Should not have watched Food Inc….but so glad I did. Hmm….

Stability Ball Pelvic Tilt Crunch

Walk the Plank and Rotate

Arm Pull over Straight-Leg Crunch

The Matrix

Nose-to-Knee Crunch

Prone Oblique Roll

Back Extension Rear Leg Raise

(Source: sans-fear, via eatcleantraindirty)

Twin Cities Marathon 10K recap…..and some goals. Lots of posts tonight. Filling up dashboards left and right. :)

So Friday, as usual, I was a nervous wreck. This was to be race #13 for me and I was STILL nervous. Why was a nervous this time? 
1. This was the first repeat race I had run, as in, identical to last year and I wanted a PR (personal record). I knew I was faster than I was last year (I trained and ran a half marathon in August, I HAD to be faster), but I wasn’t sure how much faster I’d be. 
2. I was running this race with my husband! Sure we’d run MANY times together (it’s a usual family activity….my 4 year old in the jogging stroller and my 6 year old biking while the two of us run) but this was our first race together. I was nervous about all the negative things he would see in me in this race. He’d see me pushing my limits MORE than he’d ever seen before. He’d see the mental struggle running brought to me. He’d see me walk a little bit. He might see me cry a little bit (running often brings out my emotions and since I can’t eat while I’m running, I always end up feeling my emotions when I run—I’m a weirdo, I know). I was STRESSED. 

So Saturday morning, I woke up 2 minutes before my alarm was to go off. I got up and jumped in the shower. 
**Okay, another quirky habit. I ALWAYS shower before a race. ALWAYS. I may be a bit superstitious, but it makes me feel so clean, refreshed and ready to go when I shower before a race.** 
After the shower, I woke my husband and went down to eat my usual pre-race breakfast….a protein bar and banana (works every time!!). Then I put my race clothes on. I felt good. I felt strong and I wasn’t as nervous. On the ride down to the race I casual talked with my husband about our plan of attack for the race. As this was his first 10K race, I wanted to know what his goal was. He told me his goal was to finish right next to me. At this point I just lost it. I knew he wanted to run with me, but I thought he’d change his mind. He said “I want to be right there with you when you KILL your time from last year. I am so proud of you”. UGH!!!!!!! ;) 

We got to the race with plenty of time. It was chilly (42 degrees) so we stayed in the car as long as we could. My stomach was in knots. When we got to the start line, the sun was shining and I knew I could do this. The gun went off right on time and we were off. My motto has always been “slow and steady wins the race” (this is my motto for EVERYTHING, even my 6 year old quotes this) so this race was hard. I actually RACED. The first mile was good, I had adrenaline on my side. But at about 1.5 miles I started to get a side ache…UGH! And I battled said side ache until mile 5! I tried everything to get rid of it. I even avoided the second water stop (that NEVER happens, I’ve learned to ALWAYS take water). I cried, I nearly hyperventilated, I stopped, I walked, I whined, I complained, but mostly I smiled. He was right there with me the ENTIRE way! Every time I complained he put his arm around me and smiled. Every time I whined he put his arm around me. And every time I smiled, he smiled back at me. 

When we got about a mile from the finish, the side ache went away and I kicked it up a notch. It felt good to run and enjoy it. He grabbed my hand with a half a mile to go and we finished the race that way. After we crossed the finish line, he wrapped his arms around me and sealed the race with a kiss. He had his arms around me and back away and said “Now I want to finish a marathon with you this way…..”. I could only smile. He was there the entire way. My biggest fan and cheerleader. 

And perhaps I’d be able to run it with someone….would sure make the miles go by quicker. If I do run it, I’d LOVE to run it with my sparkfriend Erin (ERINBEAR1876). Is she as crazy as me???? MUAH! 

So, where does this leave me? I’m not sure. My head is FILLED with ideas and goals. 
1. My first goal is to focus on enjoying my running. Now that I have only one race left for the year and it’s a fun run on Thanksgiving (8K) with the family, I need to sit back and reflect how wonderful running makes me feel, physically and mentally. Enjoy my running…..yeah!!! 
2. I need to focus on this weight loss. Like I said before, I love “slow and steady wins the race”…..so much so that it has taken me 2+ years to lose (and maintain, I suppose) 35 lbs lost but I want to get to my goal. So, here it is. I want to be at my goal by the new year. That means I have 15 lbs to…..15. Hmmmm. 
3. I need to start tracking my food better. Yes, everything I put in my mouth. 
4. I need to start committing to strength training 3 days a week. And having a plan going into those workouts. 
5. And finally…my last goal? To commit to the first 4 goals!!! 

To all my fellow Tumblrs/Fitblrs, as Ben would say…… DO LIFE!!!!!! MUAH! 

P.S. Did I mention the PR!??!!??!!??!!!!! I finished the race 5 minutes faster than last year (1:01:55)!!!! WOOT WOOT!!! :)

Revisiting my goals for 2011….

 
1. Run 1111K in 2011 (not going to happen, but not disappointed in my current miles AT ALL)

2. Continue to learn to make fruits and veggies a habit (doing an awesome job at this, but it IS a struggle everyday)

3. Continue to make healthy eating choices 

4. Be at my goal weight by April 7th (that’s 18lbs to lose until then….) (didn’t happen, still pushing on)

5. Run one race every month March through November (in progress and ROCKING IT!)

6. Run a 10 mile race in October (this was a lottery race and I didn’t get in so I ran 10K instead)

7. Run the Warrior Dash in July (killed it!!!)

8. Run and finish first half marathon in August (again, KILLED it!!!)

9. Appreciate my accomplishments and how far I’ve come in this journey!  (everyday I have to step back and be proud!!!))

Why is it, when TOM visits, my food intake is OUT OF CONTROL!!!!! Why do I let such an awful visitor dictate what goes in my mouth?? UGH!

Breath TJ……