing about my marathon experience. Life has really thrown me for a loop. Busy, crazy, stressful, insane. Good words to describe it. But I'm writing now.......and.....

I ran a fucking MARATHON. 26.2 MILES.  

WHAT?!

I was always overweight and lazy and unmotivated and unhappy and miserable and a host of other things that do NOT equate to "Marathon Runner".

So, I was going to do a whole play by play like many do for their marathons (especially first marathons), but I'll keep it simple. The morning of the marathon I was nervous. So very nervous. And excited. And worried and scared and happy.  It felt like a dream.  

Unfortunately, marathon day in Duluth was uncharacteristically hot. Even standing at the start, I was sweating in the sun.  I knew then that I had to let my hopes of a 4:30 go. And surprisingly, I was totally at peace with that. 

By mile 13, things were rough. People were dropping out, both by choice and not. The warning flags turned black...extreme heat.  I made a conscious decision to really slow down and take it easy, including walk breaks and taking in as much extra fluid as I could. I dumped water on my head. I stopped to take pictures. I really focused on staying safe and enjoying the experience as much as possible. 

I ended up finishing in 5:30(ish).  An hour slower than my training had me on par for. Guess what? I truly didn't care. I had friends who had to pull out of both the marathon and even the half marathon. I saw runners down, people puking, ambulances.  So the fact that I finished in 5:30, feeling exhausted and spent but...good...well, that was fantastic. 

My legs were sore for about 3-4 days. I was moving slow...AKA doing the "marathon shuffle". But then one morning I woke up and it was just magically all better. I was pleasantly surprised, as I was thinking it would take 1-2 weeks. 

And so here I am. I'm a marathoner. 

Will I do it again? Yes. I hope so. For now, I have a half marathon coming up in 3 weeks. More on that in another post. 

Here are some pictures of marathon weekend. 

Halfways through!!

I am officially over the halfway point in training. This week I did a 3, 4, 7 and 10 mile run. The 10 mile was a step down from last weekend when I did 13. 

The coming week has me doing 4, 4, 7, and...15. Oh, shit. I'm now getting into those mileages that I've never done before....I hope I can hack it. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. It is this upcoming 15 miler when I'm going to start experimenting with fuels - another new aspect of training for me. 

Overall though, things are going as well as I could have hoped.  Fingers crossed that this continues. No injuries, feeling strong, happy with paces, comfortable with the progression in miles. And I know the hardest weeks are ahead but it feels like it has flown by so far. Bonus-my weight is staying steady, maybe slightly down even. I have been concerned about the weight gain many marathon trainees experience due to bring SO hungry and the trickiness of balancing that to get the calories your body needs and going overboard.  Umm, not that I never go overboard, because DAMN I've been starving (ugh and who knows how I'll feel a month from now...might need to lock myself out of the cupboards). 

I leave you with a little post-run photo from today...it was 80 degrees and sunny. Hot. Incidentally, 2 years ago today we has a snowstorm (thanks Facebook memories).  Gotta love Minnesota!! Anyhow...from my 10 miles, I came away with a face full of salt, a slightly burned back, tired legs and...a nice Fitbit tan. 

Training and Vacation

This week, I'm on vacation. Vegas, Wednesday night until Sunday morning. Awesome, right?!! Well yes. I love Vegas. I'm not a huge gambler but do enjoy sitting at a slot machine for a short time and getting "free" drinks. I LOVE people watching. Checking out different places to eat, going to shows, sitting by the pool, seeing the sights, that kind of stuff. And...PALM TREES!! I absolutely adore palm trees. The weather in Vegas right now is great...70's...not too hot but plenty warm to feel lucky coming from Minesota in March (though we've had a pretty mild winter and some fantastic days lately, but still). 

With vacation comes a conundrum though...training! I'm missing/behind a couple of runs, so I'll have to adjust next week. I did get 10 miles in on Sunday (which were fantastic by the way, I felt like I was taking it easy, which I wanted....but yet my pace was still really great. It was just one of those runs where everything comes together). 

Add in the food and drinks of Vegas and...well, let's just say my first run back, an 8-miler I'm going to try and tabckle Monday...should be interesting.  I'll survive but it may take a few days to get back in the groove...and to filter out all the junk in my body!! The good thing is, I'm early on in training so I'm not too worried. As long as i pick right back up, and stay on track, I'll be fine.

I'll leave you with a couple of Vegas pics! 

Marathon Training: Week 4

I just finished up my last run for week 4 and it was fan.tas.tic.  I was able to squeeze it in OUTSIDE! Almost all of my other runs this far have been in the sports dome or on the treadmill, so this felt pretty damn good. I felt like Meb! Ok...no really...but I did feel strong and happy. 

Runs like that are what keep runners running despite the occasional struggles. :-)

So anyhow. Week 4 completed, with 6 miles Sunday, cross training Monday, 3 miles Tuesday, 4 miles Wednesday and 3 today. 

Tomorrow is a rest day. 

AKA wine day. 

Marathon Training: Weeks 2 & 3

That's a wrap on week 3 of training...unsurprisingly, I'm still alive given that these are the (comparatively) easy days. 

Week 2 brought an 8 mile long run, a day of cross training, and a 3, 3, 3. 

Week 3 started with another 8 mile long run, followed by cross training, 3, 4, 3. 

It's great-I haven't missed a day yet.  The one downfall is that my runs have all been on the track in the local sports dome, or on the treadmill. I'm ready to get outside more, and luckily it appears the weather may be changing to help support that desire.  Add upcoming daylight savings time and I'll be ready to rock the outdoors...

My legs are feeling strong and I feel healthy. Fingers crossed that the trend continues....

One last thing...how can I barely be getting started but already getting hungrier? Perhaps it's just my mind playing tricks on me, looking for excuses to stuff my face.  

Marathon Training: Week 1

Well...here I go.  I've officially begun my training plan and by the end, I'll hopefully be able to run 26.2 miles without keelung over.

I'm halfway through week 1, and I've gotten a 7 miler, cross training day, and 3 miler in.  Two more 3 milers are all that is left.  

I will keep updating on my progress.  I'm happy to be starting off strong, to hopefully set the baseline for a strong few months coming up.

2016

Another year upon us...how did that happen?  It blows my mind to think that my journey began 5 years ago now.  To think that, at the time, I felt as though I would never get there.  Losing so much weight felt like an impossibility.  Luckily, something deep down in me decided to give it a shot anyhow.  18 months later I hit a 90 lb weight loss, and I've maintained it ever since (with the exception of 5-10 winter/holiday pounds each year...I know I'm not alone in that!!). 

This year will be a big one for me...training for, and hopefully completing my first full marathon. 26.2 miles that for 30 years of my life, I never imagined doing or even wanting to do. 26.2 miles that, for the last 3 years, I've been dying to do but holding off on while I was in grad school.  Now, I'm just a little more than a month from my official start of training.  Yep...I'm a little scared.  But I'm ready to prove myself to...myself.

Other goals for 2016, aside from training successfully and crossing the finish line of the marathon:

Get back into shape the next couple months leading into training...including getting stronger and shedding a few holiday  pounds.

Sub-25 minute 5k in August

Drink more water

Be more active as a family, with my husband and kids all together.  Bike rides, walks, jogs, tennis, swimming, running in the back yard.  Whatever...as long as it gets us moving, together. 

And finally....Update blog more frequently...HA!!