Weight Watchers Weigh In!

Well the damage isn't as bad as I thought - I'm up 4.1 pounds - not too shabby! I even changed my routine and ate my breakfast and drank a cup of coffee before weighing in. I'm going to start running on Monday mornings after dropping Logan off at school and before weight watchers. Since mondays are my short run days I should have plenty of time to do that, but I can't run on an empty tummy. here's to starting over!!!

Weight Watchers....

The Weight Watchers website tells all - everytime I log into it, at the top is "Last weigh in Date 9/21/08. I have been struggling with some personal issues and some things beyond my control, but what is in my control is how I react to them and that was not good. I made very poor choices including the poorest choice of not even going to the meetings once the scale started headed the wrong way. I know I need the support and I will be going this morning to weight in and basically start over. I am up weight wise, we will see what the scale says there but mine says I'm up 7-8. So there it is, out there for everyone to see, I plan on going to the meeting this morning and weighing in and taking the gain and start over! I need to get back doing the things I love, I'm really starting to miss them and if I don't, this half marathon on 11/15 is going to kick my butt!

My oldest in his Halloween Costume!

Here is my oldest son at work as Indiana Jones! He is so handsome!!! It is not the best picture but it is all I have.

All is right with my world!!!

My wonderful hubby is back home - I missed you so much!!! Welcome home!!!

Love you bunches!!!!

The Veggie Chase!!

Sunday - October 12th was a family running event called the Veggie Chase, it was sponsored by health and fitness organizations to get kids up and moving. It was a 5K and we did it as a a family. First off - it was COLD! But once we got moving we had a great time - Logan did awesome and the hubby even ran a little bit of it! Logan walked/ran the 5K with us and then did another 1 mile run with the kids. Then they had bounce houses and stuff and he hung around there for a while. Then he slept on the way home! Here are some pics!!

Sac Fit Saturday!

Saturday was wonderful - but COLD! I did a nice 6 mile run since I'm on the half-marathon schedule now (see marathon decision post below...). It was so beautiful being out there before the sun came up and the running down the trail and watching the sunrise. I think since I have made the decision about the marathon I'm less stressed about getting in the miles and such and I can just have a great time out on the trail and enjoy the runs and the scenery. After the run I went to REI and bought long tights since I had nothing but shorts to run in. I had long sleeve shirts and a running jacket, but nothing long for my legs.

Book - The Non-Runner Marathon Guide for Women - Dawn Dias

Product Description - From Amazon.com - Dawn Dais hated running. And it didn't like her much, either. Her fitness routine consisted of avoiding the stairs in her own house, because who really has the energy to climb stairs? It was with this exercise philosophy firmly in place that she set off to complete a marathon.The Nonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women is a fun training manual for women who don't believe that running is their biological destiny but who dream of crossing the finish line nonetheless. It opens with a realistic training schedule and is chock-full of how-to's, quizzes, and funny observations, which Dais felt were lacking in the guides she had consulted.The Nonrunner’s Marathon Guide for Women also integrates entries from Dias' journal, sharing everything would-be marathoners need to know about the gear, the blisters, the early morning workouts, the late-night carb binges, and — most important of all — the amazing rewards.Anyone can do a marathon. This book just makes the experience a little more bearable and a lot more fun.
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You all have to read this book! It is hilarious!! I kept reading passages from it to my hubby because they were so funny - this author has a great sense of humor that just kept me in stitches the whole read. You don't have to be training for a marathon to read this book it has great ideas and tips for beginning runners as well.

Marathon decision...

So I have taken time the last week to mull over a decision that I have been trying to make for sometime and I keep going back and forth on it. Well no more - I have made my decision and yes - it is my final answer...

The Marathon is going to wait a year...

The main reasons are - I feel since I have only been running since May on my own and June with the group I think I'm trying to do to much in too short a time. I have really struggled with the longer runs. The training program usually concludes with the California International Marathon which is in December, but I will not be in town for that one, so the one I choose to do is 4 weeks earlier. (4 weeks less of training...)

So I'm still going to run in that race in November, I will *only* do half the marathon!

I however have not given up on my marathon dream - My first marathon will be California International on December 6th 2009 - by the way for those keeping score - that is 3 days after I turn the big 4-0! I think that running a marathon is a great way to celebrate my 40th birthday!

I finished!!!

This is me coming into the finish line - I was basically right on pace and very happy with my time. You can't tell it but I got very emotional - several times I had to ask myself - why am I doing this? I envisioned myself getting that medal at the end and that kept me going - well that and all the enthusiastic people along the race course - one person that stands out in my mind was a person wearing a large Mickey mouse hand and as I ran by she said "High four!!" - one of those thing you probably had to be there for...

At the 13 mile mark (when I only had .1 to go) I started crying...

This is me really crying - not because I was in pain or anything, but because I was so darn proud of myself and I was just overcome with emotions - by the way when you start crying right at the finish people cheer really loud for you!! Also if you are crying a nice man comes to you in the chute to make sure you are OK.









Then you go further down the chute and get the most beautiful medal I have ever seen - never mind the fact that almost 4000 people also got one, but mine is prettier than everyone else's - really it is - don't you think so??









The rest of the end was a blur - I was told to eat some food and all I could manage to do was grab a small piece of bread - I left the chute and went over to the Sacfit booth and proudly showed off my medal (again just like everyone else's except mine is prettier) I talked to my coach and he said he couldn't wait to read my blog, I talked to other assorted people and then I wandered around aimlessly trying to take it all in.

We left and went to Ihop for a late lunch which I say has to be the best way to celebrate a good run, I had chocolate milk (which was soooo good) and a hearty breakfast of eggs, pancakes, hash browns, bacon and ham (sorry weight watchers!!)

I'm only a little sore now, I'm feeling pretty good and I'm so darn proud of my medal. John Bingham in one of his books says you must wear your medal for a week to annoy everyone - well this on is a functioning cow bell so it will doubly annoying and I don't care!! It is the pretties thing I have ever saw!! I guess I should fill you in just in case you don't know - this was my first medal I have gotten for my running so it will always have a special place in my heart no matter how many more I get (and there will be more!!)

Countdown to Cowtown Half!!

Here is my bib number and my shirt!!

Collage my Dad made me!

My dad made this picture for me out of some of my race pictures! I just love it. I especially love the fact that right there in black and white (well color really) it proof that I have slimmed down and lost inches during my training. Notice the picture in the top right corner - that is my most recent race pic and the one top center is the first race I ran. I can see the difference! Yay!! I'm on the countdown to the Half-marathon now! Only a few days and I'm already having the sleepless nights worrying about parking, getting there in time, not tripping over the starting line etc. etc. etc... - I actually had a dream last night that I got there late and missed everyone starting and had to catch up! LOL!! I know, I need help!!

Faith in me from my Hubby!!

Here is a quote from an email today from my hubby - it was a rough day all around and I was really beating myself up about everything.

"I believe you will have no problem on Sunday and you will finish the marathon on November. I don't know if you will still be running after 26.2 miles, but you will finish."

I little shopping therapy didn't hurt either! I bought the REI deal of the day which was this for less than 20 bucks!!