As most of you already know, in a fit of craziness last week, I decided to register for the Reggae Marathon to be held in Negril, Jamaica on December 5, 2015.
Not long after I registered, I was contacted by the Reggae Marathon's Social Media Guru, asking if they could do a runner profile on me for the Marathon's blog.
Not ever being one to turn down the spotlight and since magical things happen to me frequently in life, I of course said yes! I wrote some answers to some interview questions and sent in some photos and my profile was published today on their blog!
Please head on over and check out their blog and check out the Reggae Marathon. If you're looking for a great destination race, come on out and run with me in Jamaica in December as I attempt to conquer what will be my THIRD full marathon!
http://www.reggaemarathon.com/articles/anya-lester-runner-profile/
p.s. welcome to all of you who clicked over to my blog from the Reggae Marathon page! Read my blog for updates on my training, race reports and general musings on life!mpod
p.p.s. In a crazy twist of fate, I won an Armpocket Armband today in a giveaway from the super cool folks over at Stridebox! Just giving them both a shout out and a big thanks!!!
One Life!
Monday, August 10, 2015
Sunday, August 9, 2015
ET Full Moon Midnight Race!
Well, I feel like my running is really
getting real again. Unfortunately, I just don't feel like I'm quite
where I'd like to be with my training. I feel like my progress isn't
as swift and hearty as I'd like it to be at this point. I feel like
I'm not as fast as I'd like to be and I feel like I'm struggling on
the long distances. I'm ok until about mile 9-10, after 10 though,
it's been tough. My feet have been hurting after about 10 too. I'm
hoping that my continuing to drop weight will help, but I'm just not
sure I'll be ready for my full in October (Detroit International Marathon). I'm pretty sure I'll be good come December (Reggae Marathon), but October just seems really soon for me to still feel
like I'm struggling. I don't know, maybe I'm fine and I just don't
realize it. LOL. Time will tell, right?
So, I wanted to talk about the ET Full Moon Midnight race on August 29-30, 2015. This is the next race that I have coming up. This is another Race from Calico Racing, the same racing company that put on the Once in a Blue Moon race that I ran a couple of weeks ago. This race is pretty well known country-wide. It's a very unique race in that it's a midnight race! Here in Las Vegas, it's hard to put on races during the summer – this tends to be the opposite of what the rest of the country does – as our most popular race seasons are spring and fall. It's just so hot here in the summer, even if the race starts super early, you can't have long races because it just gets too hot too fast.
So, I wanted to talk about the ET Full Moon Midnight race on August 29-30, 2015. This is the next race that I have coming up. This is another Race from Calico Racing, the same racing company that put on the Once in a Blue Moon race that I ran a couple of weeks ago. This race is pretty well known country-wide. It's a very unique race in that it's a midnight race! Here in Las Vegas, it's hard to put on races during the summer – this tends to be the opposite of what the rest of the country does – as our most popular race seasons are spring and fall. It's just so hot here in the summer, even if the race starts super early, you can't have long races because it just gets too hot too fast.
ET Race Photos 2010
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| 2010 - Me on left with friends Patty and Melanie who also did the half - on the bus on the way there |
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| 2010 - At the marathon start, Black Mailbox area |
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| 2010 - It was my birthday so I wrote on my back in reflective tape! |
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| 2010 - This really gives you a sense of how remote the course is. The RD gave me a birthday hat! It was my 39th birthday and she also assigned me bib 39! |
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| At the finish, about 4:00 am - 2010 |
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| Me at the Inn finish line with my medal! Birthday race 2010! |
The ET race takes place out on Highway
375 in Rachel, NV, which is right next to Area 51. It is nicknamed
the “ET Highway” because there are said to be an unusually large
number of UFO sightings out there, so many that ET enthusiasts from
around the world frequently go out there hoping to catch a glimpse of
a UFO. The race includes 5k, 10k, half marathon, full marathon and
51k ultra distances. The route is a paved road, and the finish line
is at the Little Ale'Inn in Rachel, which has also been on tv and is
known worldwide as a place to visit for alien lovers. I've ran the
half out there four times previous – 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. I
didn't run it last year because I just didn't have the motivation and
the drive, I guess I just didn't feel like it. But this year I've
been running like a maniac for several months and I got the bug
again, so I registered for the half again.
Even though I said in my opening that I
felt like I was struggling, I did run 13 miles today (on the
treadmill) so I know that I can complete the half distance. I do a
ton of training on the treadmill because it's just too hot outside.
