Scale Victory and Second Race Excitement

"Running has taught me to be patient, to trust the process, that anything worth doing is worth training for and doing well. It has made me a better wife, co-worker, friend, nurse, sister, daughter, and person in general."  ~Andi Ball, Runner's World Challenger of the Week 

Thought you'd get away without a quote? NEVER! 

I'm beyond excited for the race on Sunday! I have just about everything set aside so now all I have to do is pack. Tomorrow we'll be clambering in a car for a short drive and enjoying the day with one of my awesome friends I haven't seen in so long. We go way back to grade school. I can't wait!!

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I had a great scale victory today! I lost 2 pounds in a week. TWO! I'm down to 176.8 now. I am beyond shocked. I haven't been really strict and I've been eating chocolate (skinny cow cookies and cream bars...SO GOOD). Only 1.8 pounds to go until I have lost 30 pounds! It has been A LOT of hard work, but it was 100% worth it!

According to some of the Insanity reviews I've been reading, you really start losing during the second month so it's right on time. I just finished off recovery week (hah! It was still hard.) and will start month 2 on Monday. It'll be rough and I might still be sore from the race, but I got to do what I got to do. Tuesday is the second dentist appointment for the rest of the fillings I need. I'm ready to get it over with, but I know I'll be doing nothing but laying around and putting a warm compress on my sore jaw. It'll also be a small mileage week due to recovering, but the following week I'll be back to 10K training. 

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Today I did a short run of a little more than a mile and a half, but I ran at a 12 minute mile during the whole thing. At first it was a bit tough, but my body really started getting into the groove about halfway through. I've been working on the treadmill to work on my running form so I can stay away from calf injuries. I've been trying to change my foot to a mid foot strike instead of a forefoot strike. Running with the mid foot strike seems to work best with my legs and knees. 

Overall, I'm just amazed that I'll be running my second 5K this Sunday. I've always stood on the sidelines of my dad's races thinking to myself, "Okay, this year I'll get in shape and do this." But the year came and went with no progress. It wasn't until I hit absolute rock bottom that I found the courage and determination to actually commit to running. I won't really feel like a true runner until I run a half marathon. My mother thinks that I'm absolutely insane for wanting to be a distance runner like my dad. I've done the research and I know that even though it may be stressful for my body, in the long run it is better for my body than not. And with a family history of bad knees and heart disease, I need all the help I can get to stay healthy for as long as possible.

I want to wish my father a HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! He is my hero and the reason I race. On Sunday I'll be running this race for him. I hope that one day in the future he'll be on the sidelines cheering for me as I cross the finish line of my first marathon. I know that would make him so happy (and a bit concerned since he knows how hard marathons are). I love you dad!

Like father, like daughter...

"I want to get more comfortable being uncomfortable. I want to get more confident being uncertain. I don't want to shrink back just because something isn't easy. I want to push back, and make more room in the area between I can't and I can. Maybe that spot is called I will." ~Kristin Armstrong, Mile Markers blog, Runner's World.com

I signed up for runnersworld.com quote of the day and I am loving it! I have a thing for motivational quotes if you couldn't tell.

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Anyway, today's run was FANTASTIC. After dealing with side stitches during each of my last two runs, I finally was free of them during today's run. I felt light, airy and really motivated. I rocked out to every song on my Ipod, and I'm sure the people who walked past the gym thought I was nuts since I like to lip synch. I didn't care. It has been a while since running felt that good, that easy, that free. I decided since I was having such a good time I'd see if I could run a 5K. I finished the 5K and then some. I am extremely happy since I was really getting nervous about the race. 

Now I'm excited for the race! I'm sad my Dad won't be running this race with me, but I'll be racing with some pretty cool catz so it's all good. Bring on the color!!

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This week in Insanity is "recovery" week. Uh huh. I put the DVD in expecting Shaun T to have a yoga mat and a recovery shake. Nope. I was thoroughly disappointed. Yes, it was easier than most of the routines from month one, but it still leaves you breathless and burning! I was worried that my calorie burn would be low, ha ha ha. I'd say it's about 50 calories lower than my usual burn. I'm excited to be at this point, period. I never thought I could take on this challenge. The body is an amazing thing. 

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My legs are doing okay today. I really love my foam roller. The foam roller is going to be my BFF for however long my body will let me run. If you're having issues with muscle strains, do yourself a favor and get one. Foam rolling can be really uncomfortable, but it helps more than it may hurt. Mostly it just feels weird. 

I'm trying to figure out what to get my Dad for Father's Day. I think I'm going to print out one of the pictures of us from my first race and frame it. I want to put on the frame, " #1 Dad" on the top and "Thank You" on the bottom. I really think he'd like that and it's from the heart. Something along those lines. Sounds like tomorrow is going to be a crafty day! 

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Amen. My Dad is the reason I run.

What are you doing for Father's Day? Any races coming up?