Change in plans

Not by my planning, but there was a change in plans yesterday morning and I did not participate in the half marathon as planned. On my way to my half marathon I was involved in a wreck.  I was the 3rd car in line stopped at the light. Big trail blazer type vehicle hit me from behind full speed (one of the officers saw the entire wreck!!) and threw me (my car) into the subaru in front of me. The entire back and front of my car are crushed. The back window exploded. The passenger compartment, perfect condition. Most everyone at the scene was asking me all kinds of questions about the type of car and how I like it otherwise because of how well I was protected. I want my car back, but I really believe that I should have been severely injured. I am so grateful not to be. I will have a seat belt bruise and need a chiro, but there is no blood or broken bones I am aware of!  I also have 3 police officers who truly can't believe they weren't calling an ambulance for me.

Here I go again.

Tomorrow morning I am getting up bright and early to go another 13.1 miles.  Yep, I have entered another Half Marathon.  Not nearly so stressed about this one as I was about the Race to Robie.  I am pretty sure that this one being on flats helps as does knowing I have already gone this distance before and survived.  This is the run that I will use as my time to improve on base.  However, I mostly want to finish, have fun and feel great when I finish!  This is just one of the steps in the next few months to the FULL marathon October 9.  I am getting REALLY excited!!!

Happening, but at what cost

So, after all the griping and breaking down to buy new pants, I think I am FINALLY losing some weight.  At least, the scale has consistently told me that for 2 weeks so despite my clothes fitting the same, I am inclined to believe it.  However, I think that I may have to bag what seems to be working because I think it is why my endurance for my runs is less.  I need the carbs for the running, but eliminating them is they way to get my body to burn off fat.  Sooooooooooooooo now I have to figure out the BALANCE.  Not as few as I have been having, but less than before to see if I can have enough for running, but not so many the weight doesn't come off.  I wonder if I just do the card supplement thingys (like GU) if that would do it?  Going to have to do some research here, that is for certain!

THE Race to Robie- my first half marathon

Here it is, the long awaited, oft anticipated, report on the Race to Robie.  So you understand, when Betty and I started this crazy adventure we call 'running' in mid January, we had no intent to do this.  In fact, we adamantly exclaimed that we would NOT be doing this, because as everyone knows, Betty and I are sane people.
Over time it progressed to a Maybe, then a 'I'll get the entry, but I can always sell it' to a "BRING IT!" - but only one time!  Within 24 hours, I was willing to do it again 'if the theme was right'.  Betty continued to swear, 'one and done'.  A couple of weeks ago, while shopping for new shoes -yep we actually WORE OUT some running shoes- Betty admitted she might be talked into doing it again.  I have also decided that I am actually planning to do it again next year.  ACK- I have lost all sense of reason! :)

So, here are our happy grinning faces before the race with another friend who left us completely in the dust!

Spotted pre-race in the crowd, we decided it was one of the funniest things EVER!

Here are a few of the 'views' during the race.  Just to give you a tiny feel for the terrain, and YES that is snow you see in some of the pictures!

 Almost there and at this point I am REALLY trying to pass some of those shirts we have been following the entire way, I keep telling Betty, 'come on, we can take 'em"- yep, I am not competitive at all, not one teeny tiny bit!  LOL!!

WE DID IT!  We met out goal and finished Robie!  Our fabulous support crew "K" was up on the hill and took this picture!  She was cheering us on.  So funny, Betty says "She better come down because I am not climbing up there", it wasn't until in the car on the way back that she learned she actually said it out loud - we all got a great giggle out of that.  We also learned that our support crew was correct, and potato chips, AMAZING post race food.  They will now be a required item in my post race bag.  Thank you "K" for ALL of your support and encouragement!

Now, I know that I can pretty much do anything I put my mind to.  It just take perseverance and work, no big deal ---- most days!

I DID IT!

I conquered the dreaded 'buffet'!  I have family in town visiting and it has been a whirlwind of going out to eat.  For the most part, I have been able to find healthy choices and not do too badly.  Last night, however, was the buffet restaurant.  You know the kind, where you have the feeling you really need to get your money's worth and they have islands and islands of food, desserts and multiple soda and ice cream machines.  SOOOOOOOOOOO easy to just go crazy!  I will admit that I did splurge, a bit.  However, not like I normally would.  My indulgences were 1/2 cup of yummy 40 gazzillion calories Au Gratin potatoes and a huge, warm, butter topped white roll with honey butter.  I did not get a dessert.  I didn't look at the 'island of sin'.  I knew if I did there would be things I wanted, but without looking, I was completely fine skipping it, so why mess with it?   I admit to having second thoughts when I saw the girl walk by with the root beer float she had made, but since I had already made up my mind, I resisted.  The best news, I didn't leave feeling like I had missed or given anything up.  My relationship to food is shifting.  It is becoming sustenance rather than my friend and comforter.  This is GOOD!

here it is- VENT ALERT

so, I know I owe you a follow up post on the Race to Robie and how amazing the experience was, and it was. Yes we finished and it was truly awesome.  I promise you will get that post.  However, this is NOT that post.  Feel free to stop reading now as this is not going to be uplifting or about anything but ME!

I am sick to death of trying and trying and not getting anywhere.  You want to know how much I have lost in pounds and inches since the first part of January?  NOTHING!  Not one freakin' thing and NO my clothes don't fit differently so the whole muscle vs fat thing, out the window here.  I have NOT been on a Blizzard run in so long I don't remember.  I have eaten more lettuce and green crap than a rabbit in their entire life.  I have been drinking meals and doing all the right stuff.  I set my alarm on Saturday mornings and go run for miles, literally.  Last week was NINE!  When I was on my trip I even went up to the treadmill at the hotel instead of going out with the rest of the group after dinner.  I am doing the things I am meant to and the other stuff that is MEANT to happen isn't!  This SUCKS! 

No- it is not a plateau, because to plateau, you first have to have SOME progress.  Really, what is the point here?  WHAT?!?!?!?  Is this what it takes for me to maintain?  If so, I am royally screwed!

Hello- I am #1387- nice to meet you

I got my bib number for the Race to Robie!  I am super excited and scared spitless.  Actually though, the scared part is disappearing very quickly and being replaced only with the excited and 'Bring It' mentality.  I absolutely KNOW I can finish this and I honestly think I am going to be in overall pretty good shape afterwards even.

Betty has forced me to train and be prepared and focus on just finishing at MY pace and not worry about all the speedy Gonzaleses passing us.  Someone has to be the last one over the line regardless, right?  It is about finishing and finishing strong, healthy and injury free.  Especially since I have other events to get signed up for :)  I even got completely into the spirit and purchased my water holder butt thingy!

Tomorrow is the 'big run' for our training.  It is 12 miles and gets us almost to the summit on the trail we run for Race to Robie.  Can I tell you how THRILLED I am to know that I only have to run up Shaw Mountain Road 2 more times?  That is getting to be seriously old!  I will perhaps miss Cujo Corner, but not much else.  Well, maybe if we see the deer again this week, that was pretty cool.