My Turning Point

It is time for another Fitness Blog World post! I love the topics we have been having lately :)

This week's topic is turning points, what led you to yours, what was your trigger, and who helped you get there.

I could talk about my medications, how I was taking 7 every single day just to get through the day. How when I walked up the stairs in my house I was winded. How I snored so loudly at night that it was embarrassing. Or about how I was only able to shop in plus sized departments and or stores like Lane Bryant.

Honestly, I was morbidly obese BUT all of those things did not push me to get healthy, it was almost as if I had settled into being fat and just accepted it as my fate. I was going to be big and it was my 'body type' my crappy 'genetics' I had a million excuses. And then it happened.

I got pregnant... The Obgyn's are not nice to obese pregnant women. Well at least that was my experience. I had a hard time, but that is for another day.... It hit me when that tiny baby was put in my care.

 
She was relying on me, I was setting the example. Even if I worked so hard and made her food and fed her super healthy, she would watch me eating crap and soon start asking for it too. I wanted to set a better example for her. I sunk into a depression after she came, it was hard. When she was 6 months old I began doing research for a paper and saw horrifying statistics. If a child's parent is obese they have a 50% chance of being obese, if both parents are obese a child has an 80% chance of being obese (AACAP).... I did not want to give my daughter a 50% chance to be unhealty and miserable like I was. So when she was 6 and a half months old I made a choice.

I chose to join Weight Watchers and attempt to lose weight.I began losing weight and feeling better, and then I made some discoveries. I found out that I actually liked working out. I started to do more and more of it and then a funnier thing happened. I started jogging, and after some time I started liking it! I signed up for a 5K and thought, well what is the worst thing that can happen?

I loved it. In fact I signed up for another one. And then I decided I would attempt a half marathon... And I liked that so much I did 4 more this year ;)

Do you see those smiles?

I work now to earn her smiles and post race banans ;) those are her fave! I will run one more half marathon on Sunday making it 6 this year. And then I will go to Philly with my family by my side cheering as I run my first full marathon on November 20.

The best part of this? My daughter went from having a 50% chance to zero of being obese because she now has 2 healthy parents who are active. For me there is no greater reward then this :)


What was your turning point in your journey?

My Advice For a Brand New Runner

I get lots of inquiries from people who want to start running but have no idea where to start.

I wish I had all the convential wisdom in the world hehe but I do not feel I do.

What I will share is a few tips to get you headed in the right direction. That are coming completely from my own experience this past year going from running a 5K for the first time to preparing to cross the finish line of my first marathon in 18 days.

#1 You can do it. I know it seems daunting, I began running when I weighed about 230 pounds, and trust me it felt like I would never ever get anywhere fast. But do not doubt yourself, do not give up. Keep training and keep pushing you will get to the point where a mile is easy.

#2 Sign up for a 5K right now. Do not hesitate. Do not blink. There are many free couch to 5k programs out there, find one that fits into your training plan and use it. This is the easiest way to get yourself ready. A good starting point to find races is Cool Running and Active.com I would recommend a smaller 5K for your first depending on what you are looking for. After that first race, you may just get a little bug hehe


#3 Set some goals that are attainable and adjustable. By this I mean, what do you want from running, is it to lose weight? Is it to build a hobby, is it to win medals? Whatever it is just go after it with full force. If it is just to start running then your goal can be to finish that first 5K.

#4 Set a new goal as soon as you reach your current one. This just keeps me motivated to keep going. As soon as I conquer one goal I am already planning the next one. This is just a habit I took from my weight loss. When I was losing weight I set out looking at it in 5 pound increments. Each time I would hit another 5 pounds lost I would have a little celebration inside and get excited to look for the next 5. I do the same with running now. Each time I hit a new PR or conquer a new distance I look for the next one.

#5 Relax and have fun. Remember running is supposed to be fun, unless you are a professional and it is your full time job, I see no reason why you should treat it as such. I run because I love to and the day I do not love it anymore I will find something else to do for exercise. Running keeps me sane, helps me maintain my 120 pound weight loss, and helps me cope with depression and stress within my own life. I look forward to my runs they are my me time and when I race I make sure its fun. I will sing, dance, cheer loudly, you name it!


