2 years later...

So, during my pity party earlier I started to realize how far I have really come in the past few years.  It is quite amazing to be honest.

March 2009 was a HUGE turning point for me.  I was the heaviest I had EVER been.  No really.  It was awful.  I couldn't take it anymore and I decided that I really was going to DO something about it instead of just TALK about it.  My motto became "There is no can't - just will or won't".

I just wanted to share some before and after photos.  I started at just under 150lbs.  For me being only 4'11"... that was a big deal.  I had a ton of self confidence issues and I wasn't happy.  It was a really hard time in my life- but I couldn't have done it with out my hubby.  Oh... and don't mind his funny looking cast in the pic below... he was going through therapy after cutting a couple tendons in his hand... ouch!

me and the hubby at his bday party (80's themed) March 2009

December 2008- 2 yr wedding anniversary

I started out small.  I joined a gym and I only went for time (worked up to 30 mins on the elliptical and went up from there).  I wasn't sure if I would ever return to running.  I hadn't run since I had foot surgery that happened in 2006 during marathon training.  I just gave up.  Plain and simple.  Life got busy and with that came a whole ton of pathetic excuses.  

Let's be honest, we all know it's a lie when we say "Oh, when ____ happens- then life will get less busy and I will find the time to do it"  Seriously, if you find yourself in that rut... ya better just suck it up and find a free 30 mins in your day.  I don't care what time it is!  I worked out as early as 4am and as late as midnight. (okay, i'm not saying lose sleep... but I think you understand what I'm trying to get at)  I understand how busy life can be and it's only going to get busier!!  Something is always going on and something new always happens to pop up right when you think it won't.  Anyways... moving on.

At that time we were still in Utah while Jon was finishing up his masters and doing the internship and job search thing.  Anyways, I had some friends who were signing up to run a 10k for July 4th in 2009.  My husband took an internship that was in Houston and he would be gone for the entire summer while I stayed in Utah.  I  knew I had to keep myself motivated while he was gone.  To do that- I needed to set goals.  My friends asked me to do the 10k.  I was scared.  I didn't know if I could do it.   I was always signing up for 5ks and I figured I would stick to those.  However, I knew if I wanted to challenge myself and lose the weight- I had to jump in and do the 10k and get out of my comfort zone.  So, that first 10k turned into three 10ks, 3 half marathons, a few 5ks, 6k and a full marathon going from July 4th 2009 to April 17th 2010.  With that came a loss of 40 lbs!  Since April 2010- I have run a few more half marathons, 5ks and another marathon and I am still wanting more! 

Here is my after :-)

First night in our new  home August 2010 with our awesome sparking cider :-)

Harry Potter world - Feb 2011

Hollywood studios - feb 2011

Epcot - feb 2011

Okay, so I don't have "proper" after shots... but seriously, I cannot express to you how much happier I am.  If you are struggling with weight and wanting to start your journey- I know how overwhelming it can be.  You have to take that first step and just start.  Even if it's only for 10 mins at a time!!  Don't give up either.  You will hit walls, but the harder you work, the better you will get.  If I can do it- anyone can!   Need advice or motivation- feel free to contact me!  I love love love talking about this sort of thing!

45mins w/ Jillian = hot mess

Taken on elliptical after finishing a serious workout with the ifit live with Jillian Michaels... woah baby!
HOTT MESS!

Facing the facts

Okay, I'm seriously a horrible blogger.  I guess I have just been a little down about the whole not really being able to run thing and I didn't want to bring every one else down with me.

I am taking more time off of running.  However, this time... it'll be legit.  I am not running until the middle of April.  At that time, I will test out the ITB situation and see how I am doing.  Here is the thing though, I have to get it through my head that I am going to have to start out like I am a beginner.  I am doing everything I can (weights, elliptical and bike) to keep up the cardio, however, that doesn't mean that I can automatically go out and start at 30 mile weeks initially.  I am going to have to see my first long run being like 4miles.  Just that thought alone is dreadful.  I am just facing the hard truth.  

I can't sign up for any races.  I keep getting e-mails informing me of races and I get all excited... until I remember that I'm injured.  Humph.


It's hard. 

The weather here has been gorgeous and I am sorely tempted to go outside and run.  This injury has been going on far too long.  All it needs is time and a lot of foam rolling.  I have been really diligent on doing that. 


Question:  when you foam roll your ITB... are you sore the next day??  Because I always am!  It's always up and down the side of my upper legs.  Woah nelly!