The treadmill is convenient for me and is a controlled environment
such that I can watch Netflix or baseball while I'm on it to pass the
time. I know some people hate it and get bored to death but the
boredom hasn't really ever been a factor for me. The gym CREEPERS
however, are highly annoying to me. Today I was running and I always
pick the mill at the end of the row so that there's only one spot
next to me. It was Sunday and there were probably 60 open mills but
of course this guy gets on the one right next to me. I HATE it when
people do that. Why would you want to get on the one next to someone
when there's a ton of open mills? I will never understand that.
So he gets on and starts running. He
has headphones on, but he starts running and he's grunting and
groaning as he's running. It was gross and obscene. Keep in mind
that I had headphones on and they were turned up loud but I could
still hear him “uuuhhhh” “uuuuhhhhh” “eeeehhhhh” as he
was running. I kept flashing him the evil eye and then he started
blowing his nose into his t-shirt! Not even in the sleeve or into a
napkin or paper towel that he had with him to clean the thing, but
into the NECK. Like he'd take his collar from below his chin and
pull it up over his nose and blow into it. I could not have been
more disgusted. I have some serious treadmill creeper stories but
this was just absolutely despicable. WHY ME?!?!? Luckily he got off
after about 45 mins or so, but I sure gave him a lot of stink eye.
Some people are just so nasty and disrespectful. If you're gonna
grunt and be gross, go do it on an empty treadmill, why do it next to
me? And it's always guys too. I'm a girl running alone and it's
always some gross dude that comes up next to me. I should've moved
but I was like two hours into a three hour run and I was comfortable
there. Note to self: ALWAYS disinfect machine before getting on it.
No matter how clean it looks.
I know that supposedly the mill isn't
as good for training as running outside since you aren't actually
moving your body through space but I usually find that I'm faster at
races than I am on the mill. I think it's because my body finds a
more natural pace that ebbs and flows as needed when running outside
instead of being forced into one consistent pace by the mill. I
trained for my last marathon in 2013 almost completely on the mill –
everything up to 16 miles – and I will probably do that this time as
well. Usually in September I can start running outside again, and I
am looking forward to that.
So back to the ET. Since it takes
place out in Rachel, about 2.5 hours from Vegas, there are various
options for getting there, but fortunately, the RD charters buses and
as part of your registration, you can purchase round trip bus
transportation. Some people drive themselves, some people stay out
there – there are some camping and hotel options in Alamo, but that
is still about 30 mins away from the race. There are limited rooms
available at the Ale'Inn, but I can't imagine staying out there in
nowheresville all night, lol. When I get done with the race, I'm
ready to go home. The buses depart after the race back to Vegas on a
rolling basis - as soon as a bus fills, it departs. So you may have
to wait a few minutes for the bus to fill, but it's never been too
long for me.
ET Race Photos 2013
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| 2013 with friend Kate before boarding the bus, she did the 10k |
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| 2013 finish at the Inn! |
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| 2013 glow in the dark medal! |
The buses leave Vegas about 8:45 and
you arrive at the “Black Mailbox” which is where the turn off for
Area 51 is, about 11:15 or so. There are porta-potties and things
there, the race volunteers hand out glow bracelets and glow necklaces
to the participants and everyone basically huddles up and waits for
the start of the full marathon. The full starts at 12:00 midnight
and the route goes 20 miles to the Inn, then 3.1 miles past the Inn
out and back to get the marathon distance. After the full starts,
runners running all of the other distances get back on the buses and
off they go 7 miles up the road to the half start. The half goes 13
miles straight to the Inn, turns left up the Inn driveway and finishes.
The half starts at 12:30am. After the half starts, the 10k and 5k
runners get bused to the Inn. The 10k runs the last 6 miles of the
marathon course, 3.1 out and back past the Inn and the 5k does the
same route but it's 1.5 out and back.
There are some great advantages to
running out there – first off the elevation is about 4000-5000 feet
(Vegas is about 2000) – so this higher altitude contributes to
cooler temps. Plus running at night means cooler temps as well. The
race is really out in the desert and since it's ran under the full
moon, you get to see the moon rise over the mountains and it's really
pretty. You get to see so many stars and many shooting stars since
you don't have the light pollution that you have in Vegas. Since it
is at night, everyone has to wear a headlamp or carry a flashlight
and all runners are required to be reflective front and back. You
can buy some reflective tape with your race registration or from a
store but people also come up with some amazing ideas to make
themselves visible – everything from glow sticks to lights to light
up tutus to flashing lights – I've seen it all out there. It's
really for safety but it adds to the ET ambiance – when you look
ahead or behind you in the darkness all you see is a long line of
disembodied bobbing lights. It's trippy and fun, a very unique
experience.
