Jingle Bell Run 5K

Hi. Well, where do I begin. I let this school year dominate me .... again. GRRR. But, not anymore. I'm done letting school control my life. I've ballooned back up in weight, I'm back to 220!! I'm fed up, I'm frustrated, and I'm making changes.
This past week I rearranged my living space to accommodate my exercise equipment, as well as a HUGE dry erase board to track my progress. I got two Biggest Loser Calendars to keep me inspired, and added the "Total Gym" to my exercise stuff. (Mine didn't come with the hot guy though :( lol.)I've also purchased a new Wii game -- a workout "game" where Jillian Michael's is my trainer. The first time I played it had a few glitches, but I'll try again. I've also decided to start tracking my food better again. I also joined the Biggest Loser Club Online.

So... I've been at best inconsistent on my exercise. The last run (aside from the race) was mid November, I worked out at the gym right before Thanksgiving. Then I let family issues (my Aunt passed away, my cousin's husband has been in Intensive care since mid Decemeber -- after having bypass surgery) and my being sick for 2 weeks (I did finally go to the doctor) get the best of me. As race day approached, I debated whether or not to run. The friends who were supposed to run with me had to work, the weather was looking frightful, and well, I was OUT OF SHAPE and not at all prepared to run. (I had, at least, bought some winter running gear.) But I decided- I said I was going to run in that race... so golly, I was gonna do it. Even if I came in last- at least I kept my word.

Race Day-
Brrr. It snowed overnight the night before, there was about 2 inches of snow on the ground, the temperature was in the low 20s at race time, with very strong wind gusts. I'm sure the windchill was in the single digits. According to the final race results, over 300 people came out to run. I was amazed by the prizes and refreshments they had - Panera Bread Bagels, Dunkin Donuts, Cookie Trays, Pizza, plus the usual oranges, bananas, protein bars, gatorade, etc.
I let my lack of practice, and lack of knowledge of myself influence how warmly I dressed. I had my outfit chosen but when I got there I decided I was still way too cold and left my coat on too -- BIG MISTAKE. I was way too hot. I ended up taking off my gloves, putting my hoods down, and even unzipping my coat (which was UNDER my sweatshirt). I also realized my cardio level was much lower than I thought. My legs didn't bother me at all - during the race -- they are sore now! But my cardio, and breathing the cold air, slowed me down - as did the snow/ice covered route. I ran when I could, but found myself walking to keep from falling. I showed up. I competed. I finished. That's what counts. Next year will be better.

After the finish:

Reality Check

I've been so well intentioned. Now it's time to truly act on those intentions. My race - the big one I've been aiming at - is in 70 days. Wow. I've worked out a schedule that will have me READY for the 5k. Today I ran another 3k, part of the "week 1" training. I am quickly realizing it is a lot harder to run when it's cold out. (It's 41, but feels like 37) I'll have to do some research. I've also realized I've been spending too much time at work. But I guess that's not anything new - ask anyone who knows me, however- it NEEDS to change. I've set the alarm on my phone to go off at 4pm to Shoo me out the door. (I still won't get home until 5, since I have an hour commute). I figure I really need to train outside since this 5k is an outdoor race, and I prefer to run in daylight, so as the days get shorter and shorter, I need to get home sooner and sooner.

I saw two deer on my run again today. They rather startled me. I kept hearing leaves rustling behind me and for the first few times I assumed it was the person that had just run past me going the other way, but then they were getting closer and closer - like someone was approaching. But whenever I'd look there would be no one there. Finally I looked INTO the woods and there was a doe and her fawn coming toward me - rather quickly. Then they headed across the path and into the woods on the other side. COOL. =)

What else is new? Not much. My food has been a roller coaster. Sabotage on every corner. But today has been great:
Breakfast- protein shake
Lunch- 2 pieces of papa johns, a 100 calorie rice krispy treat, and a mini bag of pretzels.
After School Snack - A slimfast breakfast bar
Dinner- 6in Chicken Sub on wheat, bag of baked BBQ lays, and a bag of sliced apples (Subway)
Plus I'm currently drinking my gatorade.

