I ran the half marathon for the first time!

I finished in 2 hours and 41 minutes. A little slower than I wanted...but I will take it for my first half.

I got a slow start right out of the gate because I got stuck behind a lot of walkers. They were standing shoulder to shoulder and I could not get past them!

Plus, it was cold and I had to warm up for the first three miles.

I only had to make one restroom stop...but that also took time since there was a line for that. So glad that I packed my own toilet paper!

I drank a small cup of Gatorade at each station and chewed some sports beans to refill my electrolytes. I think that this made a huge difference for me! The last few times that I had a long run I run out of energy and now I realize that I need to be refueling my body better.

The energy and atmosphere of the race was amazing! People from all over the country showed up for this race. I met a nice lady from Kansas who was running her second half marathon. She had to drive back to Kansas today after the race...she is going to be a very sore woman at the end of that drive! There was a group of guys dressed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and they were hysterical!

I felt really good most of the way...I walked at about mile 5 for a few minutes and then again at mile 7. I walked a bit also at mile 9ish and then a couple of small sections between mile 11 and the end of the race. I think that I walked about 15-20 minutes of the whole race.

My dh and ds were waiting for me at mile 10...it was so good to see them and get a quick hug and a kiss from them. It really lifted my spirits to know that they were rooting for me!

Mile 11...that was when I thought to myself...hey...my knees have not been bothering me. A few steps later...BAM! My right knee said "WTH!"

That was when I knew that I was going to walk/run the last couple of miles. My right knee was sore with every foot strike when I was running. It was fine when I was walking. I was able to run about a quarter of a mile at a time from mile 11 to the end.

Mile 12...my favorite running song came on and I was singing a little too loudly as others were staring at me...my fave running song is a little on the rowdy side. Crazy Bitch by Buck Cherry...note to self...do not sing that out loud in a group of runners! It has a awesome guitar sound and beat to it...that is why I like it!

I saw a spectator holding a sign that said "Tracy...run like Tiger is chasing you"...it had a pic of Tiger Woods on it. All the runners were laughing at that one.

The spectators were awesome! They were cheering for us and giving us encouragement. Part of the run is through Turtle Creek...a VERY posh part of Dallas. The rich people came out to yell for us and some even set up their own aid stations for the runners. They come out in their robes and drink their coffee while rooting for us.

I ran across the finish line and got my finisher medal! I also got a finisher shirt. I will take pics and post them tomorrow.

Then I grabbed a bagel, a glass of beer, a banana, and 2 granola bars and started eating!

It hurts still...my knees and muscles are a little pissed at me right now. But...I am so glad that I did it! I did not get any blisters or chafing...my shoes worked out great! I am so glad that I changed to a larger size shoe to deal with the increased swelling from running a longer distance. It made a huge difference in my foot comfort.

My dh...who only runs 3 miles at a time decided to come home and try to run 6 miles today. He wants to do a half marathon with me next year.

He came back in from running and said to me "That 6 miles kicked my butt...how in the world did you run 13?" My dear...I trained for it!

And lastly...I saw Tracey from the Biggest Loser at mile 8! We were on a return loop so we could see the other side of the street and the runners were facing us. She was behind me and looked like she was doing alright. She had a very intense look on her face...that girl was in the zone! She was wearing purple again...she must really like purple!

Run the Rock!

I have been training towards this for a few months and I am still as nervous as hell! I am running the rock on Sunday morning and this will be my first half marathon.

I hope to come in at 2 1/2 hours for my time...but most importantly I want to have a great adventure and take in all of the experience. I can get a measure of my time and then work on beating it in my next half marathon.

Thankfully the weather will be very cooperative!

I just can't believe how far I have come in the last 21 months. 80 pounds lost and 30% of my body fat...GONE! Twenty months ago I could not run one mile let alone 13 of them! So regardless of what my time is tomorrow...I will be incredibly proud of my accomplishment. I have exercised, trained and eaten all of the right things to get me to this point.

