1 Hour 59 Minutes 51 Seconds

I DID IT!   With nine seconds to spare I succeeded in finishing a half marathon in under 2 hours.  Here's the race run down.

Around mile 3, I took some video...

We drove to DC on Friday.  Checked into the hotel.  Took the Metro over to the DC Armory for the Expo which I had hopes was going to be good.  The expo was disappointing with a bunch of empty booths and several more just selling junk like sweat bands.  It was disappointing.  We headed back to the hotel for dinner and got to bed around 8:30ish.

The view of the Capitol from
 outside the hotel at 6am.

I requested a wake up call but still woke up several times with bad dreams about over sleeping.  Leaving the hotel so early was fine and I decided to get a cab to the start line.  I met some other participants outside the hotel and we split the cab fare.  Traffic close to the stadium was awful so we ended up just walking the last couple of blocks.  It was really exciting seeing everyone pumped for the race but SO COLD.  Of course I brought my nice running gloves and then they gave a us a pair at the expo (The kind that you wouldn't feel bad throwing off as you run), I forgot BOTH at the hotel!

The scene outside RFK stadium in the corrals around 6:45am

Sun rising, Capitol on right

They assigned everyone corrals according to your estimated pace or the prerequisite race time you had to send in when registering (not sure which).  I stood in my corral, stretched and anxiously waited for my friends to arrive as I read their text messages about being stuck in traffic.  The corrals started moving toward the start line and I never found my friends before the race.


The beginning of the race was the best part in terms of stuff to look at.  The sun coming up over the monuments was really spectacular.  The rest of the race through the neighborhoods was cool but I had no idea where I was in relation to the finish line.   I didn't even really enjoy running with so many people.  I was never quite sure of my pace or if I was just stuck behind someone.  I was shocked how many people ran with bare feet or plastic sock things that are practically bare feet.  While I was quite happy with my time,  it was kind of a bummer that the actual clock was about 11 minutes behind my "net" time .  The lack of mile markers and spectators was probably the most disappointing part.  Then, the most ill planned part of this event -- the finish line was jammed with people.  I was so nauseous when I finished and it was a little scary to be that close to so many people.  Who ever planned the event thought it was a good idea to hand out medals at the finish line rather than water.  The line for water and food was ridiculous.  I think I may have rolled in at a very popular time though because my friend rolled across the finish line a little later than me and just breezed through everything (meanwhile I was slightly traumatized).

Mission accomplished.  I feel good but I am still wrapping my brain around the fact that the race is over. As I reread some older blog posts I am reminded of how much work I put in over the last several months.   My kids were excited for me and I got the "good job" from my near and dear friends and family.  But I have to admit there was a special pride in my heart when I told my WW meeting.  So many of them are moms and I just feel like they get it.  They get how hard it is to fit everything in and put yourself first sometimes.  Two woman actually told me I was inspiring.  I mean how great is that?  That's such a nice compliment way better than "You look great."

Unfortunately I would say pretty much all of last week I ate terribly.  I weighed in up 1.2 lbs.  I am down 24.8lbs as week 25 commences.  Just a bump in the road.  I also have a little virus or something right now which is just completely annoying, as they say life continues to happen.  This week I am going to work on coming up with my new plan for exercising and eating as well as planning my next goal.  

To Do: Start Movement Against Mini Foods

As I inhale another handful of mini red Swedish fish, I am seeing a pattern here with me losing my weight loss battle to the mini foods.  Just last week I lost to the mini Oreos.  I'm typing this to busy my hands, yet another WW tip.  I'm also realizing I'm getting nervous for the race.  Apparently, I eat when I'm nervous.  Darn it!!!!  Deep breath, OK, back to the kitchen to finish up making dinner.

25 lbs the Charm

As usual about to hit a milestone and a snow storm hits!  Despite my son's school's delayed opening, my daughter's school cancellation and then getting to WW and no one being there, I still managed to get weighed in today.  For the weigh in I had two things on my mind -- hitting 25 lbs and getting out of the 160s, well actually a third thing NO GAINING!  

I've been weighing myself and wasn't seeing the scale go down until yesterday after my run.  I was really worried that I would be up this week because I devoured everything in sight this weekend.  When someone finally showed up to open the WW office and I got weighed in I was very happy to hear I was down 1 lb this week.  This means I am down 25.8 lbs to date and weighing in at 160.6 lbs.  Unfortunately still in the 160s, just call me Athena.  I received a little ring/charm/weight thing to put on my 10% keychain.  What was different this week my leader always asks.  I told the group how difficult it was last month having an entire month of not losing (or gaining) but I "changed it up" and "inspired myself" to persevere and its paying off.  I enjoyed the claps and my daughter was excited to get the star magnet that says "I lost 25lbs."  