ET Race Photos 2012
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| I did the race alone in 2012, a nice stranger took my yearly Inn photo |
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| 2012 medal |
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| 2012 Inn finish! |
There are a few things that give me
pause out there. I always tell people that I have a love/hate
relationship with this race. It is a challenge for me, more mentally
and psychologically than physically. When you're on the bus going
out there, the bus climbs, climbs, climbs uphill and when you get out
far enough you lose your cell service. The road is in an open range
area so there are a few sections of the road that have cattle guards
on them (grates to prevent the cattle from walking across and
parking) and the runners are warned that you could actually run into
a free range cow on the road (I've never seen one). Also, there are
snakes especially that come out at night to lay on the heat of the
road. I saw a small snake once (non-rattler) but people have sighted
rattlers out there. I feel pretty confident being a back of the
packer that the runners before me tend to scare off the snakes, but
it's just something to be aware of. Now that I've seen a (HUGE)
snake when I was out at Blue Moon I'm not so afraid and I'm pretty
sure I could get around a snake ok. I just don't want to not be
watching and step on one or right in the path of one, so I tend to
look down and watch the road closely while running this one, which is
why I think a headlamp is really effective. I try not to think about
how far you'd be from medical care if something happened to you out
there, but they always have an ambulance on standby and I always
rationalize that even if you get bit by a rattler, it's probably not
going to kill you immediately before you get to medical care. It'll
probably hurt and really suck bad, but I think they'd just get you to
medical as soon as they can. They do have volunteers who cruise up
and down the route, and as far as I know they've never had any really
bad things happen out there during the race so that gives me
confidence in the whole process.
There is one pretty big hill on the
route, it's from about miles 4.5 – 6 on the half route (11.5 – 13
on the full route) (course map). Luckily once you crest it, it's a pretty gradual
smooth downhill on the back half and when you get about 4-5 miles
from the Inn, you can see its lights (they are the only building
lights out there) and you know you're on the home stretch. You can
bring a drop bag and leave it on your bus, all of the buses are
numbered and when the buses get to the Inn, volunteers unload them
and lay the bags on tarps with numbers the correspond to the bus
numbers. This is good because I always pack for basically an
overnight trip in my drop bag on this race. Things I bring include:
fuel for before the race, glow stuff, food for after the race, a
change of clothes, a sweatshirt (it can feel quite cold at the end
when you're all sweaty and it's 3:30 am and 50 degrees F at 5000
feet), towels to dry off, water and whatever drinks I want, a neck
pillow and sleep mask for the drive back and anything else I can
think of.
One of the best things about the race
is it's a straight line for the half, 13 miles and then a left turn
at the Inn and a .1 mile run up the driveway for the finish line.
The road is paved and the driveway is gravel. One year I completely
bit it making that turn onto the gravel and got road rash and gravel
in my knees and hands when I fell. The EMTs cleaned out my wounds
and bandaged me up. When I asked them if they had a lot a patients
that night they said that I was the only one! Calico always puts on
such cool races, the race shirts are really cool, usually black tech
shirts with aliens on them and the medals have been glow in the dark
the past few years. There is also a breakfast at the Inn for all of
the runners and a lot of the locals come out and hang out at the Inn
at the finish. I highly recommend this race if you're looking for a
unique experience. Lots of people dress up in alien garb and it's
quite a sight to see.
ET Race Photos 2011
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| 2011 Race wounds! |
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| 2011 Finish at the Inn |
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| 2011 Finish at the Inn with my friend Kim who did the 10k |
So, wish me luck, this will be the
first half I've ran maybe since October of 2014? After the race I should have a race recap with my 2015 photos! My running took a
break for the first half of this year, but now it's back with a
vengeance. My friend Irene will be out there with me doing the 10k,
and this will be her first 10k so wish her luck too! Even though I
feel that I am not exactly where I'd like to be, I think I'm in a
much better position that I was in 6 months ago and I'm still moving
forward. I have to look at my progress and not chide myself for not
having reached perfection. I am down 31.8 lbs since February and I'm
well on my way to having my amazing running body back. But more than
that, I have two marathons that I'm registered for and it looks like
I won't be panicking and dropping down to the halfs on either one.
