Four Wake Ups Left

The costume is complete... the family's matching shirts are done... now I just have to stay calm between now and then. 

There are only four days until the family leaves for Orlando. I can not believe that I will actually be running the Disney Princess Half Marathon. If you had told me this time last year that I would even be thinking about running anywhere, I would have laughed in your face.

There is just something so freeing about running and I am super excited to be doing it Disney style. RunDisney races are supposed to be some of the best.

I have decided to dedicate my run to my dear friend Kate Crawford who recently discovered that she has stage IV cancer. Kate would love to be running next to me but for now I'll run for both of us.

So I hope to see some of you out there on the course... and for those looking for a fun time while waiting for your runner. Check out Team Shay in their bright green shirts as they are sure to provide a good amount of humor.

Running Shoes?? On Vacation??

I've seen this little room many times on my explorations from home. I even entered one once when they had the coffee pot and snack choices located in an adjacent room. 

NEVER and I repeat NEVER have I looked at this room with longing... until now.


Those that know me will tell you that I am extremely organized. Our most recent vacation (the first with our now 2 year old) I spent two weeks planning, packing and making lists. I had new toys for the 9 hour drive. I had snacks galore and even had them separated based on whether they should be eaten in the car or only when we stopped at a rest area. I had our sons clothes packed in zip lock bags so that he could easily help choose his outfit for each day. 

What I did NOT make a list or prepare myself for was the OVERWHELMING desire to enter the little room you see above. I did not even plan to exercise... I was, of course, going on vacation. Doesn't that mean a chance to relax. Take a load off. Not worry (too much) about what you are eating.

Apparently the little running bug that bit me did so hard enough that I wanted to run while on vacation. So instead I looked in with longing and what I am sure the gentleman on the treadmill would declare a crazed look. 

So for next time, running shoes are not a question. As I pack for my next trip I will proudly say...

Running Shoes?  Check. 

My Oh My - It's been a week

It was a rough week with a really bad training day right in the middle. I was so excited to be able to run outside for the first time since I started training eight weeks ago. I worked hard to lay out my route and get a sitter and even find an outfit that wouldn't make any passerby shudder when they saw me running. I got through my first mile like a breeze... literally. It was over in about 10 minutes. Way faster than I have ever run and it made me grin from ear to ear. Then it hit - a cramp and with that cramp I had nothing else to give. I had to walk the remainder of my route. I felt defeated and a little disappointed in myself. And I won't even begin to tell you about the pain in my back. Literally!!!

Disclaimer: This is not my back... but one day soon my waist will be that small.

So today is Saturday and I dreaded getting on the treadmill today knowing that it was the official beginning of Week 8. That meant that I would be running for 28 minutes straight. That meant that I needed to give it my all. That meant that I had to prove to myself that there was no reason to be disappointed.

I did it... not only did I do the entire 28 minutes I did at a pretty decent pace (14 min/mile) and I didn't stop... nor hold on... nor slow down. The first 20 minuets were tough. I won't lie. But the last 8 minutes proved the theory that so many other runners have mentioned. After the first 20 minutes... it gets easier. :)

I ran two miles! I ran two miles! I ran 2 miles!

It doesn't really matter how many times I say it!

I can't believe that I just ran two miles. Today was Week 7 Day 1 and although I am not quite there with my speed (it should have been 2.25 miles) I actually ran for 

TWO WHOLE MILES!

I did increase my speed and am now running at 4.2 miles which is 14:17 minutes per miles. Pretty darn good for a fat chick who hasn't run in forever and then only when the PE teacher was looking cuz I sure the heck wasn't running if he wasn't paying attention.

I am just 30 days away from my first 5k and I am so excited to report that I have lost almost 25 pounds and a total of 5.5 inches. I will need a new pair of workout pants before my 5k and not just to look cute but because I can not tighten them any tighter.

If you are just starting to read my blog - welcome - and for those of you who still think I am crazy for doing this I want to thank you for sticking by me. See you at the finish line.

I own this...

                                  

You see those three minutes up there?

Yes, those three minutes at the top of this post?

Those are the ones I am talking about.

I OWN THOSE!!!

I just finished Week 3 Day 2 and not only did I complete the 9 total minutes of running I also added an additional 3 minute session. Oh yea... I am rocking the treadmill. I feel great and the shimmer of my sweat made me smile. I know that is a weird thing to say but someone said that to me once and I thought that they were crazy. So either I am also crazy or there is actually something to seeing the product (sweat) or a great workout. The only way to tell is to keep on going. So I shall continue on and see what happens next.

Look Ma... no hands!

That's what I wanted to yell the whole time I ran today! I was so excited to be on the last day of week 2 for the C25K program. I not only ran for the full 90 seconds plus an additional minute for the last three sections but I didn't have to hold on to the treadmill the entire time I ran.


I can't believe that I am still going strong. A friend of mine recently told me that she knows I am not a quitter so she has no doubt that I am continuing to train as I said I would. Boy did that boost my confidence as well as make me feel like I really have to keep going. I can't let her be wrong about me now can I?


So I am getting excited about the ability to run outside and have made arrangements to start doing so at the end of week 4. I even ordered an arm band for my iPhone so that I can have my tunes with me when I go... not to mention that little voice that tells me when to walk and when to run.


So until then I will be moving along to the beat on my trusty treadmill and you get to read about my progress. Thanks for following me - it really does help keep me motivated.

I think I can... I think I can...

I've never thought about how long 90 seconds really is until I was staring it in the eye on Week 2 Day 1 of my C25K program. So I decided that I would discover how long it is - at least from my perspective. It is as long as it takes for me to say "I think I can.." 90 times for 5 different segments.
The good news is that for a total of 7.5 minutes I ran without holding on to the treadmill or wondering if I could make it through each segment. A year ago you never could have convinced me that I would be running anywhere much less training to run for a half-marathon. But here I am finding time in my already busy schedule to fit in a running program three times a week. 

There isn't a set time for a running program when you have a two year old running around. So as soon as nap time hits I hit the pavement - or that little piece of plastic that spins round and round. And for a touch of humor today that little piece of plastic decided to stop working but thankfully it wasn't until my cool down. 

So Week 2 Day 1 is behind me - the treadmill is repaired and "I think I can" has turned into "I did!"