Running.

My running is going really well. Yes, I might only be on week 5, but I'm going at my own pace, making sure I've just about mastered each day. Most weeks have turned into at least one a half weeks, or two weeks even. I'm not worried about it. I'm going to get there. It doesn't bother me if this training takes me 18 weeks instead of 9, I'm not in a rush. I might do a 5K in August with my 2 sisters-in-law, but I know I can do it.

Anyways, today was the day. The week 5, day 3 workout - 2 miles. I knew I had done it before, but I was determined to do the whole 2 miles. I wasn't going to wimp out, I could do it. So I got up this morning, fueled up with my PB toast, got dressed and set out. I did my 5 minute warmup walk, and started running. I took a few walking breaks, but I did it! I ran a new route, because I know when I loop past my house, I want to be finished or nearly finished, not only halfway done. I'm slowly finding out new routes around my lake. I refuse to run up or down the GIANT hill to get away from the lake, but I know it's going to have to happen sooner or later, so I do a lot of loops right now.

So I completed it! This is a huge step for me. I'm on the path to a 5K! After the run, I did this.

I was really tempted to go swimming, but I didn't feel like changing into my bathing suit just to jump in the lake. I really should have just jumped in with my shorts and tank on. Sticking my feet in was just as effective.

Woo! I did it!

Excuse the bright red-tomato face. It was HUMID out!

My route and pace.

Honestly, I've been running about a 10:30 pace, and thought I could do it on the 2 mile run, but it was about a 12:30 pace, but I know I can work on pace. For the right now, the biggest accomplishment was that I finished the whole run.

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How did your last good run go?

i signed up for...

the Warrior Dash! I did it and I'm so excited! I'm doing the one in Maryland, on May 22nd, 'cause I graduate from college on May 21st. Nothing says I'm an adult like doing "3.11 hellish miles" and rolling around in the mud. Just watching the video it looks really intense, but I'm really pumped, I'm not gonna lie.

I'm not nervous about any of the obstacles, I'll just take my time. A couple of us from the 20's board are doing it together. I'm glad that I'll have some friends--even though I haven't met them in real life--to do it with. I tried to convince Mr. Skinny to do it with me, but he'd be nervous to, although I think he'd have fun. I think men need other men to do it with though, he'd feel awkward doing it with a bunch of girls.

I don't mind getting dirty, and I'm all for proving how strong I am, even though I think I'm stronger than I really am. I'm going to have to work on my running though. I have to run all the times that I can, I don't want to walk the times when we're supposed to be running.

The obstacles:

-knee high hell - going through tires

-mossy maze - navigate through mossy trees

-blackout - something about sliding down a black trench...?

-junkyard jam - get through a scrapeyard

-cargo climb - going over cargo nets

-hay fever - go over hay bales

-chaotic crossover - more nets to climb over

-petrifying plunge - mudslide!

-warrior wall - wooden barricade

-tipsy tightrope - heck yes!

-warrior roast - jump over some fi-ah!

-muddy mayhem - crawl through the mud, under barbed wire

I'm pumped, no way around it. I'm kind of bummed there's no water involved, but I guess it would be a bit cold for that... Hm.

The best part? I get a medal! A real medal for completeing it! And a viking hat! And a shirt. I love getting free stuff! Even if I have to pay $50 to register. Oh well, it'll be worth it, for sure!

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Have you ever done a warrior dash? What was the most fun race you've ever done?

Jingle Bell 5K

I did it! I ran my first race! Well *ran* may not be the best description, I ran *most* of it. I took a few walking breaks, but only allowed myself to walk for about 30 seconds - 1 minute at a time. I am so incredibly proud of myself. My old roommate and I did the race together, although she finished 7 minutes faster than I did, but I'm a newbie runner, I'll admit it, and she's been running longer than I have, at least a year longer. I finished in 42 minutes and some odd seconds, but I did it! If you would have told me a year ago where I'd be right now, I would have laughed in your face, seriously. I never would have thought that I'd be a runner.