Life is no longer passing me by. I get to be the girl who can take on any challenge and immerse herself in this thing called life!

Fashion is fun!!!

I love this dress from Boden clothes! It is feminine and vintage and the perfect color for me! The ruffle detail on the neckline is just lovely. I think that this may have to make it's way into my closet!

78 pounds are gone...let's make it a life long change...

I have worked really hard at losing 78 pounds since February 2008. Thousands of lunges, squats, reps of curls, minutes of cardio...and so many times I wanted to quit.

In the beginning...I wanted to quit every time I went to the gym. It hurt soooo badly. My muscles screamed at me and at times would not carry me from point A to point B. I hated that I had let myself get to this point.

How in the world did I let myself become so overweight and unhealthy? To be brutally honest with myself...I was lazy and apathetic. I truly did not care that I could not keep up with my son or that my blood pressure was creeping higher with each pound.

What caused my change? I am not sure...I just woke up one morning and decided that I'd had enough of it. I knew that I could not be one of those people who made small changes here and there. I had to be all in or not at all. I joined the gym, got a trainer and changed my diet all in one day.

And then the pain begins...I look back now and wonder how I made it through. Sean knew that I could do it...he kept at it until I became stronger and faster and more fit with each week that passed. He never let me quit...even through a few cry sessions.

I eventually started running...ME! I have run three 5K's since December 2008 and I have decreased my time from 44 minutes to 32 minutes. If you had asked me 2 years ago if I would be running 5k races...I would have told you "hell no!"

This journey has been a positive one for me. Obviously, the weight loss has made me healthier and I am so grateful for that.

But...I learned a few things about myself along the way. I learned that I have determination and grit. That mentally- I am much tougher than I thought I was. I had to dig deep...very deep...on so many occasions just to get through a session with Sean. I learned that I CAN make better food choices and not cave in to the brownie urge. I learned that my body is an amazing thing that God created and that it carries me through my day. I have learned to appreciate my legs, my feet, my back and to take care of them so that they can take care of me.

And...I have learned that the greatest gift that I can give to myself and my family is my health and increased life longevity. I can set an example for others who want this amazing gift for themselves. If sharing my story helps just one person make a change then I will be happier for it.

Size 10...Rock on with my bad self!

This is the first pair of size 10 jeans that I have worn in over 13 years! I have now lost 56 pounds in 7 months. Almost done...coming down the home stretch!

Hilarious video...I need some white leotards now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGOO8ZhWFR4

Some trivia about me...

1. Where is your cell phone? Charging in the other room
2. Your significant other? Want kill him some days...but still love him!
3. Your hair? Just cut...the usual bob.
4. Your mother? Naive
5. Your father? Getting better
6. Your favorite thing? Sessions with Sean
7. Your dream last night? Can't tell you!
8. Your favorite drink? Right now...water
9. Your dream/goal? Immediate goal...lose 20 more pounds. Someday goal...travel to Europe
10. The room you're in? Computer room at home
11. Your hobby? Reading really good books...not romance crap
12. Your fear? Heights
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Watching son enter his senior year of hs
14. Where were you last night? At home watching Olympics
15. What you're not? Fly by the seat of your pants kind of person
16. Muffins? Any flavor but banana...yuck!
17. One of your wish list items? Heart rate monitor watch
18. Where you grew up? Military brat...so all over
19. What are you wearing? Gym clothes
20. Your pets? Shelter dog...she is spoiled rotten!
21. Your computer? Always working...thanks to DH!
22. Your life? Busy
23. Your mood? Good...can't wait till production is over this week.
24. Missing someone? Mmmm...several some ones.
25. Your car? New!
26. Something you're not wearing? Shoes and earrings...
27. Favorite store? Target
28. Your summer? Uneventful
29. Like someone? There are very few people that I dislike
30. Your favorite color? Green
31. When is the last time you laughed? Friday night at DH...bang bang foo foo!
32. Last time you cried? Watching Michael Phelps get his 8th medal!

45 pounds lost...

And I don't want to ever find them again!