#6 Spread the love! If you take up a love for running talk about it. You will be amazed at how many people are runners or were runners, or will hop on your running band wagon. I have 3 coworkers who have started running since I became so enthusiastic about it. I have a friend who got motivated to take her running to the next level when I suggested it. I love having new running partners so it is a win win situation ;)


#7 Get fitted for a proper shoe. I know it can be expensive but really when you think about it your feet are the most important piece of equipment you will need to run. Before the ipods, garmins, whatever it may be, sneakers must be the first splurge you make. You will not regret it.

#8 Run your own race. When you are training you will get tons of advice, some will work for you some will not. Try out what you want and do what you want. Bottom line when it comes to the big day, you are the one who will be running and crossing that finish line, we all are unique so find what works for you and stick to it.

#9 Proper nutrition will only help improve your performance. I know it gets said all the time but really think about it. If you are driving a luxury car are you going to fuel it with low grade gasoline? If you get your nutrition balanced and healthy it can only help improve your performance, my motto is garbage in, garbage will come out during your workouts.

#10 Never give up. That is engraved on my Road Id and I remind myself every single day. It is a fight sometimes to get a run in, or coordinate things with a hectic schedule. But you are worth it. You deserve to set your own goals and achieve them so do not ever settle for anything less than that.

Do you have some good tips to share with a new runner? 

Marathon Training Week 19 And Winner!

The best week ever.

This week was probably hardest during this entire time training for the Philadelphia Marathon but it was one in whcih I learned more about my body and its amazing abilities.

Monday- I did 5 miles on the elliptical to cross train and a 30 minute crossfit workout. I really worked hard on pull ups but still cannot do a full one.

Tuesday- I got up nice and early at 4:30 am starving haha. I got a banana and headed out for a 6.2 mile run. It felt pretty good.

Wednesday- Just an easy 5 mile run in the morning.

Thursday- I did a tough crossfit workout for 25 minutes, weighted lunges and squats, I was sore for days! Then I finished it off with an easy 4 miles on the elliptical.

Friday- I got my Garmin so I got to test it out on my night run. 6.5 miles in 59 minutes :) It was great, I am already in love with it!!

Saturday- Rest day :) I am learning a lot about these. Learning the importance of them, the necessity of them.

Sunday- Epic 29 mile run. Read the recap here :)

I was exhausted by the end of the night on Sunday but in a good way :)

I managed to rack up a total of 56 miles this week!!!!! It is the highest mileage I have had ever! I learned that my body can do amazing things this week and run a ton of miles. Running for me has become one of the greatest things I can do to keep myself happy and healthy and I really am grateful this week that I am physically able to do it all. I had to mentally push myself harder than I have during this journey and it was worth it. I feel prepared for Philly, I feel ready to achieve my goal.

Oh and I may or may not be considering an ultra in the near future as well ;)

How is your training going?


We also have a winner for the Race Ragz Giveaway: RunCupcake ! Congrats! Shoot me an email and I will forward it to them!!

The Day I Ran 29 Miles

I obsessed about it all week. I thought about how I would fuel, what I would wear, how it would go. And then lovely Mother Nature threw me a curve ball. We got a snow storm in October folks! SO when my alarm went off at 4:30 and I was chomping on my protein bar, a chill went through me as I listened to the wind howling. I peeked outside around 5:30 am hoping to see something different then this:

 Obviously this was going to now be a bit more challenging and cold ;) But I was prepared for it. I was ready because honestly this was the last big obstacle to be tackled on my way to the road to the Philadelphia Marathon! So I got suited up: cep sleeves, running tights, shorts over that, under amor cold gear shirt, neon pink shirt, reflective straps, 2 fuel belts, thick socks and my sneakers. I did a shot of mocha cliff gel drank my last 8 ounces of water and headed out into the snow.

The sensation of my warm feet hitting the freezing snow is one I will not soon forget, instantly I was frozen. My shoes were wet within 1 minute and the sloshy feeling was sinking in. My toes went numb after 3 minutes and I began to seriously question myself right then and there. My hands were cold under my thin gloves and I made a mental note that we need beefier ones this winter. I ran a lot outside last winter through snow and cold but this winter I have already been a lot colder. My body fat is a lot lower than last winter so I am blaming this ;)

The first few miles were not bad as they usually are on a long run. I was settled into a 9:30 to 10 minutes per mile pace and felt good. It was a pain to run in the streets though when a car would come on rare occassion I would have to run in the snow for a few minutes and it was torture. My toes would get feeling again after being out of the snow for 5 minutes or so, then I would have to plunk right back into it and I would lose sensation again. I began to curse the snow many times.

