What will you GAIN when you LOSE?

I've recently come across a website thanks to another fabulous runner - Molly L. She's first and foremost a Fiji Wife and she's amazing. She shared this little gem with me a few months ago but it's taken me some time to really appreciate it. When I started training for the half, my iPod was a total crutch. I sang to myself and out loud and refused to run without it. Not that this is a bad thing. My songs just got me through running because I didn't actually anything about it except that it was a challenge.

As my distances got longer or if I found myself running with my buddies, I listened to the music less but loved the beat of the music. Sometimes it was still on but I noticed the music less. I got in to a rhythm. That's why I love Rock My Run. I get the best of both worlds. I get really good mixes that are put together based on various BPMs or the speed of a run. They have different speeds, genres, types...you name it. The added bonus here is that the music never stops. It's 45 minutes of continuous music.

While on that site today downloading my two new favs: Wanna Be Running...Something and Wogging my World, I found a blog mention "Shrinking Sisters" about three women who are moms trying to live life and shrink their waist. On this blog, I found this:

I did not lose weight by feeling sorry for myself.....

I lost weight by feeling exhausted after a workout.
I lost weight by feeling out of place by saying no to foods others could eat.
I lost weight by feeling relieved that I could buy clothes at normal stores.
I lost weight by feeling I could.

Everyone loses weight differently. The beauty is.... I am no different.

I've spent the last 6 weeks feeling sorry for myself and giving excuses about slowly gaining weight back  because of my knee. It makes it tougher not being able to exercise the way I'm used to, that's for sure. But it's not the only way to manage my body. I spent all this effort training and a great side effect was a pretty kick ass body in the making...now I'm back where I started.

I also saw this great Special K commercial today for their What will you GAIN when you LOSE campaign and check out these great videos on their Facebook page.

Remember all the great things about you and what you want to rediscover by taking control of your lifestyle.

I want to gain: Confidence in my body. Cuase we all know I don't lack in other parts of my life :) I also love this idea of Pride. I want to be Proud.

It's been awhile...I know.

Finishing the half marathon was one of the coolest moments of my life. It was this seemingly insurmountable goal that I set and then achieved. Did it go perfectly? Nope. Miles 7-10 were horrendous. There wasn't a water stop like the race officials said there'd be at mile 6 which meant I couldn't take my goo pack like I had been training with so my energy drained. My knee was really aching... and then hurting.

But HMTT was amazing. My coaches, even the ones I never met during my training, would randomly pop in on the course and run with me for a half a mile or so. They would encourage me, give me information about the course ahead and tell me how proud they were and excited for me they were.

Having my family and friends at the finish line was the icing on the cake. Kendayl trained with friends. She talked about it with them and many came to support her. I wasn't the same way. I said to myself - this is my goal, not theirs. So I don't expect anyone to come stand for hours on end to see me cross. Looking back I wish I had made a big deal of it. Because sharing that and allowing my friends to come support me made that moment so much bigger and so much better.

So a big THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU to everyone.

My coached said that we would need to take it easy for a few weeks after the race. They talked about the running blues and how hard it can be to be training and training and then...nothing. They weren't lying.

My right knee and leg were really bothering me the days and weeks after the race.

I got impatient and ran the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning with the Cooks. It was a 10K of the most hilly parts of Richmond around the UofR campus.

Eventually my leg recovered but my knee still hasn't. After about 6 weeks of pain, I finally went to a doctor. I have patella misalignment - which I already knew and can't be fixed without major surgery. But nothing major except that I had over worked my knee and most likely my patella was rubbing against my bone causing the inflammation and pain.

I'm seeing a physical therapist and I'm not aloud to run until January at some point. I also was given the RED LIGHT on running the DC half but I should be clear to run the Ukrops 10K at the end of March.

I haven't written since the half because I am really disappointed. I feel lazy now. I was on top of the world and now I am back to having to be careful and feeling sidelined. Before the race - I was regularly exercising and feeling great about my body and now I know I'm losing a lot of that progress.

But we're taking it a day at a time and I am incredibly excited about the 10K and about getting me knee back in shape. So stay with me! I'll be back :)

Need some motivation?

I have to brag and share how proud I am of my 11 year old cousin Maddy!

She and her father  (my cousin Alan who is one of the most  determined, loving, and strong men I know) ran their first 5k race this morning  UP THIS THING!! I am so proud of the both of them! That bridge not only scares the you know what out of me but it's a pretty good incline to the top! whewww!

If she can do it we all can!!




Great job Maddy and Alan! Love you both a bushel and a peck!