Operation Non-Fluffy Abs

As women I believe there is one thing we all do. We over analysis our bodies. We look in the mirror and we don't like a, b, or c. We see pictures in magazines that have been photo shopped and airbrushed and yet we have dreams of looking as slim and sexy as the woman staring back at us from the page. We buy magazine after magazine on how to shape this or tone that, read diet book after diet book and still we feel as if we are a hamster on a spinning wheel, right? 

We can place blame in many places as to why we do not look like the goddess on page 23, but the truth is we are not blameless. We allowed a, b or c to happen. We sat on the couch day in and day out. We ate Doritos and drank Pepsi like it was going out of style. We indulged in cheesecake at every opportunity and we were just too damn tired to cook so we stopped off at Taco Bell. Most of all we didn't go to the gym, didn't run those 3 miles or meet up for that long walk with a friend. 

We all have choices and those choices are the reason we find ourselves picking apart our bodies and dreaming of a physique that most of us are still too lazy to get up off the couch and chase down. We can try to place blame here and there, but as Jillian Michaels said, "At the end of the day your health is YOUR responsibility" 

I've been working hard since September 2011. At that time my goal was simple. I was 160 lbs and I wanted to be 125 lbs. I'm still not 125 lbs, but I've not quit. I've not given up. As I've continued my goals have evolved into more and more. Not just with my body either, but performance as well. I am learning constantly that I'm far more capable of things than I ever gave myself credit for. When I first started training with Herman, my personal trainer, when doing ab work he would tell me, "Now get that picture in your head, you know what you want them to look like, picture it" and he is always telling me how good it is to have goals. 

I'm constantly setting new goals. For the past 4 days I've been on a new nutritional plan and learning how to work with it in hopes that it will help me get to where I want to be. I've known for a while that my nutrition was lacking. As I go through these 6 weeks I'm taking photos along the way. Recently, I posted photos of where I started, where I am and where I'd love to be. 

This morning I created a new collage and set it as my desktop! I may even put it as my screen saver on my phone as a reminder. I allowed myself to get to 160 lbs...only I can change that. I may never look like Amanda Latona, truth be told I don't want to look LIKE her. I want to look like ME, but I love her physique, it gives me a goal - something to aspire to. 

Left photos: November 2011. 

Middle photo: Amanda Latona. 

Right photos: May 2 2013. 

Changes are coming....

This is a collage of me picking apart my body as we women do... It is hard to see but in the corners it tells you: Hidden, Fluffy, Pulled in, Relaxed and Pulled in. We are talking about my stomach here. The area I'm hell bent on changing. The big picture shows how well I can "hide" the fluffy abs pictured in the top right. I know I still have work to do in this area. It is the area I am hoping to see the most changes in at the end of this 6 weeks. 

Stay tuned & I'll keep you updated on the progress...

1. Are you making good choices today?

2. Do you have some goals set?

3. How bout a plan of action? 

Get out there and make yourself! You can do it!

Short & Sweet

I had a lot more to blog about earlier today, but then I got busy and time got away from me. However, I wanted to share with you what I did today. I've seen photos, videos and all of people 'prepping' their food for the week, but I've never really been sure how to go about it. So today, I cooked. I had a few left over things I knew I could eat with my nutrition plan & I knew I needed plenty of veg & protein. So my steamer and skillet were my friends today & they served me well. 

Look at this progress!

What do I have there: Well...a LOT of broccoli, some cooked carrots, rice, left-over roast beef, pasta with veggies, sirloin stir-fry and boiled eggs. All measured out to the amounts I need for each meal. How many meals will this make??? Umm... I'm not 100% sure yet. I'll have to make a few more things to complete a few meals, but I think perhaps there are about 5-6 meals there. I'll let you know for sure later. I'm still learning how to do this ya know. I'm just happy to have my breakfast, snacks and lunches sorted. Veggies for dinner are in there but I'll have to make the main meal later. I got a family to feed too....

What I am most impressed with...it all fit in my tiny British fridge!!! 

Who knew! I think I'm really going to like this prepping idea.

Do you prep your meals? 

How often, once or twice a week?

Any recommendations for those just starting?

Little About Me

It's that time again...time for a little FUN. For those of you that know me best how many of you agree or disagree with my answers? haha

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

A Little About Me

1. Have you ever experienced love at first sight?  Yes, it's that moment when you hold your newborn baby in your arms for the first time. You know you love them while your pregnant, but until the moment your eyes meet...you've no idea the intensity of it. 

