Shamrock Shuffle 8K - then and now

This past Sunday I was lucky enough to be part of the biggest timed 8K race in the world - the Shamrock Shuffle 8K. I was one of 34,000+ runners to take to the streets of Chicago and kick off the spring and summer running season. If you've been reading my blog, you might have read my post I did a couple of days after running the Shamrock Shuffle 8K 2011. It was the first race I had ever done, and at that point I'd only been running about 3 months. Little did I know how much different my life would be almost a year later.

Had someone said to me last March that I would: a)still be running; and b)loving it I would have laughed at them. I knew it was great exercise for me, and that coupled with Weight Watchers helped me shed over 20 lbs before last year's race. But here I am - one year later - and I am still going strong...and down over 60 lbs from my starting weight.

The Shamrock Shuffle is the race that bit me with the race bug. While I've loved running it both years, they've been very different experiences. Last year I had nightmares leading up to the big day - in one I was put in a corral with elite runners and I got lost in my dream! No such dreams haunted me this year. I had fun sharing the experience of the expo with my mom and younger sons Matt and Nathan (they loved all the freebies!). The best part was that I was totally relaxed for race day. It was wonderful to be able to take in the experience more this year, and really treasure the fact that I was lucky to be there. I was grinning from ear to ear as I ran the first mile, and kept on smiling as I ran on. The 4.97 miles seemed to fly by, and I actually RAN the entire thing. Well, minus the second water stop - I wanted some Gatorade and I am NOT coordinated enough to move and drink at the same time. Last year I reeked of lemon-lime and I didn't want a repeat of that this year. 

I saw my family near the finish line this year - right on the bridge we had to go over to hit the downward finish. It was the perfect spot, since that last hill seems to go on forever. I went nuts waving to them and yelling to them. Somewhere there are also pictures floating around of me chucking my water bottle at Chad's head :-)...I didn't want to be holding it as I crossed the finish for the pictures they take. I know....so vain!

What a feeling it was to sprint towards the end! There were still a lot of runners around me, and we were all cheering as we hit the line. I didn't feel like I wanted to die this year. In fact, it was the exact opposite - I have never felt so alive! Had I not taken my weight loss and exercise seriously a year ago, I wouldn't have been crossing that start line again.

This was the view before the race started - a little cloudy, but we were getting more and more blue sky as we moved closer to the start 

Some of the 34,000+ runners - waiting to hit the start line

I survived!! 56 minutes and 42 seconds after hitting the start, I finally crossed the finish line!

The weather yesterday was perfect for running - the sun came out right about race time and it was in the mid 50s. Quite a change from a high last year of 85 degrees! I am already looking forward to next year...let's hope the race gods continue to smile on me with the perfect Shamrock Shuffle weather!!

Oh, and just for the sake of comparison, here is a picture from last year:

Shamrock Shuffle 2011 - finished it in 1 hr 10 min 28 sec

Coming out of my running/tracking funk

I've been struggling for the last couple of weeks to find my happy place, in just about every aspect of my life. I think it started when my dad had a small heart attack just a little bit over two weeks ago. I was so incredibly scared at the thought of losing him, and it threw me completely off-kilter. Luckily he's recovered very well, and didn't have to have surgery.

I felt like I had lost any control I had in my life. I know that essentially I'm not the one calling the shots, but I come face-to-face with that reality was rough. After all of that I just shut down - I stopped running except for a couple of runs early on, stopped tracking what ate, and didn't focus on eating the things that were good for me. I went for whatever was easiest, and I could feel how it was figuratively and literally weighing me down.

But today I'm back on track! I weighed in at my Weight Watchers location, and was happy to find out I hadn't gained any weight. And even though it was cold and a bit icy this morning, I still got out for a great run with wonderful women. It was wonderful that my friend Lesley joined us today. I'm so excited for her to run her first Half Marathon this fall. I know it's a huge step to sign up and commit to the Half, and it'll be wonderful to share this with her. Of course, first I have to survive the Half I'm running in May!

Let the training begin!

Today was a gorgeous Sunday, filled with lots of sun and mild (for February!) temperatures, so even though I have well over 12 weeks before my first Half marathon I decided to kick off my training today. This was my first "long" run, and I was supposed to do 4 miles. The last run I did this week felt a little tough, and it was just over 3 miles, so I wasn't sure how today would go.

I only had 45 minutes, since we were heading over to my in-laws for a Super Bowl party once I was done and showered (and on a side note - that's what I hate about running mid-day...the second shower/doing the hair and makeup thing). I picked a different route through Kingswood and Majestic Oaks, and it actually felt great! I honestly felt like I could have run at least another 10-15 minutes. I mapped it once I got home, and it turned out I did 4.05 miles - and didn't die!

I have been so, so happy that the weather has actually been nice this winter. I finally did buy a pair of Yaktrax, but I haven't had to break them out yet. Here's hoping I won't have to this year!