The feeling of crossing that marathon finish line is like nothing in
the world – it gives you the belief that anything is possible and
everyone needs to feel that at least once in their lives :)
Stay tuned for a BIG post tomorrow and
for more info on my upcoming races and updates on my training!
One life!
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Race Review - Calico Racing's Once in a Blue Moon - "Shoot the Moon"!
It's been a while since I've blogged, but I'm going to work on blogging more frequently. A lot has happened since I've last posted, including getting married! I also ran my first ever full marathon, but I've been out of the running game since then. I decided earlier this year to get back on the running horse and to start working on getting my act together AGAIN! I've successfully gotten rid of 30 lbs since February and I hope to keep going with that trend. I'd say I have another 30-40 lbs to lose as of right now. Hopefully with the help of Weight Watchers and running I will be able to do so and finally hit that WW Lifetime!
So last night I ran a race, well three races actually! I ran the Calico Racing "Once in a Blue Moon" race. Calico is a really great local racing company here in Las Vegas. Joyce, the RD, takes great pains to make her races successful. She runs a lot of races out in nature here in Vegas as opposed to a lot of the big urban races (Rock n Roll). Her shirts and medals are always top notch and I like the high quality and the smaller races that she puts on. She did an inaugural Blue Moon race back in 2012 - which I ran - and this this the first Blue Moon race she's had since then. A Blue Moon (two full moons in month) only comes a long every few years, and the next one isn't slated to occur until 2018! The first Blue Moon race was a timed race per distance - you could either run for one hour, three hours, or I think five hours? The object was to run as far as you could in that time frame. It was in interesting concept and I did enjoy the race, but it was the only time I've ever done a race like that (once in a Blue Moon - it was the opportunity to do a different kind of race). The race last night was another type of Blue Moon race where we got to do a race type that we've never done before.
This year's race consisted of three 5k's - a 6:00 pm race "Moondance", a 7:45 pm race "Bad Moon Rising" and a 9:15 pm race "Dark Side of the Moon". Participants could register for one or two of the races, or try to do all three and "Shoot the Moon". Since I am up to running 6-7 miles consistently for my marathon training (more on that later), I definitely wanted to "Shoot the Moon". I figured if I was too tired, I'd quit after two, but I wanted to go for the full shebang!
My friend Irene likes to walk 5k's and she has done some events in the past. She is also going to do the 10k when I run the ET Full Moon 1/2 marathon out at Area 51 in a few weeks (more on that later). She decided to come out to walk the 6:00pm 5k, along with another couple that she knows. We also ran into two ladies that we have seen around at other events in town, so the night ended up being a pretty social one!
The race was held at Sunset Park, which is a nice local park that has running/biking trails. The entire course was a paved trail. Since the sun was setting and the moon was rising during the races, participants were encouraged to wear a head lamp because the trail was not lit for the most part.
The 6:00pm "Moondance" race started off with the sun shining. It was humid, especially for Vegas, and there were clouds in the air and lightning in the distance. It actually made it a little nicer in my opinion because without the clouds the sun would have been brutal. It was about 105 degrees F, and I was very sweaty and heated up at about the 1/2 mile point, but I played my music and ran my race and had a nice respectable finishing time (for me) of 39:29. I was VERY hot and thirsty when I finished. I went to my car, where I'd packed a bag with supplies, toweled off, slammed a bottle of water, ate some Shot Blocks and walked over to the pavilion where there was food service and awards. Calico Racing always has a great food service and this race didn't disappoint. There was quite an extensive assortment of food - salty and carby snacks. I had a small piece of bread and walked back to the finish line to see Irene finish. After she finished, she left with her friends (they were going for dinner) and I got ready for my second race.
As the 7:45pm "Bad Moon Rising" race started, the sun was going down and the moon was rising. I got out my headlamp, because we were told we'd need it about halfway through. I started running and was warmed up at about the 3/4 mile mark and off I went into my groove again. The races were all on the same route and the route was a funky not quite loop, not quite out and back type, more like a lollipop with two loops, but since I had ran it once, I knew what to expect for number two. The sun set and I did turn my light on and I was keeping pace pretty much with my first race. I kept thinking it would be great if I ran the whole thing and didn't have to walk - so that was what I did. At about mile 2.5, the guy in front of me veered from the right way over to the left side of the trail. I couldn't figure out why he did, until I got a couple of steps further and saw a big old SNAKE slithering across the path. Nothing like desert running! I don't think it was a rattler, I was since told it was probably a gopher snake, but it was about 3 feet long and slithering across the path. I gave it a wide berth and went on to finish race #2 in 41:12. Again, after finishing I toweled off and slammed some more water, ate some more Shot Blocks and downed a protein bar. I then rested up a bit and prepped for #3.