I need some support. A buddy. Someone to keep me honest and on task. I'm trying to think of who would be a good support on THIS side of the continent!!

I guess that's it for now. Time for a shower then i'm going to hit the stores looking for Halloween Costume Accessories and GROCERIES. I'm sick of living in a house with NOTHING GOOD to eat. (And I mean GOOD in the GOOD/HEALTHY way).

Today's Run:



New Favorite Picture- I finally got some pictures back from my Birthday party and some other outings. I'll post a link to them as soon as I upload them. But here's one I really like :)

Best $1.99 ever spent

Hello!! Wow it's been awhile. I'm sorry.
Life has been crazy as ever once school started. I'm getting things back on track now. I'm so out of it I didn't even realize the new Biggest Loser Season had started!!! So - my $1.99 was to download the first episode to my iTunes. I watched it - and in fact finished the episode while running on the treadmill. That was 2 weeks ago.
That week was crazy as I got ready to go to see NKOTB in concert as well as photograph my college roommate's wedding in Niagara Falls. Last week I spent getting ready for a Birthday Golf Outing for... well.. ME. Last Saturday was my 30th birthday. It was great. I'll post some pictures soon of all my latest endeavors really soon.
On the weight loss front things are ok. I mean my weight has fluctuated - but not too badly. As I was getting re-inspired by the Biggest Loser I joined their website. You can check out my profile there:
My Profile on the Biggest Loser Official Site
I'm going to be updating this site much better. I NEED to.
Thanks for checking in on me.
Talk to you all real soon!!!

I DID IT!!!

1:33:22
Whew! I did it. My plan was to walk for a song then run for a song. I pretty much held to that. I couldn't run up the hill, heading to halfway(home), so I missed a song there and during the second 5k sometimes I couldn't run for the whole song, but I did as much as I could, and I ran to the finish. I'm happy and then I saw my time! Woohoo! Right about where I had hoped it would be. I stopped for a drink 4 times, 3 water and my gatorade, but those stops were less than 20 seconds each (I don't know exact times- probably even less).
What I thought was really cool is that there was another girl running the same thing down in the park. We passed by each other several times and her dad (assumingly, he was running with her) offered me some words of encouragement too. It was such an energy boost to see someone else running the same race.
A few things a little on the negative side:
This shirt is totally not comfortable, perhaps if I had bought the right size I would have liked it better. But I wore it- proudly.
If I never run another 10k, I'd be ok with that. It's a long race (of course I made it even longer by walking a lot) but still I think 5k is definitely my race. Of course if they offer this race again, I'll probably do it, but I don't think I'd do any other 10k.
My race:

As of 11:00 this morning (my time) I'm ranked 8398th. I'll take it :)

Here I go

Well In about 20 minutes I will be heading out on my 10k run. I'm excited. I'm also excited because I got a new computer yesterday and I think it's just awesome. (It's a Mac). I'll tell you all about it (well maybe not- I realized it's very hard for non-techies to understand my excitement- or that I have a hard time explaining why it's soo cool. ) Let's just say I really like it. In fact before I head out I'll take a picture WITH MY COMPUTER and upload it. Yep, the computer has a BUILT IN camera!

Here it is!

My plan for the 10k, since I get to make my own route, is to essentially run 2 5ks. The route I picked is very close to my normal route- which I figured was a good idea- and I plan to pass a water fountain twice in the first half, halfway being at my house where I can grab a Gatorade, then I'll pass that same water fountain twice in the second half. I'm also heading out while it is still cool - in the 60s. It's going to 85 here today. So with that.. I best be going to get dressed.!! YIPPEE.