I did a 5 mile run yesterday.  Screwed up my phone by mistake so I'm not exactly sure of the distance but the splits that I do have the information for were quite good.  Feeling excited and confident for the half marathon and my goal.  Still don't have a new outfit to run in and I'm thinking I won't be buying anything new unless I get it at the expo in DC.

I Ate the Goddess

This weekend I ran in a 10 mile race and completely exceeded my expectations!  I had hopes of running 9 minute miles, I actually averaged 8:35 miles!!  I have no idea where the speed or endurance came from.  I still had the tightness during the first three miles and a slight desire to just stop.  Miles 4-7 were terribly boring, I think it wouldn't have been as bad if I were running with music but I forgot to put some on my phone.  Miles 8-10 were much better b/c I knew I was closing in on the finish line.  Mile 10 was actually my fastest mile at 8:06!  By the end of the race I still had a little left in me to run faster but I really don't know if I could have kept up this pace for another 3.1 miles.  I know from the last time I did a half marathon, everything came apart in the last 3.1 miles.  I felt tire but good after this, not totally drained so maybe I'll be in good shape to finish under 2 hours (I really really hope so).

These were my splits:
Mile 1 - 8:54
Mile 2, 3 & 4 - 8:36
Mile 5 - 8:24
Mile 6 & 7 - 8:36
Miles 8 & 9 - 8:30
Mile 10 - 8:06

Its always a little jarring getting out of the house extra early especially when I have to wake up the kids but it went pretty smoothly.  I dropped the girls off at my mom's house and headed down to the race alone.  Precious alone time, it was nice.  I was a little nervous that I wouldn't find the park the race was in b/c I forgot from last year how far south it is.  Then when I finally got there I had to use the port-a-potty immediately.  My warm up run was actually from the car to the port-a-potty and thank God there was no line b/c I was trying to talk myself out of using it.  I HATE using public bathrooms and port-a-potty FORGET IT!  YUCK!  At least there was no line.  Once I was there and picked up my number though I did feel ready to do it, I hope it works out like that for the half marathon.  Still need to figure out my half marathon outfit though.  I like having my phone with me but it was way too bouncey in my waist carrier, I can't wear the coat I normally wear on my long runs b/c its too warm now.  Must figure out what I am wearing fast!

Since I am SO HAPPY with my running I am going to just embrace the gigantic goddess that I apparently am.  Remember my mini goal of not being in the "Athena" category??  I was going to be super strict with myself because I wanted to be down 2 lbs this week and under 160 (aka non-Athena).  I had a slip up Friday night with a bag of mini oreo cookies.  Mini cookies are so hard to regulate because they are mini and less than a full size cookie but before you know it, you've eaten way too many.  Oh and all the milk with the cookies, I was a little nauseous when I put the bag back in the cabinet.  I figured one slip up on Friday wouldn't kill my week but then yesterday was just a gluttony fest so I'm not too hopeful this week.  My husband had his friends over during all of this and while he did a great job cleaning up, the delicious leftovers were all around.  The party leftovers, coupled with the cupcakes from my cousin's birthday party, on top of the three bowls of spaghetti and meatballs that my friend made for dinner last night will not add up to a good week on the scale.  I know I have nerve to even hope but I would just like to be down that 0.2 lb, I'll hit 25.   Anyway, I'm pretty sure I ate myself right into the Athena category.  I've been called worse than Athena.

Broke Through Plateau

I said I would do it this week and I DID!

Down 3.6 lbs this week, overall down 24.8 lbs as week 23 commences.  I wasn't even thinking about hitting the 25 lb mark -- which is such a big deal in Weight Watcher Land because you get another charm thing.  The WW man who weighed me in mentioned how close I was to hitting 25.  I totally forgot since I just wanted to finally break away from 165, that made me happy enough.  However, you better believe (that I am completely obsessed with whatever little accolades WW wants to give me) I want that charm BAD and I will get it next week!

My next mini goal is on my mind, I want to be under 160 for the half marathon.  I am not in the "Athena" category!!  Only 10 days until the big race...

Shot from Sunday's Run

Half Marathon = Baby?