At this time, there were some announcements to stay hydrated and have salt or salt tabs because there were complaints of people not feeling well, feeling dizzy and light headed. It was probably ~100 degrees F and I know some people aren't used to running in the heat. I felt fine, my feet were getting tired but I was feeling confident that I'd be good to go for #3.
It was dark at the start of the 9:15pm "Dark Side of the Moon" race, and I took off running the course for a third time. I was warmed up at about the 1/2 mile mark and everything was going great. No snakes this time, the temp felt a little cooler and I just ran my pace. I got through the first 2.5 miles without a problem and then I did stop for a short walk break. Hey it was my 9th mile of the night and my feet were tired, I was ready to be done! Even with the walk break, I managed to finish #3 in 42:43. So I slowed down a bit through each consecutive race, but I think I did pretty well for myself, considering that I was getting more tired and had more mileage each time. When I finished, I got my Blue Moon medal and when I looked up, the clouds had parted and the moon had come out. It was a really nice ending to a really cool series of races.
I really liked this race a lot. I liked having the 3 5k's with about a 45 minute break in between. It allowed me time to eat, drink, rest and recover and get ready mentally and physically to do it again. I liked it better than the previous race that Calico did for the Blue Moon with the hour times. I'd do a race like this again. If I had any suggestions, it would have been to add a 4th 5k! Also, everyone got the same medal, no matter how many races you did. It would have been nice to have a special "Shoot the Moon" medal, but honestly I was very happy with everything and nothing detracted from my enjoyment of the race.
Please ignore how sweaty and blown out I look in my photo - it was about 95 degrees at the very finish! Great race though, I'll surely race again under the next Blue Moon!
So last night I ran a race, well three races actually! I ran the Calico Racing "Once in a Blue Moon" race. Calico is a really great local racing company here in Las Vegas. Joyce, the RD, takes great pains to make her races successful. She runs a lot of races out in nature here in Vegas as opposed to a lot of the big urban races (Rock n Roll). Her shirts and medals are always top notch and I like the high quality and the smaller races that she puts on. She did an inaugural Blue Moon race back in 2012 - which I ran - and this this the first Blue Moon race she's had since then. A Blue Moon (two full moons in month) only comes a long every few years, and the next one isn't slated to occur until 2018! The first Blue Moon race was a timed race per distance - you could either run for one hour, three hours, or I think five hours? The object was to run as far as you could in that time frame. It was in interesting concept and I did enjoy the race, but it was the only time I've ever done a race like that (once in a Blue Moon - it was the opportunity to do a different kind of race). The race last night was another type of Blue Moon race where we got to do a race type that we've never done before.
This year's race consisted of three 5k's - a 6:00 pm race "Moondance", a 7:45 pm race "Bad Moon Rising" and a 9:15 pm race "Dark Side of the Moon". Participants could register for one or two of the races, or try to do all three and "Shoot the Moon". Since I am up to running 6-7 miles consistently for my marathon training (more on that later), I definitely wanted to "Shoot the Moon". I figured if I was too tired, I'd quit after two, but I wanted to go for the full shebang!
My friend Irene likes to walk 5k's and she has done some events in the past. She is also going to do the 10k when I run the ET Full Moon 1/2 marathon out at Area 51 in a few weeks (more on that later). She decided to come out to walk the 6:00pm 5k, along with another couple that she knows. We also ran into two ladies that we have seen around at other events in town, so the night ended up being a pretty social one!
The race was held at Sunset Park, which is a nice local park that has running/biking trails. The entire course was a paved trail. Since the sun was setting and the moon was rising during the races, participants were encouraged to wear a head lamp because the trail was not lit for the most part.
