I want to be a runner!

I always have tons of things I want to blog about, but never seem to have the time. Anyway, here's the story of my first 5K race:

My official time was 46:48. Before the race I told myself that I wanted to finish in under 45 minutes, but I would settle for under 50 minutes. I guess that's exactly what I got. I hope to finish the next race (even though I don't know what that course is like yet) in under 45 definitely. The morning didn't start out great. It was like a comedy of errors.....

The Boyfriend and I got up early thinking that we were going to have a good breakfast so I'd have some decent fuel for the race. He was going to get up and make me pancakes and turkey sausage... but somehow we didn't end up having enough time. It was a sad state of affairs in my kitchen that morning. We ended up with 3 pancakes and that was it. So I inhaled them as we were running out the door (the Boyfriend let me have them all) and grabbed a bottle of Powerade. Then as we're about half a mile from home, I realize that I left my bib for the race at home so we have to turn around and get it (and we're already running a little late at this point). When we get back to my apartment I jump out of the car (and almost get accidentally hit by the car), run in and get my number and we're back on the road. We are on the way to the race and I'm sorting some music on my mp3 player to prepare for the race and we somehow pass up our exit on the highway... so we have to drive 5 miles up to the next exit, get off the highway, turn around, and get back on the highway. We made it to the race in time since we had planned on getting there early, but I arrived a bit flustered and aggravated.

As we were waiting for the race to start I was getting VERY nervous and kept thinking "I don't wanna do this anymore"... though I knew I would have to.

Then we were off......

It turned out to be much harder than I thought! I knew it would be hard... but I was still shocked. The worst part was it wasn't like I was so out of breath or my heart was racing... but that running on the pavement and the hills make my legs sooooo tired. I'd slow down and be ready to start running again, and as soon as my legs would hit the pavement my knee would hurt and my legs would feel instantly exhausted again. However, I pushed through. I didn't do as well as I hoped I would and I had to keep motivating myself in my head the whole time. (even thought of The Biggest Loser this past season and when they did that whole 26 mile marathon.) At least I finished. I can say I did it... and I can get ready for the next race. Mrs. B and I finished 1st and 2nd in our age group.... though we were the only ones in our age group. hahaha. But, I still got a medal for being 1 out of 2.

I started a "5K Wall" above my desk at home. Mrs. B and I are aiming to do 1 5K race every month from now until October. So, hopefully by the end of this year my wall will be full and I will be able to really, truly run. I want to be a runner. I never thought I would be able to even come close to being one... and now I feel like it could be in my near future.

We did it!

Well, this morning was our first ever 5K! Whoa... it was harder than I thought it was gonna be. My BFF, Mrs. B, and I are hoping to do one 5K race every month from now until October... so I've got to really start training hard to get better at this stuff. Anyway, more on the race later. I'm still tired and recovering. haha. But here's a picture of me finishing the race...

Inspiration

Wonder Woman, Stormy Vawn, gave me and 7 other bloggers an award. Aw, thanks! Her blog is totally inspiring and makes you feel like we aren't alone in this weight-loss/get fit journey that a lot of us are on. You should definitely check it out.

So, the award "rules" state:
These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.


So, these are 8 who often inspire, motivate, and entertain me.

~Breaking up with Burgers
~Ash is Fit
~Fat Girl Unleashed
~Angie All the Way
~A Daunting Tale of Scale Warfare
~One Pound at a Time
~Kate is Losing It
~Let's Get Fit!

It's a big deal to me!

Well, I took a HUGE break from running... like a month, seriously! I was highly disappointed in myself. Since I am on vacation from work this week I decided that I had to make myself go to the gym almost everyday. Well... that didn't happen. My first trip to the gym was Wednesday (yesterday) and I tried to restart my C25K on week 3. Week 3 is 90 seconds of running, 90 seconds of walking, 3 minutes of running, 3 minutes of walking... then repeat.

Man, oh, man... it was HARD! I couldn't believe it. I left the gym feeling defeated and down, thinking to myself "I'll never be able to jog a whole mile straight. I suck." Despite all that, I got up today and was still determined to go. (Our 5K is in like a week and a half!!!). So I went, and completed week 3 with no problem! I guess my body just needed a little jump start and then it was ready to go again?

So, I completed week 3 and then decided just to run until I felt pretty winded. I made it 2/3 of a mile (8 minutes) without stopping!!! Yay for me! That's probably not a big deal to people who are in great shape... but that's a huge deal for me!!! I feel accomplished!

This weekend I am going camping with my friends and the Boyfriend. Should be fun. I hope to at least get in a little jog during the weekend. Then, when I come back I am going to try to go to the gym almost every day since the 5K is next weekend. I really want to be able to jog a whole mile before we do the 5K. I won't be able to run the whole 3.1 miles straight, but I want to finish in 45 minutes or less.

Again... Yay me! :-)

Spring Cleaning

I always feel so much happier and better when things are clean, as I'm sure a lot of people do. The ironic thing is that for as much as I hate mess, I hate cleaning just as much. My life and apartment have felt so cluttered lately... and I hate it.

So, I'm on vacation from work all week this week and have decided to accomplish all the cleaning and organizing that I had planned during my last vacation from work (during which I accomplished absolutely nothing). Yesterday was a loss. I ate WAY too much, probably gained like 3 pounds in 1 day and didn't do a whole lot besides make some rockin' healthy enchiladas for dinner.

Today I woke up early to say goodbye to the Boyfriend when he left for work, but then I couldn't fall back asleep. So I stayed up and cleaned. I washed EVERY dish I own (because most of them were dirty) and then cleaned out my fridge. Blech! I don't think I've done that since I moved in this apartment. Gross! But I did it and then washed all the resulting dirty tupperware/dishes from cleaning out the fridge. This is now what my poor, sad, empty fridge looks like.

Ah, yes.... the essentials of life: cans of Diet Mt. Dew, coffee, beer, eggs, strawberries and fat free Cool-whip. Seriously?!?! It looks like my fridge in college! Who knew I actually had so little real food in there?

I HAVE to go to the gym today. Our 5K is in less than 2 weeks. I definitely won't be able to run the whole thing. I've given up on that dream. However, I would at least like to run half of it. I gotta get a serious move on!

Biggest Loser Finale

Tara was robbed of her victory! I'm sad she didn't win. She was so close! She had won more challenges than anyone and never fell below the yellow line. I wish she had won, but she's still my favorite... and totally amazes me.

I blame the tumor....

I haven't blogged in a while... things are just busy and blah lately.

I haven't been keeping up with my C25K. I haven't been eating great. Somehow I have managed not to gain any weight... even lost like .4 pounds. That can probably be attributed to all the stomach problems I've had lately though. Couldn't actually keep much food in my body. I just haven't been feeling well lately (as usual).

I blame the tumor. I blame the tumor for everything these days though.The doctor has recommended that I have an abdominal myomectomy to remove it. Having major surgery scares me, but at the same time... I am so frustrated and angry about never feeling good and having this thing, that I think I'm going to just do the surgery. I'm just scared to have it because it could mean no children for me, but at this point the thing is taking up so much space that leaving it in isn't going to help me much either. (and it's making my life miserable).

That's all for now.... I'm tired and feel gross. So I'm going to eat dinner and go to bed. Just wanted to let you guys know that I'm still here. Hopefully soon I'll be back to my old self.