The Race

If you haven't noticed yet I'm a goal oriented person. Once I complete a goal I strive for the next. I may have several goals at one time. One of my goals this year was to do two 5k races. I had done the first race this past spring and completed it in 36 minutes. I was proud of my time but this time I was not focusing on speed. The focus was to complete the race without stopping to walk. I've been training by jogging in my neighbor hood 3-4 days a week about 2.5 miles without stopping. I'm ready to see how far I can push myself.

I was a little nervous this week because I was jogging a with a friend that I had never jogged with before. I don't usually jog with anyone and I didn't want to hold her back to my pace. She assured me that would not be the case. She just wanted to run the race with me.

Race day! It was a perfect morning for a race. The temperature outside was 55-60 degrees. I had a great support team at the race. My husband, two kids and my mother were there to cheer me on. We met up with my friend and stretched before it begun. I told her if she wanted to run ahead she could. I would meet her at the finish line. But again she said she was there to race with me. The first mile we jogged under 10 minutes. I knew I was going to fast and I needed to slow down if I was going to last. The next mile was a struggle with a huge hill at the beginning of the mile. Mile 2 was at a steady pace and we completed it in 10 minutes 33 seconds. The last mile was going to be a challenge because I knew we had to go back over that huge hill. We got to the hill with about 1/2 mile left. This time we were going up the hill a different route. It was not a easier route either but I knew I could do it. The water station was at the top so that's what I focused on. By the time I made it to the top I had given all that I could have given. I did it! I got a drink and got a second breath. I could see the finish line. As we rounded the corner to the home stretch I knew I had succeeded my goal. I didn't want to get emotional but I was. I told my friend as we crossed the goal line that she helped me not only complete my goal but that I had bet my time by 4 minutes.

This was the first time I felt the emotions of the past year. It felt so great but I wasn't going to let anyone see it. Even now as I'm writing this blog I get a little teary eyed. Now I know I can do this and I'm setting my standards higher. My next 5k is the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day. Stay tuned!

My experiment in July proved to be the answer to jump starting my weight loss again. August was a good motivating month for me too. I had been saving money to go shopping. For the first time in almost 20 years I could wear regular clothes. I was able to shop at regular stores. I did not have to buy plus size clothes. This was an emotional experience for me. I was actually enjoying shopping again. Before I would get so depressed when I shopped for me that it just lead to more eating. This time it was different. It felt like a huge bolder had been lifted off me.

The month did not end with just the excitement of new clothes. It ended with a long time goal met. Yes, I did it! The last day of the month and I weighed in at 199.1 lbs. I yelled down the stairs to my husband. "Honey...Honey...I did it." He was really proud of me. I don't ever want to go back to the 200's again.

September was equally as good. I stayed below 200 lbs and even got as low as 197.1 lbs. I worked on train for a 5k the first weekend of October. My goal for the end of October is to be at 195 lbs. Let's see if I can do it.