Tag: me

Lessons Learned

When 2013 began, I had a lofty goal: run 1200 miles this year or 100 miles per month.

The first 2 months, I did just fine and managed to get my miles in. I was training for a half marathon, so that made it easier.

Then March hit. I started dating an idiot and somehow lost myself and my goals in that process. My mileage dropped. I didn’t care. I was too ‘happy’. Too wrapped up in this new ‘relationship.’

Then he was gone. And I took out my anger on the treadmill and the pavement. I PR’d my 4th Half Marathon. But I didn’t increase my mileage back to 100 miles a month. I just lived life. I dated other guys. I ran when I wanted and I ran shorter distances. After spending the summer of 2012 training for the Chicago Marathon, it was nice to run however much I felt like running this summer. No schedules. Just me.

I dropped the 8 pounds I gained. I’m back to my Pre-Marathon weight. I’m running 2-3 miles 3-4 days a week. I’m riding my bike. I’m doing my pushups. I’m happy. I’m not tied to that number. It doesn’t haunt me. It’s so arbitrary anyway.

I finally realized: you will NOT lose weight by training for a Full or Half Marathon. The body needs the calories. You will gain weight. It’s ok. But if you run for fitness and fun, your body will find balance and you will lose weight (again!).

Today my Daily Mile number sits at 637 miles for the year. It’s September 18th. There are 3.5 months left in 2013. I honestly don’t know where I’ll end the year. Will I hit 900? 1000? 800? To be honest, I don’t care. I just know that the miles I do run are for me. They make me happy. They take away my stress and give me endorphines. And that’s all I can ask for.

Post-run selfie.
Ignore the dirty mirror. Focus on the super sexy sweat ring!

I’m going to toot my own horn for a second. Pardon me.

I haven’t run in tight capris since May. When I was getting ready to run, I turned to the side and was blown away by how small I am, front to back. I rarely look at myself from that angle so it was like I was seeing myself for the first time. So strange.

In other news, a firefighter waved at ME Durning my run today! I ran by a truck out on an active call…it wasn’t a fire…but this cute firefighter smiled and waved at me as I was running by! I think I sort of grimaced at him (my attempt at a smile) and kept running! Ugh. I’m the coolest.

Also, some roofers yelled out “whoo-hoo” at me!

Its a good day! plus, its my day off!

Happy Tuesday friends!

I am a clumsy person. I have the tendency to run into things and forget…and then wonder where all the bruises on my body come from! So sexy!

This giant bruise appeared out of nowhere on the middle of forearm Saturday morning. I Had nothing to drink…and have no clue where it came from. It kind of hurts!

I swear I spend at least 5 minutes a day trying to figure out where the bruises that litter my legs and arms come from!

Good things on a Friday

  • First of all, it’s Friday!! Despite the fact that I have to work all day at the station tomorrow (we have the UCLA-Nebraska game, so I have a pre and post game show to run!) Its awesome that’s it’s finally Friday.
  • The weather is AWESOME. 70’s, low humidity, perfect almost-fall day. Yes please!
  • I had a great run this morning. (Always puts me in a good mood!)
  • 3 different people at 3 different times told me how good and fresh I smell. I’ve been told this before. I’m not sure what they are smelling…my hairspray, just my natural scent or the lotion I put on today (sweet cinnamon pumpkin!) but I love the compliments! 🙂 Made me feel good.
  • I curled my hair today. Always makes this girl feel pretty.image
  • It’s Husker Friday and payday (at both jobs!!)
  • And then there were these comments:

two-o-nine said: Hey – you broke out your Fargo shirt!! Very nice!

Yes Brooke, I did! I thought you, Bailee and Johnna when I got it out!

snapthistiger said: super smile!!

davidsgoals said: Looking great!

Thanks friends! You made my day!!

Well, it was chilly enough this morning for a long sleeve shirt! That’s my kind of weather! Great run, about a minute faster than yesterday! What a difference cooler temps and lower humidity make with my heart problem. Yesterday my pace was 11:20/mile. Today? 10:20/mile! That’s fantastic for me! I was also running a 8:15 pace for awhile! Success!

Happy Friday friends!

File this under “Things I’d never thought I’d hear”

Me: “I can get a free membership to the gym that all the on-air people at the TV station go to for free! Now I can get a personal trainer!!”

My mom: (Looking concerned) “I’m worried that if you join a gym then you’ll get too skinny. You were too skinny not that long ago. Just be careful.”

Me: “Huh. Never thought I’d hear those words in reference to me.”

…

There is a gym that gives the on-air people who work at my station free membership. I am not on air, so I don’t get free membership. Rude.

HOWEVER! My friend is a personal trainer there and she asked her boss if I could also have the free membership, and he said YES! I’m excited. It costs $30/month to go to the gym, and $120/month if you want to do any of the classes. So the cost is quite prohibitive unless its free. And personal training sessions are $40-50/hour. I am going to try a couple of sessions…but can’t afford much more than that. Either way, I promise I won’t get too skinny mom!

My mom is a nurse, she knows how much I should weigh.  When I was 5’9", 145 pounds, I WAS too skinny. I was gaunt and hollow looking. I gained 10 pounds back and look like a healthy person again. But that was last December-ish. I’ve been 155 since then. She knows I just want to get lean and muscular…not too thin.

Sometimes, you just forget. You forget how far you’ve come. Who you used to be. What it felt like to be that girl. That girl who ate to feel better, but knew it didn’t help.

And then sometimes you find a piece of your past. Stuffed away, and forgotten in a drawer. A piece of you that you haven’t seen for years.

And you remember.

You remember the feelings, the shame, the unhappiness. It all comes rushing back, and it weighs more than you used to. But you don’t have to carry that weight anymore.

What a relief.

I thought I had gotten rid of all of my fat pants. I found these this weekend while cleaning out the spare room at my parent’s house. I can fit into one pant leg!! I don’t know if I even know who that girl was that used to wear those pants! Those are size 24 pants. I currently wear a size 6 or 8 pants.

It’s true, you do gain something when you lose weight. I’ve gained a whole new life, a new perspective.

And that’s just fabulous.

I like this “Miler Monday” thing…

Cuz that’s all I felt like doing tonight.

1 mile, 10:31, on the treadmill no less.

I think if I don’t run in the morning all of my motivation slowly drains away as the day goes on. I did NOT want to run tonight. But the fact that I’m going to the Valentino’s buffet for dinner with a college friend tonight, (Nebraska friends, you know what I’m talking about!) Meant I had to go do it.

Tomorrow is a new day. A day that’s supposed to be 100° temperature-wise…heat indices in the 105° range mean a morning run must happen! Even though it’s forecasted to be 80° by 8am.

I can’t do the treadmill. Not yet. It’s not time. So I will suffer in the early morning.

Have a great night friends!