New Year New Goals

As of tomorrow I will have been running with my friends for an entire year!  Happy anniversary Nichole :-) As I looked into the mirror this morning I feel like I have come so far but I have so much farther to go. The new goal is 15-20 lbs by March 1st! I can do this!! My plan is 60 days of lots of focus and a strict schedule for working out. I plan to run on Tuesday and Thursday morning with Beth and then I will run on Saturdays unless I have a race that weekend. Then I will have training 3 days a week along with 30mins of cardio after my training. As long as I keep my eating where it needs to be I think I can do this. As of today my weight is at 185 (this stupid plateau of 182-185 that I can not break!) So will be posting weekly about my progress- my hope is at least 2 pounds a week!!

Tomorrow I am running the New Year's Day 5k in the city- super excited to be running it again. After the run I will be hitting the shoe store for a third time...lets hope that I can get a pair of shoes that actually work!!

Running Pains

I am a runner with flat feet!!! And let me tell you that it SUCKS!!! Here is how this goes for me..I finally found a pair of shoes that didn't squish my toes and that my feet did not tingle and fall asleep in. Then it comes time for a new pair- I went to a great store where they fit you and everything. They say I need a stability shoe- they are prolly right! So after spending hours in the store and finding what I think is the right shoe I get home and run in it and at mile 1.5 boom, my flipping right foot is asleep and it hurts- Have you ever tried to run while your foot is asleep?? I don't recommend trying it. So round two, I drag my friends back up to the city again and go back to the store and try this process all over again. I get another stability shoe like they recommend and I run in it this morning. First of all my poor running partner must have thought I was the slowest person on the planet because the first mile seemed to take me forever and then I had to walk. Seriously walk, this is in no way helping me build my endurance of work on speed when I am walking a freaking 5K! I caught back up with my friend ran a bit farther then I had to stop and walk back to her house! This is so not me- she prolly thinks that I am so sissy la la that can't keep up. I mean seriously how hard can it possibly be to find a new pair of running shoes for this flat footed girl!!! I have read numerous Runners World Magazines, gotten inserts for my shoes from the chiropractor, now what do I do??? I guess I need to find a foot Dr.

One year and 16 races later!!!

One year and 16 races later

Today marked the one year anniversary for my running!! I can not believe I have been running and trying to get healthy for a year now! I ran my 5k today 11mins and a few seconds faster than one year ago!! I have found a love for running and the thrill of beating myself. 

Lots of things have happened in the past year. I was trying to figure out the best way to sum everything up and what goals to make for the next year. I am going to start with the amazing things that have happened this past year.

-started running

- ran 16 races- when I always said I hated running

-lost over 50 lbs

-took over 11minutes off of my 5K time

-worked out at least 2 times a week all year

-made some amazing friends through out this journey who are so supportive and positive in my life. I have let go off people that are negative and not looking out for what is best for me. I now have people in my life that are here for me and willing to go the distance with me! Thanks to each and every one of you. I do not know where I would be with out you. Actually I do know where I would be….slow, unhappy, and 50lbs heavier.

-realized that so much of this battle is emotional and that mind over matter is key!

So what is to come in the next year?? Well here are a few things that I am hoping to accomplish!

-I want to run 2 half marathons

-I want to run 20 races

-I want to lose another 30 pounds- That darn scale will say 150-155!!!

-I want to run one race so both of my parents can see me

-Run a Warrior Dash! 

here are two pictures- the top on is one year ago and the second one is today- one year later :-) 

This post is dedicated to every person that has believed in me and said that I can do this! I have the greatest people in my life and am so blessed by them! Having people believe in me is part of what keeps me going! Thank you to all of you! (Crystal for putting up with me and telling me I can when I wanted to say I couldn't, Sharon for telling me I can do this and sharing your story when I needed it more than you will ever know, Nichole for showing me a love for running and making me part of your family, Leslie for your positive attitude and Jazz hands, Kerri for always complimenting me and making me feel so good even when I may not see a difference in the mirror, Amy for listening to me for years about everything, Jill for loving me like a sister I never had and always cheering me on, and last but not least Ron for kicking my butt weekly and pushing me to the limits!) I love and appreciate you all for your individual strengths and positive influence you have on my life! I look forward to what this next year will bring in your life and mine! 

New Personal Record

Yesterday I ran the Santa Hustle 5k. It was a great run and a great course. I ran with my normal group which is always fun. My goal was to be under 30mins...to this point my fastest 5k time was 32:01 on 8/4/11. Yesterday I beat that by over 2 minutes...I ran my fastest 5k time ever 29:35. I ran my heart out- I averaged a 9:33 mile- that is huge for me. When I started out running a year ago I ran a 5k in 40:37 which is an average of 13:04 a mile.  I can not believe that I can now say that I like to run!! Yes that is right I am truly enjoying running.

Yes I am wearing a garbage bag! It was raining!