2. What channel is your TV on most? Disney

3. Share one quality that you’re proud to have.  I'm very honest.

4.  Describe your idea of a great evening.  You've just spent all day out on the lake with your family & friends. Everyone is feeling good and warm from the fun in the sun. The fire pit is going, burgers are grilling, beers are being passed around, volleyball game is getting hilarious  smore's are melting in your mouth and everyone is leaned back in their lawn chairs telling stories, laughing and smiling as you watch the sun sink behind the trees and melt into the water. That is the best kind of evening in the world!

5. If your friends were asked to describe you in three words, which words would they choose? Well, I'm just gonna take a guess here but I would say: Crazy, Funny and Fit.

6. What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas!

7. If you could change one thing that would make your life easier instantly, what would it be?  I would have a maid!

8. What is one healthy food that you crave?  Grilled Chicken.

9. Do you wear socks when you sleep?  1/2 the time. I might start off with them on but they won't be there when I wake up. I think my bed eats them.

10. Share at least three things for which you are thankful.  1. My husband. 2. My children. 3. My friends.

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions!  Don’t forget to come back and link up in the comments.  Happy Monday!

Mad Monk 2013!

I just had the best weekend ever! Girl time, Starbucks, Mexican food, Margarita's, Mud Run/Obstacle course and the celebratory pint & peanut butter cup after. Not only that the weather was amazing! It was an absolute beautiful day to be playing in the mud. I even beat my previous time & I wasn't working my butt off to do it. 

This year: 53:46. The coolest thing about this, was we got the results right there at the finish! All we had to do was type our bib # in and it printed our results out right there. LOVE that!!!

Last year, that 8 ft wall scared me. I was afraid I wouldn't make it over it. It took a lot of work for me to get over the top of that thing. This year...man, I was like Tarzan & Jane! It was a great feeling! I don't think it gets much better than this :) Thanks Jessica Eastman for putting up with my craziness & thanks James & boys for letting me steal her away for the weekend.

You don't see too many Mexican restaurants in England, so when we got to our hotel and there just happened to be one right across the street...well, we just had to do what was right and go! Boy, was it good!

This is before the madness. Getting ready and showing Jessica the river that is so NOT everyone's favorite obstacle! 

After the madness! We survived it. The river was still freezing at 53 degrees! Thankfully this year it was not flooded and the current was not as strong, but man it was still down right cold! 

I am so proud of Jessica! She made it through her very first mud run obstacle course and with a smile on her face! I saw her get a little nervous a couple times, but I knew she had it in her and could do it. She didn't let me down. Then that little turkey decided to sprint to the finish (as she always does in any race) and I had to chase after her. I caught her this time tho! I can not wait to see what the finishing pictures look like! Her taking off like a rocket and my short little self trying to catch her. I will post updates on here as soon as I get a copy of that photo...there better be one!

I gotta practice my gun show poses, :) 

We asked a guy to take our picture...see the one up there of our shoes? He missed. Then he said something about having a dirty trainer fetish...whew! Crazy people! 

Then I introduced Jessica to cider & blackcurrant. It had been introduced to me the year before, very nice drink.

What a blast! Absolute great weekend & I came home so chill - you'd have thought I went to the spa for a weekend! 

I don't know who I will get to do Mad Monk with me next year, but it will be my last time to do it so hopefully somebody will want to go play! People need to quit moving! Oh well, it will be my turn to move soon enough and it appears I'm counting it down by race events haha, I've gotta be nuts. 

How was your weekend?

Did you participate in any race events?

Did you have glorious weather too?

6-week Nutritional Plan

I WON!!! I WON!!! I WON!!!

I can't remember the last time I won something. I began following the page Wolfe4Life Training and Nutrition on Facebook at the recommendation of my friend Alex. The owner of this page, Shawn, decided to do a give away for his birthday:

"THE NO BULL-ISH GIVEAWAY" Where 41 that's 4 T 1 Indiviuals will WIN a W4L 6 Week Nutritional Plan!! 

1.. Tell Me Why You or Someone You Love/Know Will benefit From Winning!! That's it!!!!
2.. Email it to me at wolfe4lifetrainingandnutrition@yahoo.com.... NO SUBMISSION by MESSAGE WILL BE ACCEPTED!!!
3.. All Entrants must Like the Page or have Already Like the Page!
4.. Entry Deadline is the 20th of April!
5.. 41 Winners (4 T 1) will be anounced on MY BIRTHDAY 26th of April!

W4L... Cause Money Ain't EVERYTHING!!!