Since I ran my race, this is also the first thing I get to cross off on my list of 101 things to do in 1,001 days! It's a monumental occasion. I was looking at other races, I'd be up for another one shortly, but sadly there's really none around me for the next few months. Nothing I'd really want to go to anyways. My roommate and I were talking about maybe training for a half in May. Seriously, I can't even believe I'm considering signing up to run 13.1 miles. That's crazy talk!

Here's some pictures from the race:

My race number!

All ready to run!

Post race lunch!

Woo hoo! I finished my race!

I did it!

I would like to announce to the world that I signed up FOR A 5k!!!

I am super excited about this, and I am not worried at all that I can finish this 5K running the whole time. I know that 13 minutes of straight running probably isn't the same as a 5K, but I still have 6 weeks to train for it. This is totally new territory to me, I'm going to run a race! The hubs said that after I finish the race, then I can consider myself a runner. Oh man, I'm so estatic to take on that label. If you would have told me a year ago that I would have just signed up for a 5K - I would have laughed in your face.

This journey is taking me so much farther than I ever thought possible. I'm not even at the weight I was last summer, but I feel so much better than I did last summer. The hubs doesn't even remember me being at that weight, and honestly, neither do I. It was just a number on the scale, it meant nothing. I wasn't confident enough to wear a bikini at the beach, and I think I'm in a smaller jean now than I was last summer, and I'm still 13 lbs. more than I was.

My body is changing, my mindset is changing, and I think it's great. This journey is slow, but it is so worth it. Trying new foods, exercising, it's great. I'm glad that I can take care of myself and make myself healthier. Obesity runs in my family, and I'm determined that it stops with me. I will teach my children how to eat healthy, and love exercise and be healthy. I do not want to be a negative statistic: another American who is obese and has children who are overweight. I want my kids to be happy and healthy.

Rant over: but I'm still signed up for a 5K!!!

Red Robin update & 5K???

I didn't fail miserably at Red Robin last night, but I didn't follow my plan exactly. I ate my fries and "forgot" to order cantaloupe instead of my fries. The birthday girl's whole family was there, and they ordered appetizers for everyone, so I had some artichoke dip and a mozzarella stick. And I had cake. Delicious, perfect vanilla cake with vanilla icing. I tracked it all on SP and moved on. I don't think I'm going to track on WW for the rest of the week, I'll stick with SP. I went over my calories, but only by 500 which isn't totally, completely terrible. It could have been a lot worse.

Before going to Red Robin, I decided to do a quick run after work. I knew I wouldn't want to get up this morning and run since it was going to rain. Got home, quickly checked the mail, changed and went out. Since I didn't complete my W5D2 training for C25K I wanted to do that again, but I really didn't have the time. I decided to run as far as I could, just straight running. Holy cow! I ran 13 minutes STRAIGHT! I haven't done that since I was a cheerleader probably, and I don't even know if I did it then - I liked to walk a lot during our mandatory runs.

I, of course, updated my fb status and my marathon runner sister-in-law said that I'm almost ready for a 5K - we should run one together! What?! My marathon/triathlon sister-in-law thinks I'm almost ready for a 5K? This is exactly what I needed to hear, no lie. I have been toying with the idea of signing up for a 5K for a little bit now, I really want to be a runner and I have a life goal of running the Disney World Marathon. I gotta start with a 5K and work my way up. I decided to look up 5Ks in my area, and there's a Christmas one. Now if you've been reading my last few posts, you know I love Christmas and a Christmas 5K is right up my alley. I am so convinced to do this now, and I know I can. I still have another 6 weeks to go, and even if I repeat the last few weeks of C25K I will still be done in time for the race.

Wow, that sounds so weird, I'm going to sign up for a race! Me, Megan is voluntarily signing up to run a race! I need to save my pennies though, it's a $30 registration fee, and the smart thing to do would be to NOT sign up because we don't have the money. But I want to so bad! I want to be a runner, this is my goal since I started WW, and before. I want to be a runner so bad. I gotta talk to the hubs about it, and hopefully we can scrounge up the money for it! :)