Welp, that's all for now.  Here is to another month of wishing I could be pounding the pavement and wishing I could be running a half marathon that's like literally down the street from me on the Saturday before Easter!!  Some day :-) 

Princess Half

Alrighty, I cannot tell you how tricky formatting is today on the blog.  Oh well.  I just wanted to show off just a very few of the pictures we took during the race.  There are WAY more pictures and it was so hard to pick them... so I apologize if these don't completely tell the whole story.  

So, 3am came way too early for us on Feb. 27th!!  Thankfully, I felt like I had slept enough and I jumped right out of bed and started getting my gear together.  We were both a little out of it- but we were excited!!  We headed out of the hotel at 3:45am to catch the bus.  From there we went to Epcot.  We finished pinning on our numbers and checked our gear bags.  Then came the 20min walk to the starting line.  

It was super dark and I had no idea where we were.  We were just following the crowds until we got to the start and all the corrals.  We were in the very last one: F.  When the race started up "Fairy-god-mother" started each corral off and there were fireworks too!  Heh, our pictures of that were not pretty.  So, sorry. 

It took us 40 minutes to finally start after the first corral went.  It was amazing!  We kept it low key and slow.  We didn't care about time- just finishing.  However, mother nature decided to come around by mile 4 and we ended up waiting in some serious porta john lines.  Seriously, mile 1-5 went by fast and were a blur.  Then my knees decided to play a fun trick on me.  Usually it's my left knee that hurts... however, this time... it was my right knee.  Weirdly enough- skipping helped it feel better.  So there I was... skipping through Magic Kingdom- haha!  I figured- it's probably the only race in the world where it wouldn't be weird to be seen skipping... it is the most magical place on earth, right? ;-)

Magic kingdom was fantastic!  We ran through Cinderella's castle!  Shannon was giddy like a school girl and we were just having a ton of fun.  By mile 9 I was hurting bad.  I was shuffling and skipping at this point.  I felt so bad.  We were walking a ton too.  There was no way that I wasn't going to finish with Shannon.  She was nice enough to be slow with me :-)   *note the ice strapped to my legs in the pic below..

This race was amazing- minus the knees of course.  I would do this again in a heart beat.  Maybe next time I do it- I won't be injured and I can go for a PR maybe.  Wishful thinking!  I was so happy that I did this with my sister.  It gave us a chance to bond and share something.  I would totally love to get our other sister involved along with sis-in-laws.  Girls weekend??? Maybe??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAM!  Check out that bling!!

Being Princess Crystal for a day: Check!

Okay, so the Princess half marathon recap will be coming in the next day or so- I just wanted to say that we did it!  My sister, Shannon, was a complete rock-star! She was all worried that she'd be holding me back when in actuality- I held her back because of my awesome knees.  We didn't care though.  I think our only concern that we had was not getting "picked up" by the cart- which I knew wasn't going to be a problem :-)  That meant pitstops, pictures galore, laughing, walking, skipping and shuffling :-)  Like stated in the last post: I didn't care whatsoever about my time.  This was the best race I've ever had- despite all my knee issues (which will be explained in more detail soon) this was just so much fun.  Thank you, Shannon for sharing this experience with me- it was such a blast!  A memory I'll never forget!

On the go...

I am currently typing this while in line for toy story mania @ disney hollywood studios!!! The princess half is in a few days and I am so excited!!!  I am glad that I am doing this for fun and throwing all time goals out the window. This is the first time I have done that and it feels great!

Ps... Still in line... But so worth it! My sis and bro inlaw ger in in four hours!!! Also.. Sorry if pic is sideways. I am in line- cut me some slack! :D

I am in trouble

Okay... how did it get to Friday so fast???  Disney half is next weekend.  Holy crap!

Can we say- nervous?

I normally wouldn't be... but let's recap the last 3 months or so... took 2 months of that off from legit running.. kept to spinning, elliptical and weights.  Had an awesome running week last week.

This week:  FAIL

Heh... I have just felt really crappy this week.  Monday was just awful and since then it has gotten a little better- but not by much.  I will save you from the details.  Because my syptoms point to other things and I just don't want to plant any ideas in your head.  :)  Anyays... running?  Not so much.  I tried on Tuesday but I only lasted 5 minutes before I was booking it to the restroom.  Seriously??  This is what I get after working my butt off to recovery from my injury?? Haha... I just can't help from just laughing at it now.  Just my luck!

Anyways, I am trying to overlook the fact that my mileage is just pathetic and that I probably shouldn't be running the half.  I am running this for fun.  My sister, Shannon is running it with me.  This is her first half ever!  I just hope that I don't ruin the experience for her! 

I'm going to try and run again today and see what happens.  Crossing my fingers!

Just had to keep yal updated- didn't want you to think I fell off the face of the earth or anything.