Geez, I should keep better track of things on here. Its nice to have records of workouts and accomplishments.
Lets backtrack... We ran the Calvin Spring Classic on April 25, 2009. I sucked. Horribly. And I cried for 15 minutes afterward. I had worked so hard to become a runner. I had confidence. I could do it. And then at the race I couldn't even string ONE mile together without stopping to walk. I was so disappointed. From that day on, I ran outside as long as weather permitted. My running changed dramatically from that.
By the end of summer 2009 I was running 5 miles 3x/week & a long run of 7+ miles on Saturdays. I experimented with routes and the longest I ran was 10 miles at Lake Geneva at the summer regional in June. It was beautiful! I also ran 10 miles on the treadmill a couple of times, but I don't think I went beyond that.
After the summer, though, I was incredibly frustrated. I felt like I had hit a plateau with my running and my weight. I stayed within those 5 pounds all summer/fall, however, I wanted to get down to 115 because I felt like even though I was in fantastic shape, running was still difficult. The idea of an "easy run" was still laughable to me. None of it was easy. The only reason I could do it was I had my mental side in check. My heart rate was still getting up to 185/190 bpm, it was still hard. I read that with every pound you lose running gets easier - so I wanted to lose 5 - 7 pounds to make running a little easier. It just wasn't happening. I think, again, I was overconfident - and more importantly, COMFORTABLE with where I was at. I could eat what I wanted and not gain. Losing wasn't more important than where I was at that moment. Regardless, I decreased my mileage dramatically toward the end of the summer to where I was running around 12-15 miles/week (had gotten up near 25-28 miles/week early in the summer) and was staying with 3 miles routes with a 5 mile route on Saturdays.
In that time I also bought new running shoes. And they were the wrong kind. I ended up getting ankle tendonitis in September. The last time I ran was a Friday afternoon early in September after school started. I was so giddy to be able to run in the afternoon while the girls were at school. I ran 5 miles, but I found it was even MORE difficult to do it around noon - sun, full stomach, etc. My ankle hurt and I looked up my symptoms online and decided it was time to rest. I gave myself 6 weeks off of running, but I walked the dog instead. After 6 weeks it didn't get any better. Dave signed me up for Cardinal and I worked out on the eliptical - still no better. Only after I limited myself to the bike did I feel significant difference in pain, but still not 100%. I finally went to the foot doctor two weeks ago. He confirmed I had tendonitis, told me which kind of shoes to buy and gave me the okay to run through the pain, but advised Aleve 2x/day for the pain/inflammation. My ankle is finally feeling better - as long as I keep up the 2x daily Aleve.
I ran once since then and will start again next week.
In the meantime, I've become a sugar freak - starting with Halloween and lasting all the way through the holidays. Dave's parents came in early November and we had several good-sized dinners over the weekend and I've never gotten control again... two weeks after they were here we went out to Virginia for 1/2 a week, then two weeks later they were here again. And then the busyness and chaos of the holidays in addition to all of the sweets that we've been given and all of the biscotti that I made. I've gained some weight, but not sure how much. My scale needs new batteries and I know I'm retaining SOME water. I'm going to get new batteries and start weighing myself again on Monday (jan 4th). I won't be surprised to see 130 that morning.
I'm in a completely great place about my weight right now. I'm not concerned. I'm not obssessed. I know its happening. I also know that I can lose it. And I will. I'm so comfortable and confident with who I am that my weight - the number - doesn't mean a whole lot to me. My pants are getting uncomfortable, so something needs to be changed... and that needs to be the number. But I'm good.
We've signed up to run the Indy 1/2 marathon on May 8th with Jon and Brandy. I set up my training plan yesterday. Starting on Monday we have 18 weeks until the race and 11 weeks until we go to Steamboat. I want to be under 120 by Colorado (March 20th). I have a good training plan set up. I think all of this is completely do-able and am very excited.
Also, I'm considering going vegetarian. I think this is the only way I'll ever get my cholesterol under control without meds. I don't eat a whole lot of meat as it is, so I don't think this will be impossible. I may allow chicken, turkey and fish. But I won't make a lot of it at home. My diet goals as of now are:
* cut out sugar
* no eating after 8pm (this is going to be hard and require much discipline)
* fruit/vegetable with every meal.
I need to add more fruits and vegetables, no doubt. It is going to be a work in progress, but a goal to strive for.
