calling all runners (and opinionated non-runners!)

Most of the time I use my blog to blah blah blah about myself but today I need some advice from all my wise readers as I build up my mad running skillz.

My plan is to run every other day and at least one of those days do the full 5k distance. (keep in mind that I'm supplementing this with two 90 minute Bikram yoga classes, a personal training session and a group training class)

I thought I would do that for a couple of months until I'm good and comfortable with the 5k distance then take it to the next level and join a running group.

Part of me thinks I'm putting off the joining a group part of this because I'm slow and scared but the other part of me thinks it's wise to get a little better at it.

Do I wait a while and build up some more skills and confidence or do I dive right in?

I'm so analytical these days....

Time for some change up in here and 5k recap

As a designer, I couldn't deal with my blog design that didn't match my mood anymore. I was sad and scared when I did the old one and it really reflected that. The title stays the same even though I'm not swimming much anymore but that could change any day knowing me!!

I don't normally post on a Sunday but I'm still flying high from my first (running) 5k. I did it and I ran the whole thing except for a really steep and very stinky hill behind the zoo. The water stop was there too so I had to drink while covering my mouth and trying to move as fast as possible. The rest of the time was shear joy with a few "you can't do this" moments mixed in. I haven't come THAT far yet ;)

As you can see, my 50 minute 52 second pace but was not record setting but I was so freaking proud of myself it didn't matter.

This morning I got up at 6am (again) to go out and support the Worlds Nicest Ex-boyfriend and his sister. My best friend came with me and we sat on the side of the road and drank coffee in the dark waiting for the start. The first to come through were the wheelchair racers (never ceases to amaze me - the hills here are brutal - I can't imagine) WNEBF came through and even stopped to give us a big sweaty hug. Sister and Mrs. WNEBF walked the half and came through towards the end. WNEBF finished the full in 4:30 and the girls finished the half in 4:00 on the nose.

So proud of them all which brings me to the real point of this post.

I have learned so much about myself in the last 6 months of going to yoga and I realized that the secret to it all is consistency. Why has it taken me 41 years to learn this? If I miss even one yoga class It sets me back 2 weeks. If I would skip 1 day of C25K it would set me back 2 weeks in the program. This is a huge revelation for me. Combine that with all my inspiration and energy to spare and we have a winning combination.

I have to take this huge success of my 5k and build on it. There's no going back - just like there's no going back when I set a new personal plank record or jump rope record.

I will RUN that damn half marathon next year and I hope y'all will continue to hang in there for this crazy ride.

Pants on the ground

Remember this guy? A local Atlantan, famous for about a week. I can't get this out of my head today!

I'm officially down to one pair of pants. Not one pair from last summer fit. 7 pairs of capri's are going to Goodwill and I can't say I will miss them.

Let this be a reminder to y'all to put new clothes in the fitness budget so you're not "lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground".

I will post again after my 5k on Saturday with pictures!

all good

Another week, another crazy schedule. I can't believe how easily I'm keeping up with all of this! Between work and working out I'm surprised I still have the energy to do anything else but I continue to surprise myself! I've always heard that exercise gives you tons of energy for other things but I can't remember the last time I experienced that...until now!

I have been enthused about cooking again, I can run around with my friends kid, I can walk up the stairs to get something and not be out of breath. The yard work we did this past weekend would have killed me last year but this time it was even fun and I had enough energy left to make dinner for my neighbors!

The scale this week is another story. Tom is here and brought 6 pounds of bags with him which is all water. I can feel myself sloshing around. Yoga tonight should take care of that! :) I have had a much healthier attitude toward the scale these days because I see and feel big changes taking place.

What's most different is I'm looking forward to everything I'm doing. Sunday nights I get excited to go back to my week of yoga and training. Truly a miracle.

Tonight is yoga, tomorrow is my group training class, Thursday is a run/walk, Friday is yoga again and Saturday morning is my 5k. I know I will be really bummed on Sunday during the half marathon I can't participate in but maybe having done the 5k will ease the pain.

Feel good everyone!

not so fat Tuesday

I meant to post this yesterday but ran out of time!!

I saw 228 on the scale yesterday morning. The lowest I've been in 6 months. I feel like a million bucks!

This morning I was super brave and went to my trainers group class which is a combination of weightlifting and pilates. When I got home from yoga last night I wasn't sure it was going to be possible. I looked like a drowned rat and could barely keep my eyes open but I was up at 6 and ready to go! It was an awesome group of women befitting of my most awesome trainer. I knew I would LOVE it and I can't wait to go back. Wanna hear the best part????

1 minute, 30 second plank.

When she told us our time I had to have her repeat it because I didn't believe it. The only problem with increasing your plank time is that you have raised the bar and have to do that or better the next time ;)

On the health front
The respiratory therapist says "guuurrrrllll....there aint NOTHIN wrong with you" and the Pulmonologist says it seems to be nothing more than allergy related asthma. I can't do any half marathons until the Advair starts fully working but I can do the 5k. It's a week from Saturday and because I walk/run that distance regularly, It should be a breeze. The worlds nicest ex boyfriend is coming in town to do the full marathon and his sister (who I was going to do the half with) is still doing it so I will be on the sidelines the following day cheering them on. Next year I will be in it!