Saturday's party went pretty well.  I enjoyed the food but took it easy on the dips and cheese which are my downfall at parties.  Appetizers are my favorite.  I can't say I was as strong during the desert hour.  Me vs the brownies (I lost.  2 Brownie bites with icing) and the cupcakes (I win.  I was strong and did not have one!) and the the ice cream cake (Tie.  I did have a piece but it was only a sliver).  The frosting on the desserts was so flavorful yet light, I usually scrape off the frosting.  Delicious.  I held back enough that I didn't have a cupcake but we did come home with a few desserts that someone insisted we take, the cupcakes were amazing (me vs. cupcakes on day 2 -- win! only had one, me vs. brownies day 2 -- lose, had at least 3) .  The scale seemed to recognize what little I did hold back on or perhaps it was the Irish step dancing I did that burned a few of the calories because Sunday morning's scale reading was 163 even.

Sunday I ran 9 miles!!  I especially felt strong during the last 3 miles.  This week's training was thrown off by the rain and my son having a stomach virus Sunday night, as usual this week I missed one of my short runs.  Anyway, I started out a little nervous leaving the house.  Nine miles is daunting to do on your own with no water stations or bathrooms along the way.  I extended my usual route so that kind of made it better because at least for the first 3 miles I knew roughly when I was hitting my mile marks.  I started this run (as I do most other runs) with a brisk walk up a steep hill.  Once I get to the top of the hill I stretch, its usually takes 7 minutes for the walk (0.4 miles) and stretching.  After the warm up, I actually said out loud, "Come on, you can do this!"  I surprised myself by talking out loud and thought it was so strange to talk to myself but me and myself agreed it was OK because I'm self coaching. ha!

I'd say the first three miles I was thinking about how this experience is similar to having a second (or third) baby.  I did this already once yet I sign up for a half marathon again magically forgetting all the work and effort that goes into it, sort of like how you forget the pain of laboring a child.  Then you end up in the middle of a training run or on a hospital bed wondering what you got yourself into.  I was also thinking about how the first mile is always the toughest (much like the first trimester) yet you get no credit for it.  No one is wearing a shirt that says "I ran one mile!" and if you're like me, I don't tell anyone I'm pregnant until after the first trimester, so again no credit!  The next three miles I was thinking about those St Pat's desserts and wondering how I could even track them.  I knew there wouldn't be any when I got home thanks to my husband but I was thinking it would be funny to bring those desserts to my Weight Watchers meeting and say,  "See!  Do you see what I am up against!?"  Then I was headed home for the last three miles and I was feeling strong.  I was running up hills and chugging along.  All but one of my splits was under 10 minutes and I averaged 9:49 per mile.  I'm thinking that this will probably be my half marathon pace and I'm really happy with that.

Six months ago yesterday I was probably about 210lbs.  Six months ago today I had my 9lb 4oz baby!  Happy 6 month birthday, Lulu!!  Today I got on the scale and it said 161!!  That's completely an unofficial number just my bathroom scale but it should be good week tomorrow at the meeting.    

Inspiration Spills onto Blog

Had a wonderful dinner last night at Monster Sushi.  My daughter ordered fruit for dessert and immediately upon its arrival chose not to eat it.  I wasn't going to have dessert but who could pass on beautiful fruit cut into flower shapes?  Besides fruits are free.  Anyway, scale says I'm back up to 165 although I don't think it was the fruit that put me over.  As long as I keep it in check at today's St Pat's party I should be well on my way to losing this week and I really want to!! (Can you feel all that inspiration?)  I'm hoping for at least 1lb plus.

Still working on my personal challenge of not grazing in the kitchen when I don't know what to do with myself.  Had a few moments yesterday where I wanted to cry but feeling sad doesn't make me want to eat, boredom is my enemy.  I didn't actually cry but felt a little down because my son's school is encouraging me to send him to school 5 mornings a week next year.  After talking with my husband about it, I've decided I'm OK with it and that I will do as they are suggesting but I will cut down the days if its too much for him.  A big piece of his childhood is over, I was feeling a little sad for him that he's going to start the Monday-Friday schedule everyone else is on.  My little baby is not so little anymore.

Getting back to my inspiration and feeling inspired...  This week I had to write a letter to my son's school.  Its been so long since I HAD to write anything.  I kind of enjoy writing, not because I am particularly good at it or anything but its enjoyable to me.  I have not written anything in years -- I've been a homemaker for nearly 4 years now and before that I was a finance worker with minimal writing duties.  Its been so long.  I worry that part of my brain is dying because I'm not using it to its fullest capacity for long periods of time.  Anyway, I was rereading older blog posts.  I've decided that I am a pretty boring read.  I think I may need to post more frequently to get more out of writing this.  One of the reasons I started writing this is to improve myself by working on something outside my home and kids. I feel like when I find the time to write, it kind of just spills out and I don't ever really try to improve my writing.  Perhaps if I write more frequently I'll get better at it and be a little more interesting.  A girl can hope, right?  I'm also considering letting people know the blog exists.  Technically, its on the internet and anyone can read it but dare I actually tell anyone or invite them to read my thoughts.  Ahhhh!