Did I seriously just do that???

Earlier this evening, I signed myself up for my first Half Marathon - and then promptly had a mini panic attack! If anyone had told me a year ago that I would be doing this, I would have laughed in their faces. I couldn't even run 500 feet, much less 13.1 miles. And, even if I did walk most of it, it would have taken me half a day to cross the finish line. I would be the person that the cops follow to a)let everyone along the route know that I was the end and b)make sure I didn't die.

But now I've paid my registration fee, so there's no going back. I'll run this race, and even if I have to be dragged across the finish line I WILL finish. Luckily now that I'm running faster than I did a year ago, I hopefully won't be the last one to cross the finish. I've printed out a training program to follow, and plan to kick it off this weekend. I've got a few races to run in between now and May 6, and I am looking forward to seeing a big improvement over last year's times. Now if only the weather would get and stay warm for the next 4 months...

One year ago today

Today marks my one year anniversary as a member of Weight Watchers. I am so incredibly glad I went in there for the first time last year. I know it sounds so cliche, but it honestly has changed my life. I feel like a brand-new person. I used to be so outgoing, but I felt like the weight was holding me back. Now I'm so much more comfortable speaking with people, and being in situations where I used to feel so uncomfortable - like everyone was staring at me because of my size.

I know I never could have done this without the support of my family, my friends, and my wonderful leader Laura. I know she thinks I'm stalking her, since I'll find other meetings she covers and go to those if I can't make my usual day :). Without everyone of you, I wouldn't be where I am today.

So now what...??? This year I'll focus on eating healthy foods, staying active, and pursuing new goals. I had originally wanted to run a full Marathon, but after talking to some very wise friends I've decided to work on increasing my endurance. So this will be the year of the Half Marathons! I'm looking forward to training for them, and hope we have great running weather again this year. I have to say I never thought I'd be running outside in January and NOT have to bundle up, so here's hoping!

Goodbye 2011 - Hello 2012!

I can't believe how quickly 2011 flew by! As I get ready to ring in the New Year with my family, I'm looking back at all of the memories I made this year. I started off 2011 by joining Weight Watchers on 1/10/11, and kicked off my Couch to 5K training on 1/14/11. Honestly, I had no idea where those both would lead me. I really wanted to stick with both things, but my similar past pursuits had never turned out very well for me. I'd start out strong, but it never lasted more than a couple of months.

My family, friends and Weight Watchers group and leader made all the difference this year for me. I could turn to pretty much anyone for phenomenal support - both when things weren't going well, and when I had something to celebrate. I saw the weight come off, my energy level increase, and my outlook on everything improved. I finally WANTED to be around people again! I loved all of the new people I met through running. It's amazing how our paths keep crossing, even outside of running.

A year ago I never would have willingly woken up early on a Saturday morning to a) run with friends and b) make it to a Weight Watchers meeting. Heck - I planned both things AROUND each other! I'd find myself saying "Hey, I'd love to run with you, but can we meet earlier so I can make it to my meeting?".

This year I raced in a 1 miler on Memorial Day, 8 5Ks, a 4 miler on Thanksgiving Day, the Shamrock Shuffle 8K, and the Sycamore Pumpkin Run 10K in October. I loved getting together on Monday nights with the Walk2Run program through Dick Pond STC, and sharing running with my boys while they took part in the Fox Valley Marathon Kids Marathon. I am so proud of what they accomplished!

Now, with 2012 coming up, I'm working on setting goals for myself for this new year. I reached my weight loss goal in mid-October, and became a Lifetime Weight Watchers member on 11/26/11. I still plan on being a part of my Saturday morning group. This year I also plan to complete a Half Marathon, a 20 miler with Fox Valley Marathon, and the Chicago Marathon. Part of me is completely freaking out about all of that, but I know I'll have amazing people helping me through all of it!

Hit my Lifetime Goal today!

Wow....where to begin?!?!?! I am so, so happy that I was able to keep my weight under my goal and earned my Lifetime status with Weight Watchers today. I never imagined that I had it in me to stick with this, and I'm proud of myself for not giving up.

January 10, 2011 is the date when I decided to take that big step towards changing my life - that was the first Weight Watchers meeting I attended. It took a lot for me to make that decision, and while I wish I had joined a long time ago I have to believe there was a reason for starting when I did. If I had started earlier I might not have had the best leader imaginable. Laura really knows how so many of us think and feel when battling our weight. She's there to praise us, and to pick us up when we stumble. When I had to switch meeting days so I could join the Dick Pond Walk2Run group, the first thing I did was see which meetings Laura led so I could go to one of those. I am so thankful for everything she's done to help me.

And I can't forget to thank all of my friends and family that have put up with me this past year :). I know this has kind of consumed me, but never once has anyone told me to get over it already. I promise that I'll settle down....eventually!