I could go on for days but I have a ton of work to do. Hope everyone is having a great week. Thanks as always for your support. It's all finally coming together.

Monday Mix tape - bullet point edition

• I spent 27 hours this weekend working on a Powerpoint (hence the bullet points) If it had been sunny out I don't think I could have made it through.
  
  
• I'm super excited about my training session which is in 58 minutes. I'm going to up my plank time to 1 min 10 sec and my jumpropes to 100. I have on my super strength bra. Looking forward to exercise is huge progress.
  
  
• I lost another 1.2 pounds since I posted last Tuesday. Yes, that's right, even over the weekend. I was 230 this morning. I will greet the 220s with much rejoicing. Lower than 228 is all "fresh pounds" that were not put on over Christmas :)
  
  
• My appointment with the pulmonologist is tomorrow. I'm a little freaked out but I'm pretty certain it's all treatable. Hopefully I haven't done any permanent damage and that I'm on the right path to being healthy.
  
  
• Have a good week everyone!

It moved

The scale. Finally. Moved.

Longest plateau ever.

I have seen 233.4 on the scale every day since before Christmas. 231.2 this morning. I could have jumped for joy. Long may it continue.

Tonight is yoga and tomorrow morning I'm trying my trainers class that's a combination of weight training and pilates . I'm really excited about it but it's going to be tough. I've seen so much progress in the few weeks I've been training with her. (Shout out to Karen - you are amazing!)

Oh and yesterday I jumped rope. 60 times. Haven't done that since the 1970s!!

when your body lets you down

No one ever told me that when you hit your forties, it all starts to go downhill.

I've considered myself lucky for so long that I haven't had any issues related to my years of obesity, a history of smoking, drinking etc. I was a seriously healthy person.

My recent asthma diagnosis was only part of it and yesterday I got a call saying they looked at my pulmonary function tests and my echocardiogram together and are seeing signs of mild pulmonary hypertension and signs of mild emphysema. That has me a little more freaked out that just plain ol' asthma.

I'm seeing a pulmonologist in early March and I'll know more but in the mean time, no half marathon. I can exercise but nothing 'extreme' like 13 miles. For now. I'm hoping to be able to downgrade to the 5k which I'm allowed to do so at least I won't lose my money and will have something to look forward to.

Maybe this is why I'm struggling to get past a 5k. Maybe I will be able to do more when this is diagnosed and treated?

For the first time (or maybe I'm just now realizing this) my body is holding me back from what I want to do. I don't just want to be skinny. I WANT to be a runner. I WANT to be that active, fit person who knows no limits. I have the energy and the mindset to do all of it and the body just can't.

My trainer said last night that she thinks I'm at a real turning point and positive place in my life where I can do some great things for myself. I'm not taking that lightly. I've got the tools in place. Between my yoga instructors and my trainer, I have an army of hot chicks working on me. I can be one of them if I take this seriously and keep working my ass off to pay for it all.

you look mahvelous....

When I first started yoga I had a hard time looking myself in the mirrors that surround me. Our instructor always says to find your eyes in the mirror and focus on them. I don't want to look because in my mind I look SO much better. Last night I knew she was specifically talking to me when she said "find your eyes find your eyes find your eyes". My balance must be getting better because I found them and I looked. I really looked.

I'll tell ya, what I saw was a hundred million times better looking than the first disheartening look I too more than 6 months ago. My body has completely changed and I've barely lost a pound.

Last nights class was miserable. Too many people sucking up what little oxygen was in the room, too many men smelling of man feet, had to stand right in front of the humidifier etc. I was so nauseous from the smell I didn't do really well for the 2nd half but maybe last night was meant my time to appreciate my progress, even on a bad day.

Maybe, one day, the scale will move again.

Digging deep

Sometimes I think I totally sell myself short on my athletic abilities. I never thought I was a "I can't do that" kind of person but I hold myself back sometimes. This is exactly why I hired a trainer. To push me beyond these limits I set for myself in my head. Did you guys know I could do a minute long plank? I sure didn't! I still couldn't believe it until I did it for the 2nd time yesterday. I'll report back on the plank progress when I get to 2 minutes!! :)

She is exactly what I was looking for. The perfect combination of butt kicking workout and a dose of encouragement and happy, me time. I look forward to going to her studio as much as yoga.

Speaking of yoga, I have forced myself to only go one night a week and pound the pavement the rest of the time. I've been putting in some serious miles and only had one small freak-out about the 1/2 marathon. I had read that participants had to keep a pace of 4 mph (which is not going to happen) but then the "worlds nicest ex-boyfriend" pointed out that the course was open for 7 hours and that old ladies with walkers could finish it in that amount of time. He's right and now I'm not going to worry (as much) and just do my very best. I may be last but I will finish it.

Things would be so much easier if only some more weight would come off. I'm considering a major shift in my diet...possibly going meat free for a while and see if that stirs up the metabolism a bit. It's worth a shot!