First 5k in the books!

WOOO!!! I ran my first 5k yesterday. I was really nervous at first but it was a great experience, really!

I ran the Arlington 9/11 Memorial run in honor of 9/11.

It was a fabulous run for an amazing cause. I ran with a great group of ladies which made the experience that much better.

Did I run an amazing race? No but I finished. I'm not sure what my finishing time was but I feel good about it.

Before this run, I hadn't run for 3 weeks before because of my injury from my fall. My knee was hurting for close to 3 weeks and I was scared to make it worse so I rested.

Close to the finish line, I found Edward and Eddie waiting and cheering me on. I stopped and let Eddie come and finish the race with me. Sure it slowed my time by several minutes but seriously, his face was worth every second. He ran with such pride and happiness! He wanted to continue after we ran over the line. He would run a few steps and look up at me with such pride, it was amazing. I wish I could have let him run longer. I think the cheering and seeing everyone running really motivated him.

They even gave him a medal at the end too! I can't wait to run another race with him. I may never have an amazing time but I will continue to run,  let my son see my run and encourage him to run with me.

Clumsy

I started this post about 2 weeks ago and never came back to finish it. Seems fitting that I finish it now considering my other post on pain. 

Honestly, I just deleted all I wrote because it was boring! Quick recap of 2 weeks ago. I went to a body combat class and messed up my knee. Had to get a knee compression sleeve and couldn't run like normal for a few days because of knee pain. It sucked, but it healed quickly. 

No more body combat for me! 

Pain

I don't handle pain well. I'm kind of a sissy when it comes to getting hurt so the last two days have been horrible! 

Yesterday, I tripped at the bottom of my stairs and landed in a strange contortionist position, leading to really bad rug burn on my knee. 

I love our fluffy carpet but apparently it's no joke when it comes to skidding to a stop on it. But, hey no biggie right? I can run like this. 

So today, I had a sitter and decided to run alone, yay! Great, right? I was having a good run with a really good time. I hit that 1 mile mark and was listening to my nike+ app tell me my time when all of a sudden I trip. 

I freakin trip. A trip like in the movies, all slow and hands waving in front of my face, with that slow motion "noooo" coming out of my mouth. I was aiming for the grass but ended up just landing on my side on the sidewalk. The aftermath, looks like this:

It doesn't look that bad, but man they sting!  I told you, I do not handle pain well. :( 

When I landed, I just sat there as 2 cars passed me by, thinking "Did they just see that" and "Seriously! Did that just happen to me?" Awkward yet frustrating moment.

I was doing so well on my run, then I fell. I almost wanted to keep going but then I looked at my elbow,  bleeding and raw and just walked home. What a bummer and waste of time. 

Tomorrow, back on the horse! Running 3 miles hopefully without injury. Wish me luck. 

Mental Blocks

You know that nagging voice inside your head that tells you you are not good enough or you can't do something. I had a morning filled with voices telling me to sit on the couch. 

It's frustrating, you want to be a better you but sometimes your brain just wants you to sit and eat cupcakes. 

I fought through it this AM. I got up and went running, just did it. I ran 3.17 miles (a 5k!) in 43 minutes. My goal was under 45 so that good, but it was running the first mile then run/walk the rest. My goal, running 3 miles without stopping, I'll get there eventually. 

Anyway back to my metal blocks. So I didn't want to run this morning, not even a little bit but I did and then I had to fight myself to keep going and finish as I continued to encounter things that made me feel, well, like I was fooling myself for trying this. So this is what made me feel like that:

1- This 

 

Some super mom, who kind of looked just like this, hauling ass while pushing her kid in the stroller. (This is some random stock pic off google images, I don't want my neighbors to think I'm weird).  She ran, and she ran fast. I want to do that too. 

2. Then this:

Super fit, hauling ass, pretty chick running also. She never stopped running and looked amazing. Felt self conscience when we crossed paths, twice. 

3. Talking to hubster this weekend and asking him how long it took him to run 3 miles and him telling me, 19 minutes was his last timed 3 mile run, with his fastest ever mile being 5:30. 

Ugh! So now I'm comparing myself to them and I feel kind of pitiful. My 11:44 mile, my running (more like a walking shuffle) slower than molasses, and lack of stamina. All of it made me want to quit, just stop, turn around, walk home and eat some damn bon bons. 

But I didn't. I kept going, I talked to myself, and reminded myself that they weren't always so awesome, they had to start like me, slow and determined. 

I am slow! I do not have a ton of stamina, but I AM DETERMINED. I will be amazing like those girls I saw today. I will stop comparing myself to others, this is my own race. I am only out to beat myself. 

The beginning

Killed It!

