Guess Who's Back, Back Again

And i'm back. Right in time for the end of January.

I'll be honest, i took a break from all things blog, running, and exercising in general after I got engaged. Now that wedding plans are somewhat figured out, i can get back to it without feeling like my head is going to come off at various points in the day.

Coming back after taking 2 1/2 months off of running is hard, especially when those two months involve the sheer amount of food that they did. I'm a good 10 pounds heavier than I was when I took my break, but that's okay. I'm back on track (weight watchers points book and the lose it app are my best friends right now) and I'm fairly confident i'll make my goal.

Today's run was a "just getting back into the swing of things" run on the mall with the lovely Jenny from feetoffancy! We hadn't run together since she ran the Marine Corps Marathon back in October, needless to say there was MUCH to catch up on. It was a BEAUTIFUL night in DC and there were runners everywhere tonight. Sometimes working in the city, I forget how pretty DC is at night.

I plan on getting at least 2 more runs in this week (one tempo and one longer run this weekend) and work my way back up. My stamina sucks right now but at least my body remembers what it is doing. I remember when an almost 5 mile run was absolutely nothing, HA!

I'm ENGAGED

Here's a story about a girl who wanted to go to Biltmore and a boy with a (secret) plan.

I've wanted to go to Biltmore Estate in North Carolina for the past few years. Jarryd (the boyfriend- hint this title will change later!) had always said he would take me. Between both of our work schedules, we have been run ragged lately and we desperately needed a weekend away, so we began planning.

We found a cheap hotel package and were thrilled. So we took off on Friday after spin for our little road trip. It was about a week past "peak" season but the drive was still absolutely beautiful.

In a few (read... 8) hours later, we were pulling into Biltmore and after a quick rest- we were off to Cedric's Tavern for dinner.  It was FANTASTIC. Every single bite. We walked around Antler Hill Village for a while and then headed back to the hotel for a much needed night of sleep. WRONG. It turns out that an all girl's soccer team was on our floor as well. It was a long night to say the least. I wanted to call every single person I encountered as a teenager and apologize profusely. Ugh. The next morning we woke up to blessed silence in the hallways, it turns out that we were not the only ones who got frustrated with the teenagers.

We drove the 5 minutes to Biltmore and I was like a kid on Christmas morning - I was too excited to sit still. We went to schedule a house tour but the earliest tour we could get was 12:30. We had an hour and a half to spare so we decided to go to the gardens to look around. We walked along the gardens for awhile and found a lovely little bench that overlooked the property so Jarryd suggested that I sit and prose for some snooty pictures. I took the bait and cheesed it up for the camera.

That's when it happened. Jarryd started fiddling with his camera bag and I thought he was changing lenses, so I got up to hold the bag for him. He told me to sit down and quickly pulled out a ring box an got down on one knee. I think I blacked out for a few minutes because I heard him ask "will you marry me" and my response was WHAT? He said he brought me down to Biltmore to propose and my response was "no you didn't".

HA! I'm clearly intelligent. Of course I said yes and then it was time to call the parents. Little did I know that Jarryd was snapping pictures this whole time.

We're engaged!!!

The Half Marathon That Almost Wasn't

I am officially a half marathoner! I was seriously worried this race wouldn't happen. After ATM, I was really looking forward to the Gettysburg Blue and the Grey Half Marathon. I'm a huge history nerd - so the thought of running a race in Gettysburg was really a draw. I never considered the weather- October wasn't bad at all and would be so pretty......so I thought (but more on that later). Also, congratulations to the AMAZING Jenny of Feetoffancy.wordpress.com on finishing her first marathon! 


I kept my eye on the weather all week and until Wednesday, everything looked perfect. Then mother nature decided to torture all runners on the east cost. THIS is what the parking lot of my hotel looked like the night before the race (and additional 3-4 inches fell after this). Also, the Universe decided to screw with me last week and give me a lovely case of bronchitis. Awesome. The week before my first half and I couldn't run at all without wheezing and sounding like a smoker. awesome.

I woke up at 6 and saw on the event's facebook page that the run had been delayed for an hour to give the road crews time to treat the roads. I'm not going to lie I was super thankful- I really needed the additional sleep. I woke up, took some dayquil and my antibiotics, got dressed, and proceeded to cough my head off. I came very very very close to crawling back in bed. But no- I made my boyfriend drive to Gettysburg in a snowstorm and I was going to run this thing.

I literally thought I was going to freeze to death waiting for the start.

While the course description said the course had gradual rolling hills, I beg to differ. My legs beg to differ, and the last 3 miles were just EVIL, but I was happy because I was actually running it, and not dying! (my expectations were very low for this race - obviously)

In the back of my head, I was hoping to finish in under 2:30. I missed that goal by 2 minutes and 49 seconds. (POUT!) However, I am very pleased with myself as I ran the race while not at 100% and I wasn't the last one across the finish line.

Now I have a pretty medal! WIN!

Army Ten Miler

Hi there- long time no post. My bad.

The Army 10 Miler was yesterday and while it wasn't my best pace (no PR = sad times) i'm choosing to draw some positives from the experience.