The 6:00pm "Moondance" race started off with the sun shining. It was humid, especially for Vegas, and there were clouds in the air and lightning in the distance. It actually made it a little nicer in my opinion because without the clouds the sun would have been brutal. It was about 105 degrees F, and I was very sweaty and heated up at about the 1/2 mile point, but I played my music and ran my race and had a nice respectable finishing time (for me) of 39:29. I was VERY hot and thirsty when I finished. I went to my car, where I'd packed a bag with supplies, toweled off, slammed a bottle of water, ate some Shot Blocks and walked over to the pavilion where there was food service and awards. Calico Racing always has a great food service and this race didn't disappoint. There was quite an extensive assortment of food - salty and carby snacks. I had a small piece of bread and walked back to the finish line to see Irene finish. After she finished, she left with her friends (they were going for dinner) and I got ready for my second race.
As the 7:45pm "Bad Moon Rising" race started, the sun was going down and the moon was rising. I got out my headlamp, because we were told we'd need it about halfway through. I started running and was warmed up at about the 3/4 mile mark and off I went into my groove again. The races were all on the same route and the route was a funky not quite loop, not quite out and back type, more like a lollipop with two loops, but since I had ran it once, I knew what to expect for number two. The sun set and I did turn my light on and I was keeping pace pretty much with my first race. I kept thinking it would be great if I ran the whole thing and didn't have to walk - so that was what I did. At about mile 2.5, the guy in front of me veered from the right way over to the left side of the trail. I couldn't figure out why he did, until I got a couple of steps further and saw a big old SNAKE slithering across the path. Nothing like desert running! I don't think it was a rattler, I was since told it was probably a gopher snake, but it was about 3 feet long and slithering across the path. I gave it a wide berth and went on to finish race #2 in 41:12. Again, after finishing I toweled off and slammed some more water, ate some more Shot Blocks and downed a protein bar. I then rested up a bit and prepped for #3.
At this time, there were some announcements to stay hydrated and have salt or salt tabs because there were complaints of people not feeling well, feeling dizzy and light headed. It was probably ~100 degrees F and I know some people aren't used to running in the heat. I felt fine, my feet were getting tired but I was feeling confident that I'd be good to go for #3.
It was dark at the start of the 9:15pm "Dark Side of the Moon" race, and I took off running the course for a third time. I was warmed up at about the 1/2 mile mark and everything was going great. No snakes this time, the temp felt a little cooler and I just ran my pace. I got through the first 2.5 miles without a problem and then I did stop for a short walk break. Hey it was my 9th mile of the night and my feet were tired, I was ready to be done! Even with the walk break, I managed to finish #3 in 42:43. So I slowed down a bit through each consecutive race, but I think I did pretty well for myself, considering that I was getting more tired and had more mileage each time. When I finished, I got my Blue Moon medal and when I looked up, the clouds had parted and the moon had come out. It was a really nice ending to a really cool series of races.
 | |||
| Me with my medal and the Blue Moon over my shoulder |
I really liked this race a lot. I liked having the 3 5k's with about a 45 minute break in between. It allowed me time to eat, drink, rest and recover and get ready mentally and physically to do it again. I liked it better than the previous race that Calico did for the Blue Moon with the hour times. I'd do a race like this again. If I had any suggestions, it would have been to add a 4th 5k! Also, everyone got the same medal, no matter how many races you did. It would have been nice to have a special "Shoot the Moon" medal, but honestly I was very happy with everything and nothing detracted from my enjoyment of the race.
Please ignore how sweaty and blown out I look in my photo - it was about 95 degrees at the very finish! Great race though, I'll surely race again under the next Blue Moon!
Monday, January 21, 2013
2013 - A Work in Progress
I'm really not a great blogger. I do this mostly for myself and I don't expect thousands of pageviews, making myself a brand, popularity and sponsorships. But maybe just maybe I could post more than once a year, ha!
So I didn't reach my WW goal in 2012 and while I did run every day starting with the 1st, I only ran every day for 69 days. Now I'm into 2013 and working on it all again. This is my THIRD year of not eating meat. My New Year's resolution for 2011 was to not eat meat. With the exception of a piece of andouille sausage in my jambalaya after my New Orleans Jazz 1/2 Marathon in October of 2011, I was meat free for the entire year. I was meat free all of 2012 with the exception of two Jack in the Box tacos one drunken evening when Tonia was here.
Tonia was here and we went to LA to go to Dolly Couture to pick out my wedding dress. Ah yes, my sweetie proposed on July 8th of 2012 and we are getting married on May 11th, 2013. Most of the broad strokes are in place. Some of the smaller details are still in the works, but I am looking forward to the event, to the honeymoon, to being married to my sweetie and to the possibility of having a little Scottie or two (yikes!).