At mile 9 I wanted to just stop and pee. I got to the plaza with Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and tons of stores and it was dark. Everything was closed. I looked at my watch it was about 7:25 everything should have been open at that point. Then I saw signs on doors, no power we are closed. I walked to a few places including a CVS and it was all closed. I was mad. I had no choice but to keep going then I saw the downed power line and realized why they had none. I got to my sisters house at mile 10.6. I immediatly went into the bathroom of course. It was dark, they had no power either.

I began to realize this little storm caused some major damage. I got ready and went back out to do my loop around her house. It is a 4 mile hilly loop that passes through a state park, I was planning to do it twice. I set out back into the snow.

By now I was still wet, soggy and cold and kind of honestly miserable.

I began the 4 mile loop and started to see a lot of trees down.

It was so beautiful at some points. But then the snow and ice would pellet down on your face and it sucked. I began to laugh at that point, something so beautiful we rarely stop to enjoy can also be such a *itch.

I got back to my sister's house at mile 14.5 and I was so nice and warm I did not want to leave. She really saw defeat in me I think. I lingered for about 5 minutes, and she began to hurry me. She kept telling me 'get out of my house'. I really was dreading going back out there again. But she gave me that little nudge I needed. I grabbed my adorable niece and gave her a big hug and kiss and set back out into the snow.

Those first 2 miles sucked. Major suck. I had to embrace it and keep moving. There were a lot of cars on the road now and everytime I would get into a comfortable pace I would have to dodge one and land in snow. And then it happened. Right around mile 16.2 I face planted. I was going to dodge a car again and fell into a small pit that I obviously did not know was there because it was filled with snow and slush. I landed on my knees, hands,elbows, belly, I mean even my face hit the snow and I tasted salt. I yelled the F word and just snapped up. I was soaked now from head to toe and snow and salt were stuck to me. I felt like crying. I felt like I should just give up.

I really pondered it, I tried to start walking to shake it off and I considered calling T to come pick me up and calling it a day. I knew I had gone far and I had trained a lot. I knew I could finish a marathon so technically this run did not need to be. I knew if I gave up everyone would say it was ok and the conditions were hard, they would not argue with me.

I made a choice that day, I chose to wake up early, I chose to run in the snow, I chose to run a marathon. I never do things half ass. I always set out to do something to the best of my ability. I knew I would be more disappointed in myself and beat myself up if I quit now. I knew I would not go to Philly with high hopes if I quit now. I started to run again. I switched to an inspirational song on my MP3 player and just sucked it up. I was stinging and bleeding a little, the fall banged up my skin and my pride but I was not going to let it stop me.

I thought then about my daughter, I thought about how hard it was giving birth to her. Yes I started to think about my 3 days of labor and 3 failed epidurals at that point. This run was hard. Maybe not as hard as those days were but dammit it was coming pretty close. 

By mile 18 I was back on track, the roads were clearer and I could run without having to dodge things. I settled into a 9:20 pace and felt good again. I stopped at mile 21 for one more potty break at Dunks and texted T that I was almost done. He asked if I was cold... I said yes I am a popsicle make coffee please ;)

I felt great by mile 22 and was chugging along at that pace. I was on a cleared sidewalk and so thankful! I began to enjoy the run for the first time all day. The sun was high in the sky and although I was soaked I was not cold anymore. At mile 26 I started dancing, I was not going to go into uncharted running territory for me and I did not feel like I was going to collapse.

At mile 28 I could not believe how good I felt. I was pulling 9-8ish miles these last few and was all hyped up. I settled into and 8 minute per mile pace and even saw 7:48 a few times. I love that Garmin, it really keeps me going!

I saw 29 and felt happy. I could not believe I had accomplished such a feat and I felt like I could keep going. I wanted to go to 30 miles just to say F you snow I did it. But I really did not want to push myself and I knew the high would wear off and pain would be setting in soon ;)

The finishing shots!

I got home and walked around for awhile then I began undressing and finding my wounds... Not too bad I guess 

Did I run a spartan race again? ;) It felt like it as I undressed! I was muddy and scraped up. The elbow and hand have a similar scrape and my gloves and tights have a hole in them where I fell. So now I guess I have an excuse to go shopping? ;)

I felt good though. It was hard, really hard at some points I really thought I would give up. But I kept pushing because I wanted to prove to myself that I can accomplish anything. I never give up.

Have you ever had a tough run that you were able to turn around?