#1-Despite my horrible mood, ATM was so much fun! I loved the course and the spectators were fantastic!

When I got off the metro, I wasn't feeling this race at all. There were so many people and I was pretty bummed that the boyfriend had stayed at home. Everyone else had someone there and I just felt lonely. This was the first time i've woken up not excited to race. I think my brain was trying to tell me something was off, but I just ignored it and went about my business.

However, when we were directed to our corrals, that began to change. I can't even describe the energy of the runners. The race organizers did a fantastic job of managing 30,000 runners and the cannon or WHATEVER they shot off to start each wave was super cool. The race took you (more or less) by every cool monument in town and running alongside the river so early in the morning was so calming. I actually broke an 9 minute mile during this part of the course, which is great for me.

When I got to the 5 mile point of the race, I was doing fantastic - I was 10 minutes faster than my pace for the Navy 5 miler two weeks before. That was stellar!! I was a happy runner. About mid way through mile 5, my stomach started to let me know that it was not pleased. I ripped out some fuel and added some water and Gatorade and hoped that would calm it down till at least the finish. For the next mile, it seemed to work. Then mile 7 hit - OMG- I've never had stomach cramps like that before. EVER. I thought I was just going to throw up right in the middle of Constitution. I had no other choice but to walk. This was the next 3 miles of my race. I was so mad, so mad that I started crying near mile 8 and forced myself to suck it up by mile 9. I would run for about a quarter of a mile, but that would make it more upset.

At this point, I knew my goal of 1:50 was out of the question. It just wasn't going to happen, but I really wanted to finish strong. I sucked it up at mile 9.5 and ran the last half mile at a 10 minute pace. Yes, I wanted to die - but I also wanted to finish strong.  I crossed the line at 2:00 hrs 12 seconds which is about a 12 minute mile. BUMMER. Even for me that is really really slow. I was pissed for about 2 hrs.

Then I realized- there will always be another race, another 10 miler where I can redeem myself. This was the first time i've ever had any kind of stomach issue and a year ago I would have probably quit mid race. This time quitting wasn't an option. I was actually pissed because I couldn't run, not pissed because my stomach hurt. So i'll take my 10 miles and my 2 hr 12 minute finish, and improve on it. Now I know what to and what to NOT eat the day before a race.

I have 2 1/2 weeks until my first half marathon. Bring it!

Trainer or no trainer- that is the question.

I've noticed lately that even with my increase in mileage and monitoring of calories- I haven't been losing any weight. Unfortunately, the increase in mileage has caused an increase on the scale. Much to my dissatisfaction. I have had some problem's with hitting a massive plateau in the past but always managed to make progress. I've hit it hard this time and while my clothes aren't getting any tighter, they're not getting smaller either. I've tried reducing calories and portions- and all that has left me with is a lightheaded dizzy feeling when running so I'm unsure what I should do. I'm eating between 1200 and 1500 calories depending on the length of my run each day. It's very frustrating.

My significant other suggested that I look into personal training to help me break through this time. I have to admit, I'm a little skeptical and probably a little snobby. My gym (which I will not mention the name of for fear of being sued) doesn't have the greatest track record with trainers. Most look like they could be college freshman and have the minimum (or less) certification that I'm comfortable with. My gym also charges an INSANE amount for personal training (above $50 a session on top of our monthly membership). I've seen the trainers at work and I'm honestly not that impressed.

My second worry is that these training sessions will cut into my running. I know that I need to increase the amount of strength training I'm doing (currently little to none, I know I know!) but I want my strength training to complement my running, not replace it. After speaking to a few of the runners at my gym, they said that when they started with trainers there- it took months for them to get back to their regular mileage.

This is just a rant- but I HATE how the trainers at my particular gym operate. It's mostly a bunch of young guys who view "training" as an opportunity to hit on the girls there or make them feel inferior. It's blatantly obvious what they are doing and I know more women than me avoid the weight room for that reason. We've complained to management with very little change. UGH.

So friends, do you use personal trainers - if so, did you get the results you wanted? Am I worrying over nothing?

New Rule: Never Look at Race Photos

I have made the decision to never look at a race photo again until I reach my goal weight. Race photographers are evil and I really will start acting live a diva if they put their camera in my face again.

One of the goals of my blog is to help myself document my weight loss. I've told myself that the only way to do this is to be perfectly honest on here. No i'm not some size 6 runner. I wish I was. Hell, I wish I was a size 4 but that's not going to happen for awhile.

This is pretty much the starting point. No laughing... seriously i'll hunt you down.

Don't laugh at me lady, I will sit on you. Under all this flab, no one will hear you scream.

Yes, the paleness factor is disgusting. The hips are disgusting and stomach (let's not EVEN go there). But I guess it can only get better from here.

Attack of the Angry Feet

My body hates me! It really hates me and I disgust it.

Case in point. My toes.

Not so long ago, I had pretty toes. Even years of dancing, tumbling, and cheerleading didn't injure and maul my toes the way running has.

So long and farewell to my days with beautiful toes and blissful pedicures. Only runners will understand.