I've been running... I swear

Sorta. I can't believe summer is over! These past two weeks have been crazy. Boring- but crazy, if that's possible. I spent most of last week at school. We had summer school in the morning, then I stayed late to set up computers.
I have been running- every now and then.
This one is from August 17

This one is from August 23

And this one is from tonight:

Today was rainy and humid, but I really wanted to run. That 10k is on Sunday. Am I ready? No! Am I going to do it anyway? Hell, yeah!
On Sunday night - in my sleep- I managed to scratch a mosquito bite and in the process tore off quite a bit of skin on my foot. So I was out of commission most of this week. Today I decided to try running- it was fine. I went for 5k instead of my usual just 30 minutes. I'm trying to plan out how to do my 10k and figured I better go a little further to get ready :)

School has been different. There are kids there, but I haven't really been able to interact with them too much - that makes me sad. I miss my classroom. I've had some issues of when I get home I have nothing to do and I'm bored. So I decided while I was running tonight, that I'll come home and dedicate myself to working out. I have no excuses- it will keep me occupied, plus I've heard it has great side effects lol.

In other news,
the golf guy and I are... well I don't know. Lately just hanging out on the golf course and on the weekends. I don't mind. I'll take what time I can get, he's been exhausted from his new job. We'll see how things go tomorrow - it's our last day of golf. :(

Well I'll talk to you all soon. (sooner than recently) I promise!!!

I FINALLY ADDED MY PICS FROM THE CONCERT. CHECK THEM OUT IN THE POST BELOW :) Isn't Bob cute??

I'm in love. . . . with a Band!

UPDATE- HERE ARE MY PICTURES, FINALLY

Wow. What a day. I'm totally exhausted and ready to fall asleep, but I really need to write this while it's all fresh.

This morning I had a golf outing, my cousin nearly got a hole in one on a par 4! Quite Awesome. Anyway I was playing golf with Lynne, the woman I mentioned in the previous post. We were discussing "the new guy" and what's been going on. I was asked what he looked like, and felt kinda silly because I couldn't describe him. I could probably draw a picture of him but I can't verbally tell you anything. (I can see him in my head though!) My brain sometimes can't connect from one side to the other I think. lol. Anyway the early afternoon went by without too much.

We sold a lot at the garage sale the last few days and I helped my parents move some furniture. I then headed to Akron (about an hour away) to see a concert. Unfortunately no one knows who this band is and so no one wanted to go with me (a few who probably would were out of town) But I was determined, I REALLY wanted to see this concert. Oh yeah, they are called Great Big Sea. So I got there, got myself a chair, a slushy, and then spotted the merchandise table. YAY. I bought 2 shirts and a signed picture. While I was in line I started talking to another girl in line. She has seen them in concert and was telling me about how awesome it was etc.

The opening act was Jeremy Fisher - who was surprisingly entertaining. I saw that my "new friend" had her chair way up front and there appeared to be room near her, so I asked if I could sit up with her and her friend- she said sure. They were a lot of fun, and it was nice to have some people to enjoy the concert with.

Photos of Jeremy Fisher. (will be inserted on Sunday)

I have a slight confession to make. While I love the music of GBS, I had no idea what they looked like or who they actually were- I didn't know their names or anything! That's one of the reasons I bought the picture. I noticed that in the picture they all had long hair. Cool enough.

So I was kinda surprised when the band came out and only the lead singer had long hair. But I also received the COOLEST surprise ever. The "all purpose musician, Bob" (he plays the whistle, mandolin, guitar, accordian, shakers and I don't even know what else!) looked JUST LIKE the guy I'm interested in. I mean they could be twins!! Talk about a great treat- I pretty much stared at him all night long :) He even had the same mannerisms and smile! WOW. So anyway I will post my pictures from the concert tomorrow- I'm way too tired right now. But here are few pics of GBS from their websites. The one with all three of them resembles my interest best, but the resemblence is still very strong in the other one, too. Of course seeing the mannerisms, a slightly different goatie, and being a little further away - made the look alikeness much stronger at the concert. But still- you get the idea! (These pictures are of Bob from Great Big Sea and The 3 leads of Great Big Sea)






















I am most likely going to see GBS again in September and Bridgette (the girl I met at the concert) invited me to hang out with her at that concert, too!

COOL.
Well as I said, I'm exhausted. And so happy!!! =) YAY.