I would have missed the train...

On Monday I was running a bit late and I'm taking light rail to work this week. I pull my car into the park and ride station and I see the light of the train coming around the corner in the distance. I run to try and catch the train. When the train stops in the station I'm on the wrong side of the train and right in the middle of the 4 cars. I run towards the back of the train with all my might and I run behind the train and around the other side to the door and just make hitting the door open button in time to make the train.

2 years ago I would have missed that train - I would not have had the energy or the ability to run and catch it.

Years ago I missed a lot of "trains". I didn't do anything active because I just couldn't. I would choose to sit and watch TV instead of going out. I would choose to stay and home and bake as a stay at home mom instead of getting out with my toddler and doing things outside. The american river in basically in my backyard and I didn't know it. We have beautiful bike trails and I didn't know it. We have great nature areas very close to us and I didn't know it. I'm not missing any trains any more!!

Weigh in Day!

So all week long the Wii kept saying I had lost weight - everyday I was down more and more - I was really amazed! So I knew I was close to another milestone, but didn't want to jinx it by saying anything. I weighed in on he Wii this morning then called my parents and woke them up asking them if they wanted to come on a day where they would be celebrating me.

At Weight Watchers my weigh in is....... 186.3! I'm now down a total of 76.2 pounds! I got my 75 pound medal and it has joined my 10% key chain along with my 16 week charm and my 25 and 50 pounds lost medal.

It was so cool having my whole family there - Hubby, my parents and my younger son all came.

Sac Fit Saturday!

So for today was an easy 4 mile run - can I just say - I love tapering!! The half marathon is in 7 days and I'm very excited - not only will I complete my third half marathon - and I'm poised to have a new personal record time - but I will see my hubby complete his first half marathon. I ran with two ladies today - both are very dear to me - one it will be her first half marathon. It has been so rewarding being with her as we do more and more mileage for the first time for her. It has been a real pleasure being a coach this season and I can't wait for the next season to start! I have also grown in my own running journey - I didn't have as many aches and pains this season as I had last season and I'm faster now then the beginning of the season - I have been doing the speed workouts and it is definitely working - so for next season I'm contemplating moving into a faster pace group.

Weigh in Day!

So in the previous post I had decided to not weigh in - It was merely an excuse - I was up this morning - but it wasn't ALL running related (I do know I am up a little after really long runs though) - there were two significant, lets call them "incidents" with food his week. One was See's candy and the other was cheese.. I ran extra to make the see's one better, but the cheese incident was on friday and there was probably no making that one up. I will use my Wii weight this week, taking into account the difference between the two scales.

My weigh in at WW would have been 191.5 - that is a gain f 1.7 pounds.

I guess I was trying to convince myself if I didn't weigh in the weight wouldn't be on me, I wouldn't be back into the 190's and the two incidents never happened, but the fact is I'm not perfect and I have bad food days and I have no one to blame but myself.

I will hold myself accountable by posting my weight and work really hard this week at getting back into the 180's!

You may now go back to your reguarly scheduled program.....

Shopping!!

On friday before bunco I decided to go to Nordstroms and have the professionals there figure out if my bras are getting too big - I figured they were since at least the band was moving all over the place. I love Nordstroms - they are so helpful and can take a look at me and figure out what will work. She measured and brings in some new bras and I try the first one on and it fits perfect! I love it!! It is the same brand I was wearing, just a smaller band size and a smaller cup size! Woo Hoo! Then I go over to the sportswear department and ask the very kind lady about buying a swimsuit - she picks up several, but tells me the one on the top will probably work the best - well after trying them all on - she was right, the first one is the one that felt the best and looked the best on me! I can hardly believe that I have a swimsuit now! I'm very excited to be able to go swimming at the gym now!! They had to order two more bras and a pair of board shorts to go over my suit (to cover up my thighs) but they should be here within 10 days! I also went over to the clinique counter and got some good sunscreen (yea I know I should of used it on Saturday...) and some stuff to help clear up my face a little - I think it is about time I start taking care of myself and putting my skincare into my routine.

