OIB Run for Food Race Recap

 

I just completed the OIB Run for Food! It was a 5k and half marathon, I ran the 5k. It raised money for the local food pantry, a type of organization that I believe very strongly in. It was a no pressure, fun road race! The temperature was 26 degrees, cloudy and breezy. It was COLD. We had to cross a high rise bridge, twice. Not sure if you’re familiar with high rise beach bridges, but there is a lot of wind at the top!

 

My good friend Kelly came with me to act as cheerleader and my own personal paparazzi.

While lining up at the start, my worst nightmare was realized. My Ipod, which I fully charged last night, had somehow mysteriously died. I was going to have to run this without my awesome Run Mix I made and without the encouragement of the lovely gentleman (who I imagine looks a bit like Paul Wesley and is madly in love with me) that lives inside my Nike+Ipod. I thought for a split second about quitting, it was cold and this was a major blow, but I toughed it out!

I am so glad I did! The volunteers on this race were amazing. They cheered us on as if they knew us all personally. I know they were freezing too being out in the weather. I tried to thank every one that I passed. If my Ipod had been working I wouldn’t have been nearly as observant!

My finish time was 33:31. I’m not sure what I placed, it was too cold to stick around and find out! I had a great time running this race regardless of the cold. My 2nd 5k, and if I wasn’t sure before I certainly am now…I’m addicted. I’m ready for the next!

Happy Saturday everyone!!

Ready, set, go!

Tomorrow is the big day! The OIB Run for Food 5k. Here is the latest forecast:



I'm nervous that the morning will stay pretty cold with Friday night's low of 24 degrees, and with the wind on the high rise bridge I expect the wind chill to be COLD. I'm prepared though! I took the advice of many people and bought a compression shirt, warmer pants and I got out my fleece hat, fingerless mittens and ear cover. I think I'm as ready as I'm going to be for the cold weather. I will also be in layers, so I can strip down if need be.



I'm excited and feel more ready for this 5k than I did for the Greensboro Gobbler. My friend Kelly is coming with me to cheer me on and take pictures. She's not normally a morning person, like at all, so I'm extremely grateful that she is coming with me!

In other news, today was my weigh-in day. I am down 6lbs since January 1st! Now, now...I am fully aware that by weighing on 1/1, after a night of heavy drinking and very salty foods means this number is probably very skewed, but I will say that I have have had a good on-point week and it feels great to be back in a healthy routine, tracking, exercising and cooking.

Happy Friday everyone! Anyone have any exciting weekend plans? :)

Stick to your guns!

I am having a good week. I have been on-point all week, I've stuck to my goals that I set for 2010, I've done my training for the 5k on Saturday and I'm proud of myself.

I found this information today:

—About 80% of people who make resolutions stop keeping them by mid-February.
—Two-thirds of dieters gain back any lost weight within a year.
—Many people make and break the same resolution year after year.

I want to achieve my goals for 2010 and I want you to achieve yours! I subscribe to the Hungry Girl newsletter and she had some fantastic tips this week to help you achieve your goals and stick to your guns...at least as far as health and wellness goes. This advice isn't going to help me get my credit cards paid off any faster.

1. Don't go "on a diet." While diet plans can be helpful, if you think of yourself as being "on a diet," everything can become too black and white. If you're "on a diet" and suddenly you have a little setback, you may decide you're "off your diet" and go back to your old ways. Think of your new eating plan as more of a lifestyle change -- one that will have ups and downs, with good days and bad.

2. Don't deprive yourself. A food plan shouldn't be about deprivation. It should be about SATISFACTION. Find foods you LOVE -- things that satisfy you but are better choices than the fat-packed alternatives. This is KEY.

3. Drink lots of water. Water is good for you. It's good for your skin and your metabolism. And it helps fill you up. Plus, not getting enough water can make you cranky and more likely to make bad food choices.

4. Listen to your body. It knows things. If eating cereal for breakfast tends to make you hungrier throughout the day, then don't eat cereal in the morning. Pay close attention to your body cues. This will help tremendously.

5. Live one day (or even one MEAL) at a time. Don't be discouraged and beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon and eat badly -- just be aware and make better decisions at your next meal.

6. Get exercise with activities you enjoy. I used to HATE exercising. I feared it. Now I exercise but only do what I like (which happens to be walking on a treadmill five times a week, while watching reality TV, and weight training twice a week with a friend). Find something you actually enjoy doing, and you'll do it. Don't take on an exercise routine that causes pain or discomfort -- you'll just end up ditching it completely. (And I know this isn't an EATING tip, but it's important!)

7. Let yourself cheat a little. Everyone strays once in a while. It's totally normal. Splurge when you need to, and enjoy it. (Don't feel guilty!) Then get RIGHT back on track to prove to yourself that you can handle a cheat meal now and then.

8. Keep track of what you eat. Write it down. As dorky as it sounds, you WILL 100% without a doubt make better choices if you hold yourself accountable for what you eat by keeping a food journal. Just do it -- even if you only write in it every OTHER day.

I wanted to share this with everyone because it's hard to get back on track. I've had a great week, but I've been so tempted just to grab a piece of chocolate or skip a work out. I've also been tempted to shop like a mad woman at the after Christmas sales and work stress has made me quite snappy at the husband. But I take a deep breath and I focus. I remember my goals and I move forward.



This may seem like a rather silly post only being 7 days into the New Year, but I needed a reminder already. I doubt I'm the only one.

How are you doing so far with your goals and resolutions?

Get off your ass! Here's your motivation!

Yesterday I shared one of my new favorite quotes with you and asked for you guys to give me some quotes in return. I got some really great ones. I had a 2 mile run scheduled for last night that I totally wanted to skip. The quotes I read gave me the motivation I needed to just go run! So, get off your ass! Here's some motivation!

Heather shared - "Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something." -Randy Pausch

Kylie shared - "Reach for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars". Unknown

Elaine shared - "Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own, sources of strength never taxed at all because we never push through the obstruction." William James (she shared 3 amazing quotes, but this one was my favorite)

Shannon shared - "The future is no place to place your better days." Dave Matthews Band (I LOVE this one...of course, I love DMB)

Thank you ladies for giving me motivation and inspiration for yesterday and a blog entry I can look back on for motivation for the future!

The weather is still awful in NC, well, it's sunny, but it's 30 degrees. I am going to look for some cold weather running gear tonight, thanks to everyone's recommendations, I think I know what I'm looking for!


Yesterday was another on-point day! I wanted to hit the ground running in 2010 and I think I'm doing it. Hopefully the momentum pendulum will continue to swing positively!

Deep Thoughts

"I am motivated simply by my awareness of the impact today's actions have on tomorrow's circumstances." Chase Streetman

I found that quote today and it honestly moved me. It made me think about why I push myself to eat well and exercise. I think it's my new motto. I know now that if I take care of my body that it will take care of me in turn. This is something that I have learned over the past year.

This quote doesn't only apply to health and wellness, but it also applies to our relationships to others, our jobs, almost anything.

I think our ultimate goal should be to better tomorrow's circumstances by changing our actions today.

Have you ever had a quote or comment just kind of make you pause and think?