In the mean time, my WW is going well. I've been fully recommitted for about three weeks now. I would still like to lose about 30 lbs. But hey, never give up and slow and steady wins the race!!!! I'd like to hit lifetime before I get pregnant and have to go off of WW. And I'd like to look good for my wedding. So, WW it is. Also, my running has been on hiatus due to what I believe is plantar fasciitis. My heel started hurting Thanksgiving weekend after a Turkey Trot, a 3 miles run, and two two hour Zumbathons and it hasn't stopped hurting since. I've been doing Booty Blast, limited Zumba and some mild elliptical and treadmill, but my running has been pretty curbed.
So, I'm still a work in progress. I'd like to see that Lifetime so I can say at some point that I am a Lifetime member of WW. My outlook has changed a bit though and I don't feel so much like it's a race to a finish line as it is just a constant work in progress. It's something that you have to think about and work on and be committed to every single day. It doesn't come easy, it's just something you always have to work on. You can take the weight off by sheer force, but then it will just come back. The goal is for all of this stuff to become ingrained and become a habit. I guess it's like quitting smoking. Years later there are days when you still want a cigarette. I have to remember to consciously eat right and exercise and if I make a mistake, just go right back.
Maybe I will always be a work in progress, but I guess that's ok.
So I didn't reach my WW goal in 2012 and while I did run every day starting with the 1st, I only ran every day for 69 days. Now I'm into 2013 and working on it all again. This is my THIRD year of not eating meat. My New Year's resolution for 2011 was to not eat meat. With the exception of a piece of andouille sausage in my jambalaya after my New Orleans Jazz 1/2 Marathon in October of 2011, I was meat free for the entire year. I was meat free all of 2012 with the exception of two Jack in the Box tacos one drunken evening when Tonia was here.
Tonia was here and we went to LA to go to Dolly Couture to pick out my wedding dress. Ah yes, my sweetie proposed on July 8th of 2012 and we are getting married on May 11th, 2013. Most of the broad strokes are in place. Some of the smaller details are still in the works, but I am looking forward to the event, to the honeymoon, to being married to my sweetie and to the possibility of having a little Scottie or two (yikes!).
In the mean time, my WW is going well. I've been fully recommitted for about three weeks now. I would still like to lose about 30 lbs. But hey, never give up and slow and steady wins the race!!!! I'd like to hit lifetime before I get pregnant and have to go off of WW. And I'd like to look good for my wedding. So, WW it is. Also, my running has been on hiatus due to what I believe is plantar fasciitis. My heel started hurting Thanksgiving weekend after a Turkey Trot, a 3 miles run, and two two hour Zumbathons and it hasn't stopped hurting since. I've been doing Booty Blast, limited Zumba and some mild elliptical and treadmill, but my running has been pretty curbed.
So, I'm still a work in progress. I'd like to see that Lifetime so I can say at some point that I am a Lifetime member of WW. My outlook has changed a bit though and I don't feel so much like it's a race to a finish line as it is just a constant work in progress. It's something that you have to think about and work on and be committed to every single day. It doesn't come easy, it's just something you always have to work on. You can take the weight off by sheer force, but then it will just come back. The goal is for all of this stuff to become ingrained and become a habit. I guess it's like quitting smoking. Years later there are days when you still want a cigarette. I have to remember to consciously eat right and exercise and if I make a mistake, just go right back.
Maybe I will always be a work in progress, but I guess that's ok.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Year's Resolution
Happy 2012!!!!
I have resolved this year to run at least one mile a day every day for the next 100 days.
Today I ran for two miles and then did a 4 minute Tabata workout. (alternating running with mountain climbers).
We will see if this gets easier. Day one is done.
I'm also getting to my Weight Watchers goal this year. I am super inspired by their new BELIEVE ad campaign. "If you want it, you got it. You gotta believe."
If you haven't seen the commercial, check it out and check out WW Success Story Suzi Storm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StHhd1DBN_g&feature=share
I have resolved this year to run at least one mile a day every day for the next 100 days.
Today I ran for two miles and then did a 4 minute Tabata workout. (alternating running with mountain climbers).
We will see if this gets easier. Day one is done.
I'm also getting to my Weight Watchers goal this year. I am super inspired by their new BELIEVE ad campaign. "If you want it, you got it. You gotta believe."
If you haven't seen the commercial, check it out and check out WW Success Story Suzi Storm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StHhd1DBN_g&feature=share
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