On Satruday after the long run we went to REI to pick up an order I had shipped there (too cinch sacks from Life is good that were a really good deal) and we went over to sleep train to take a look at matresses - ours is 11 years old! We ended up buying a new mattress and the best part was they delivered it the same day!! It is so nice! Very comfy!! I don't feel a thing when hubby or the dog moves around at night. I decided to treat myself by sleeping in this morning so there will be no weigh in this week.

Sac Fit Saturday!

A very eventful day!! I ran my 12 miles by myself (well not really by myself, there were a ton of us on the trail!) It was a very good run with my average pace coming in a little better than last week and I'm on track to have a PR for the half in two weeks! After the run was the family breakfast - and massage day! My family had breakfast and I got a massage and then I introduced them to a few people. It's always neat having my family out there! They will be at the finish line in two weeks as well for hubby's completion of his first half marathon!!

I'm a little sore from today - the only thing I can think of is the faster pace I maintained and that most of the run we were on pavement since we followed the race course and went up onto the levee - but then the massage could have contributed to the soreness, I'm not used to that at all! I also got too much sun with no sun screen on (I know better, really I do) We were in the car almost to the trail when I looked over at Jeff and said darn, I forgot to put sunscreen on! The lower part of my legs, my neck my arms and my face are sunburned and they stung like crazy when I took my hot bath! Oh and I wore my new shirt and it is so comfy!!

Next week is our taper week so only 4 miles! So looking forward to it and then the next weekend is the American River Parkway Half!! Woo Hoo!!

Edited to add - My little soldier dude stood on my shoe for all 12 miles! He did awesome! Of course he rally didn't do much but stand there....

I am the proud owner of a Nike running shirt!

So those of you who know running clothes, know Nike stuff (especially the women's stuff) run very small - I have a couple of Nike shirts, but they are Men's - I have had to buy most of my running stuff from the men's side of fleet feet. I have loved Nike stuff all my life, but can't wear their shoes (they just never feel right) and have had to settle for mens stuff. (my first 5K was run in men's shorts and a men's shirt.

Today I run (no pun intended!!) over to fleet feet to exchange a pair of socks and as I'm going out the door I run my hand over the rack to feel the shirts - one of them feels different, very soft and just amazing. I stop and pick up the shirt and it is a brand new Nike shirt and it is the prettiest shade of blue and the fabric is so amazing! I hold it up and look at it and think "this will fit me" - that in itself is amazing - my mind is catching up to my weight loss - the old me would have put it back down and not even tried it on. So I try it on (over my t-shirt no less) and it fits, its comfy and looks so great on me, not too snug and they are making them a little longer now with longer sleeves! I'm so excited!! So of course I have to buy it! I'm going to have to start replacing some of my running shirts, a lot of them are too big and some of them are way too big now!

Weight Watchers Weigh In!

So today at my official weigh in - I was 189.8! - I'm officially in the 180's!!! That is a loss this week of 2.6 pounds!!! I was very excited!! I still am for that matter! I'm just hoping I can stay in the 180's next week and not creep above. Almost forgot to add - that is 72.7 pounds lost!!

Also on Saturday I did my measurments and from 2/21 to 4/11 I have lost (and then the total from 9/07)
Upper Right Arm - No Change (total loss - 4.25 Inches)
Waist - .5 (total loss - 8 inches)
Hips - 1.25 (total loss - 7.5 inches)
Right Thigh - .5 (total loss - 3.5 inches)
Chest - 1.25 (total loss - 6.5 inches
Chest (Band size) - 1.25 (total loss - 4.75 inches)

Biggest Loser Blog Edition Weigh In!

So since the meeting center is closed today for Easter I will be weighing it at the center tomorrow, but I needed to report my weight to the BLBE today - so I figured out what my Wii weight was last week - and figured the difference between the WW scale and the Wii scale (I do the two weights within 30 mintues of each other on weigh in days) and will be using my wii weight plus the difference between the two scales.