Pinch me, I'm Inspired

I've decided that I need to make lots of posts this week to keep myself focused on the task at hand.  Today is the first Friday of Lent and I only had one slip up, eating part of my daughter's pepperoni pizza.  I may still be in the clear because she tends to eat all the pepperoni first but I feel like one may have gotten by her and landed in my mouth but I could be wrong.

Today was the first day of having our house cleaned by paid outsiders.  I am really reluctant to pay people to do things that I can do myself.  I really hate having strangers in the house and giving them access to look through everything.  My husband is OK with all of that and just wants a clean house.  Over the last three weeks at least one of my children has had a stomach bug.  I only mention this because it throws off the schedule when they miss school consequently I have not been able to clean.  If I am being brutally honest I can not do a thorough job.  There is just no way, the kids mess up what ever room or floor they are left on while I clean, unless the TV is on but I limit TV time to mommy makes dinner alone hour.  It is nearly impossible to have an entirely clean house UNLESS someone else does it.  Well, I think I might be in love.  Why have I been torturing myself (and consequently my husband)?  This is money so well spent.  Our little house is so clean and I love it this way!!

Me and my daughters walked into town with the carriage and picked up my son from school.  We went to the coffee store and I got coffee and they got ring pops.  We had a little pizza picnic outside the library and then went to story time.  We met up with friends and played in the playground.  I should have gotten a run in today but I got a good walk in so can't be too down on myself.  Then we came home to this super clean house.  I LOVE FRIDAYS!!!  Heck, I just even enjoyed my cinnamon apple sauce snack which is zero points!

Inspire Myself

I AM A POSSIBILITY THINKER.  I AM A POSSIBILITY.

This week's WW challenge is the title and the above.  Thursday and Friday are always my best days of the week  because I am fresh out of the meeting.  I stayed on plan yesterday and got my exercise.  Today according to my bathroom scale I am down 1lb.  I need to keep this up and have a good week this week, I'd be thrilled to lose one whole pound or more.  I know I can do it.  No long run yesterday too much rain.  I have to do it this weekend.  Next weekend is the St Paddy's 10 miler and the following weekend the half marathon!!  Feeling very motivated this morning to break through my status quo this better last through the weekend (and the Pat's party).  Remember, that mini goal I set to be under 160 before the half marathon so I am not considered the "Athena" category?  Its going to be close, only 2 more weigh ins before the half marathon.

No Gain Month

Weigh in day is so annoying when I know I haven't done my tracking during the week.  This morning I was feeling a little down about it as stepped into the shower.  After the shower, I weighed myself on my bathroom scale, 163.4 (with no clothes on) so I figured by the time I put on clothes and get over to the meeting I would probably weigh in about the same as last week.  Just not gaining is sometimes very uplifting.  At the meeting, I was down 0.2 lbs (a stick of butter!!  They'd say at a WW meeting), 165.2 lbs.  This means for the entire last month (2/9-3/9) I stayed the same, down 21.2 overall.  I have not been tracking and the only thing saving me from gaining is all the running.  I have been eating everything in sight lately.  I tracked one day this past week and was devastated when I realized that the strawberry shake I had at Cold Stone Creamery was 43 points!!!   Similar to the Friendly's incident, I will not make the same mistake twice.  Cold Stone, never again.

The silver lining to weigh in day is that it is also meeting day.  Thankfully, this week's meeting really spoke to me.  There was a lot of talk about eating for no good reason which is any reason other than hunger.  That is exactly my problem.  I get bored.  I get busy.  I sometimes want to do something for myself.  I just want to step away from the kids (or the whining) for a second.  There's a million reasons but grabbing something from the kitchen is just what I do in those sorts of empty mindless moments.  THAT IS THE ROOT OF MY PROBLEM.  I am going to make a concerted effort to stop doing that and stop making excuses if I am doing it.  As my leader said, "You eat in those moments and then afterwards when you still don't feel filled up, you eat some more but you are never going to feel filled up because you are not eating because you are hungry."  So insightful.