Guess who ran today? This girl! Guess who killed it? Okay, okay, let's be real. So what I did do was run a full mile outside for the first time, ever. Like non-stop up and down a hill in less than 12 minutes. 11:44 to be exact. 

Yeah, yeah no great, super, accomplishment, I mean my husband is a Marine who runs 3 miles in like 22  19(yeah, I was way off with my original estimate!) minutes. But you have to start somewhere. My first run on this journey took me over 16 minutes. Granted I was pushing the stroller, but 16 minutes. It was pathetic but I was lapping those guys on the couch. On Wednesday with my sucky stroller, I did it in 14 so I cut 2 minutes off my time in less than 3 weeks. 

By myself without child, 12 something on the treadmill at the gym last week. TODAY 11:44 OUTSIDE! That's some freaking progress. I'm sure people saw me do a happy dance after I stopped running right there on the sidewalk. For the record, I ran over a mile but my app MapMyRun tells me when I hit the mile and my pace. 

Here is my overall run today:

My goal is to hit less than 45 minutes for a 5k. From this run, I definitely think I can beat that. I have about 6 weeks to get there. 

For the record, I do NOT enjoy running or working out. It sucks but I am determined. Thanks for reading, knowing YOU are reading helps keep me accountable. 

Here we go!

 I should be running right now but instead I sit here, starting my first ever blog. A little ironic, a blog about learning to exercise and be fit and I'm sitting on the couch.

I just started my "getting fit" journey 3 short weeks ago. My motivation: This photo: 

Yep, that's me. I looked at this picture and all I see is the newly formed tire around my waist. That is ALL I see. In this picture I was playing in a sprinkler with my best friend and our boys (husbands' and sons). My best friend looks like this:

She's a ripped, bad-ass Marine Corp drill instructor . She's a runner, fitness guru and health freak. 

It's about time some of the traits passed on to me. 

So that motivated me and then so did this awesome lady who put an invitation out to TBS Delta company wives for a 9-11 5k run. So I signed up for the race, halfheartedly. Then I realized holy crap, I can't look like a fool in front of everyone out there. I need to train, NOW.

Oh yeah, there is a 3rd reason behind me new found madness. Finding myself. The me who isn't a couch potato and crappy eater. The better, stronger, fit me with runner's legs. Runner's legs are part of my goal. Have you ever seen runner's legs. Freakin awesome. 

I'm going to be brave and put up my before pictures. 

Haha, ignore my little photo bomber. The kid right there is pretty awesome. Especially right now since it's 8am and he's still sleeping. Peaceful bliss. 

Back to topic. So these pictures. I know, know I am not obese or over weight. But I am NOT in shape or healthy. I am what I like to call skinny-fat. I've got no muscle definition, I DO have love handles and cottage cheese thighs and butt. I want to be a better me, a fit me with runner's legs! I WILL get there. I WILL. 

So let me tell you about my last 3 weeks. Week 1- joined the gym took 1 class and ran outside and on the treadmill and used some of the weight-lifting machines. It was okay but nothing changed. 

Week 2- OMG this week started with CUPCAKES. Glorious DC cupcakes. Totally ruined my week, worked out 4 days this week, ran outside and on treadmill pretty much, short quick less than 2 mile runs. 

Week 3- The week I am for real getting serious. I am using this awesome app- My Fitness Pall. 

This app is helping me track my food and my exercise. I have been eating clean, barely any sugar, and all whole foods. Threw away the junk and just got real with myself. I saw a trainer at the gym Monday (but I did have an amazing steak and cheese philly for lunch for a girl friend's birthday, took me over my caloric intake for the day just a smidgen), 

Tuesday- short on time but did 30 minutes on the treadmill, a little over 2 miles. I don't do it flat. I challenge myself on the treadmill. Incline up to 8 when walking, jogged on a 1.5 incline.  

Wednesday- I took out my old cheap jogger and took Eddie (my awesome kid) out for a run. OMG it sucked. The jogger veered to the left making me correct it over and over, it was heavy to push and frankly, I'm not ready for a fixed wheel when running. I run slower than people walk! The fixed wheel right now just gets in the way. So I got Big Ed's okay and bought myself the BOB Revolution stroller in orange for running. Can't wait to get it and test that bad boy out. 

Anyway today is Thursday and I'm resting, not working out for now and have to run and get my parents from the airport. It will be a dfficult weekend staying on track. My mom loves to cook and honestly, I LOVE to eat! 

BTW Woke up this morning 3.5 lbs lighter! I NEED to keep this up. That right there is motivation. 

Starting weight 7/8/13 129 lbs of fat. 

Today's weight 7/25/13- 125.5 lbs.