The weight I reported to team angie is 189.7 - which is down 2.7 pounds from last week!

On Tuesday I had a huge drop in weight (3+ pounds), which I maintained until Friday, then I two gains, but then today I was back down which is amazing since I'm usually up the day after a long run (I would weigh in on Monday's but I LOVE the sunday morning meeting leader and people!!)

Sacfit Saturday!

Today on the training plan was 11 miles, Aid stations with yummy snacks to make the miles easier, good running buddies and a raffle extravaganza at the end!

I did the 11 miles with two ladies that I always have a lot of fun with - we were right on pace until the turnaround and then we kicked it up a notch! (gotta love those negative splits!!) The aid station was super good with Payday bars, Kit Kats and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember because I only choose to have the Kit Kats and the Payday chunks. Soooo good and my reward for running (the only food related rewards I allow myself).

After the run I got a really bad headache that as soon as I drank a bunch of water and got cooled down went away (I gotta learn to hydrate better!!).

Then was the raffle - Jeff won socks - not just any socks, but 9 dollar Belaga socks that we LOVE!! and I won some shot blocks in some flavors that I haven't tried before!

So random story - on the trail as I was running I found an little plastic army man and I decided he will be strapped to my shoelaces on future runs and become my pace group mascot - he will remind us to soldier on as we run!! I will have to take a picture of him for the blog!!

Edited to add the picture! He isn't strapped in and ready to go, but that will happen tomorrow!

Weigh in!!

So once again this week I stayed the same - I was thinking how just a couple of weeks ago I was so happy that I had 11 losses in a row - but I think I'm going to rephrase that a bit - so today was my 13th week in a row that I have not had a gain! (is that wrong? - I don't think so!!). So today I will celebrate the fact that it has been 13 weeks since I had a gain!!

I also shared with the group my little obeservation about being able to sit at the park with my knees up to my chest and I also shared my before picture with three new people that started today - one of them cried and I gave her a huge hug and told her how proud I was of her that she made the first step to come in the door today. I think back to what it took for me to walk through that door that first day and I really admire people who make that step! My leader as I was leaving today blew me a kiss and told me I had made a difference today.

Sac Fit Saturday!

Let me start by saying - Today was totally awesome!!!!

We had field trips today and all the different color groups met at different places and we had a color group picnic afterwards - the park where we met was so pretty and shaded and very quiet (well until we got there!!) - we went across the river and started our run and the only blemish on the day was my Garmin wasn't charged . I ran with the group 30 seconds faster than me and I felt really good! It was a fall back week so we were on schedule to run 70 minutes. After a while with that group, I ran ahead and joined the group 1:00 minute faster than me - and when we were about 3/4 mile away from the finish I kicked it into high gear and ran pretty much all out. I felt so good today - we did 5 miles and then we got to picnic - Betsy brought some of the best muffins that she had made with spice cake mix and canned pumpkin, they were good and only 2 points! Of course I couldn't just stop at that but had a donut hole (or two they were small!) and the most delicious brownie I have had in a long time! I think there was more, but the food was a blur! It was so nice to sit and talk and relax after such a great run!! The reason we had a venue change was that our organizer (and several other team members) were running a 50 mile race! Can you imagine?? 50 miles!! We were on the trail when a lot of them came by, they were about mile 15 at the point where we saw them and everyone looked so great!!

As I was sitting on the blanket talking to everyone after the run I noticed the way I was sitting - I had my legs up with my knees touching my chest and I had my arms wrapped around my legs. It just suddenly came to me that I had gotten into that position without even thinking about it and there was no way a year ago I could have done that. My tummy wouldn't have allowed my legs to get that close to me!

Anyway - it was such a great day - after the run we went and had new tires put on my car, did some shopping and then came home, had a wonderful dinner and we have been relaxing ever since!!