About two & a half years ago I started running...aka jogging...but running sounds way cooler and more athletic, so just play along. I was really just trying to get rid of my college girl belly and make up for four years of Natty Light and late-night cheesy bread from Pizza Hut (best.thing. ever.). Along with being a little more conscientious of what I was eating I was able to lose about 30 lbs. in a year/year and a half. I have a love-hate relationship with running. I love it because I actually got results from running, and hate it because it doesn't come naturally, hurts and most of the time not so much fun. My body just doesn't seem built for running...I over-pronate to the extreme degree and have a weird stride and just am not made for speed. But I stick with it because it is way more fun being a size 6/8 than a size 12/14 (Confession: I had to buy size 14 dress pants when I first started work! Took me about two years to actually say that out loud, and I can't believe I am releasing this fact to the world wide web! But I am sure everyone will pause and then move on with their day...so no biggie, right? Pun intended!).
I used to run alone and solely on the treadmill. I prepped for a half marathon all on the treadmill. The half marathon (2008 VA Beach Rock & Roll) was somewhat successful. I ran part of it with my sweet friend from college (a first for both of us) and I finished. However, I wasn't able to run the whole thing because I didn't train properly and I stupidly drank two bottles of water before the race and had to detour to the portas at mile 6 and that totally threw my rhythm off. After that experience I took a little hiatus from running and exercising. It was a six month hiatus and definitely a set back. Over the years it has become harder and harder to run on the treadmill and now I feel like the gym ceiling is closing in on me when I try to get on the treadmill. So recently I took my little jog outside and brought S2H with me. Being outside was much more freeing and S2H was a huge motivator. I'm not much of a competitor or one with willpower so it doesn't take much distraction for me to slow my jog down to a walk. But S2H keeps me focused and I keep pace since I don't want him to have a crummy work-out because of me.
S2H was actually part of the reason I started running in the first place, believe it or not! We started work on the same day 2.5 years ago and discovered we lived about .25 miles away from each other. After that little discovery we started to commute in together to save money on parking. Soon after that S2H decided that he was going to start staying after work with the boys to workout, which left me paying for parking all on my own if I didn't stay too. Being the little saver I was back then on my GS-7 salary I decided to hit the gym, and I believe my little crush on S2H had started and I wanted to be with him as much as possible. And that is where my treadmill adventure began! We have now come full circle to present day and S2H and I are still running together! For the past three races we have actually stayed together the whole time, which is very motivating to have someone setting the pace for you. We ran the 10K Jingle All the Way in December, Crystal City 5K in April and the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler on Sunday. I only have photos of the Crystal City 5K, please ignore my pale, no make-up wearing self! Hopefully I will have pics from the 10-Miler soon. This race was so stinkin' hard...the longest I have run since the mentioned half marathon. S2H and I ran the whole thing and could still walk afterwards! My friend,
Erin, totally rocked the race and finished 19th overall for the women! She inspires me everyday, we sit diagonally across from each other at work and it is impossible not to follow her to the gym when you know she is going to go kill 6 miles in 30 minutes!
{S2H loves this pic because it looks like he is passing me...loser!}
{why do i look so miserable? told ya...i do not make it look easy! hahaha}
{nichole, erin, me, & s2h. i really need to consider self tanner.}
I'm still not exactly happy with my figure/size/the way clothes fit. I am trying to make some changes but I love cooking, sharing food so I am having a hard time making compromises. I kept a food diary in the past and that was a good way to really see what I was eating, but it also takes a lot of time and I'm not sure I want to spend my time counting calories. Maybe Weight Watchers? I love Jennifer Hudson as the new spokeswoman, she makes WW seem so hip! Could be a helpful tool in losing my last ten pounds, it seems like WW points are on everything! All I know is that I need to meet my long standing goal of wearing a two-piece bathing suit in my adult life! I haven't worn one since I was 13 and it is almost too late! So if you have any tips send them my way...don't be surprised if I just start posting swimsuits to help motivate me!