Another topic at the meeting was not allowing the scale to be your only determinate of success, which was a coincidence because I was just having the same thought this morning.  I don't want to sound like I'm all about the scale even though on weigh in day I kind of am.  While I was taking my shower feeling a little glum, I was thinking about my week and decided to think about my successes.  I am really proud that I completed my longest run yet 8 miles.  I am hoping to do 9 miles tomorrow.  I love how strong I feel from doing the weights.  I love that I can carry my baby (in a ridiculously heavy car seat) and 2 year old at the same time albeit only in a pinch and I prefer not to but I can do it nonetheless.  I also made some strides in not reaching for food and finding an alternative.  This week I got a babysitter for a couple of hours and did my run.  Today, even though it was cold, I was desperate to get out of the house.  I let the kids play in the house (their preference) and then I said get ready to go to the playground and we all got out the door and went.  The time it took to actually get them out the door probably equaled the time spent at the playground but at least I wasn't grazing in the kitchen for that time.  Finally, I am proud that I have not gained.  165 was my old normal and I'm proud to be back but I hovered around my old normal for the last 4 weeks, I think I'm ready to leave it in the dust and move on now.  I say it every week but I will track this week!!

The half marathon training has been going so well.  It was really bothering me that I was not hitting my stride until the end of my run or that I didn't seem to have any sort of base, every mile seemed hard to me.  I finally found my groove.  The week off no running has definitely paid off because my running feels so much better.  Five miles is a workout but no longer a struggle.  Go me!!  And I finally booked out hotel room so we are really going!!

Timeline of Gaining + Degrees of Race Success

I am happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed vacation.  Lots of very relaxed family time on our 14 hour road trip to Atlanta.  My husband and I liked it so much we want to move there!  Very exciting.  I was a little nervous about the weigh in today since I have not tracked my food in the last two weeks but I got good news down 1 lb, making 21 lbs overall as week 21 begins.

For most of high school I'd say I was in the 130s and occasionally as an adult for big things like my wedding day.  In college I was in the low 140s and then for the rest of my 20s upper 140s.  By the time I got pregnant (at 28 and then again at 30) I considered 150 to be my base.  After having each child I gave myself a year to get back to 150 which I did.  It definitely got harder with each baby.  My second child will be three on June 1 and I know for sure that on her first birthday I was down to 150.   Roughly 2 years ago something somewhat gradually happened that made my weight jump up to 170.  I assumed it was my eating habits although I really couldn't put my finger on anything in particular that I was regularly over eating.  I decided to train for a half marathon because a couple of friends spoke so highly of the training experience plus they both lost lots of weight.  I trained and sweated all throughout the summer of '09 yet really only got down to about 165 by the time I completed the half marathon in October.  I began to think that perhaps this was normal to gradually gain 5 lbs every few years, especially after having the kids.  I decided to train for another half marathon because I enjoyed the challenge and wanted to lose more weight.  During my training this time I got pregnant with my third child.  Upon seeing the doctor this time it was determined I had a growth on my thyroid that needed to be surgically removed.  I thought I was so stupid to blame myself for the weight gain when it was my body telling me something was wrong.  The doctor still says my growth did not effect my hormone levels hence could not have effected my metabolism nor caused my weight gain but looking back I realize it must have.  Today I am 165 only 5 months after having had my third baby.   All the baby weight is gone, I am so proud of that.  Next goal is to get my BMI back to normal which for my height is 155 or less.  Then my ultimate goal is 145 or maybe 140 still need to decide.  While I do celebrate 165 as being my old normal, I was reminded over vacation as I looked at myself in the mirror wearing my bathing suit, that there is still work to be done and I'm still over weight.  Back to tracking my food!

I really did have hopes of getting my runs in over the vacation, it never happened not even one.  So how is that I lost weight?  We did do some walking, but the biggest thing was probably our brunch and early dinner meals (skipping the third meal).  I like doing that anyway.  Back to the running, when we got home I decided to do a run (the only run for that week) of not 5 but 6.5 miles!  I really felt good without any soreness.  It still annoys me that I still feel heavy and never really hit a stride until late in the run but I was really quite happy to be out for an hour running for that long and again my splits were mostly under 10 minutes.  This week I got my first two training runs in and I have my MIL coming over to babysit tomorrow so long run will happen tomorrow.  I was supposed to do 8 miles last week as a long run.  Wondering if I should do the 8 miles this week or do what I'm supposed to this week which is 5 miles or third option do something in between the two?     Really happy that the treadmill soreness has subsided and my time really seems to have gotten better, this week I did a 5k in 26:50!!  Today I did 5 miles in exactly 45 minutes!  Go me!  Although I do these training runs and think, "This is the pace I'd have to keep to finish under 2 hours!  There's no way!"  So while I run and ponder these goals I have determined my degrees of success:
(1) I will always be happy just to finish without injury
(2) I will be even more happy to beat my old time of 2 hours 19 minutes
(3) I will be over the moon if I finish in under 2 hours because it will mean my pace is just about 9 minutes per mile.