And then he updated the contest to this:

UPDATE!!! As of today there has been over 200+ Entries for the "NO BULL-ISH GIVEAWAY" with 4 Days Left to Enter!! Well Things have Changed!! There Will NOT be 4T1 Winners!! Since my Page hit 5,000 Likes.... There will now be...... FIF-T WINNERS!!! That's Right 5O WINNERS to be announced on the 26th of APRIL!!! Again... THANK YOU!!

W4L... Cause I'm the B O S S!!!

Over 400 people entered!!! I'm so excited to be one of the 50 that was selected! I found out just before I went to bed the same day as the Ultra Eagle Competition, so after my performance with that, finding out I'd won absolutely made my day! Shortly after I received an email letting me know what info would be needed to create my nutritional plan. So what did he need:

1. 3 days of my nutritional intake along with the times I eat.
2. A list of favorite foods & foods I can not stand.
3. What I do for workout & cardio
4. Photos. Front/Side/Back - with updates every 2 weeks. (will not be posted without permission)
5. Weight, Height & My goal.

I started writing down my nutritional intake the very next day and had all information sent in by the time I went to bed Thursday evening...a little later than I'd planned as I'd just gotten my hair colored. Love that my hair stylist comes here to do it, well to her Mom's, which is next door. :)

Within no time Shawn responded to my email with a Thank you & letting me know I would have my plan within 3 days or less. Which is perfect, as I've not 'really' gone grocery shopping yet & I will be away from tomorrow until Sunday evening. Mad Monk Baby!!! A muddy good time :)

I can not wait to get started on this plan and see if it helps me. I've started to feel as if I'm gaining weight vs losing and that's really not making me happy. Gain weight for muscle sure I'm okay with that...but a fluffy middle - I'm not okay with and that is where my weight seems to go....straight to my tummy. I want flat abs! Not fluffy ones!

So what's my goal? 

Goal: I want to flatten and tone my stomach so I look great in a bikini and have noticeable abs…no jiggle in the middle. I want a more ripped physique so I feel/look more confident in my clothing. If I take a class at the gym and the instructor is not in shape or does not have a body that makes me say, “I want to look like that” – then I probably won’t take the class again. I don’t want people coming into my class looking at me and leaving because I don’t give them that ‘look’ to aspire to. I would like to reach 125 lbs but if I lose body fat & gain muscle and never see 125 I’m okay with that as long as I look the part. I would love to see some changes in my glutes, they rarely engage and are rarely sore – which tells me they are not working correctly or I’m doing something wrong. Long term: I would like to win the Ultra Eagle Competition next April. This year I completed it in 29 minutes. I was rather disappointed with my performance. I dream of stepping off the plane in America in 16 months and seeing my family/friends mouths hit the ground because I am in the best shape of my life. I left America 160 lbs. I've made progress since September 2011…but I’m not satisfied yet. I still have work to do and new goals to chase every day…handstands, unassisted pull ups, 2:30 time for 13.1, a 5 hour time or less for 26.2. Each day presents a new challenge, a new time to beat, a new goal or dream and I intend to chase them all.

How's that for a goal?

I see things like this:

I dream of having abs and arms like that! I want to be sculpted like that and I know that requires dedication, hard work and good nutrition. I believe nutrition is where I struggle the most. I can work out 3+ times a day...but until I get my nutrition on point I do not know that I will notice any further changes. I want changes. That is why I am so happy I won!

However, I currently look like this: New Bikini. Photos taken May 2nd. Yeah, Mama needs a tan!

I've no desire what-so-ever to look manly, but I do want more definition; a more sculpted physique. I am making progress. If I didn't take photos I would not believe it. 

The photos on the far left were taken November 2011, The photos in middle were taken November 2012, and the photos on the far right May 2 2013. 

This was a really brave post for me. You see the previous photos were taken in a sports bra and shorts...this latest....well that's me getting brave. If I were out at the lake swimming people would see me in that bikini, so there it is. 

I will be taking my 2 week photos, in the same bikini & in the same place (Ladies locker room at the gym) over the next 6 weeks. I will also continue to have them taken with my hair fixed and make up on. We do not want any repeats of that first photo where I hardly even recognize myself! Geez! 

I hope to see changes with this nutritional plan and I'm very excited about that possibility. 

If you follow me on Facebook or are my friend on Facebook you know how much I workout. Results do not come for free, there is no magic pill. You just gotta do the work and keep working even when it gets tough & you feel like giving up because you are not seeing the changes you want. If you quit, you'll never see them. 

Ultra Eagle Competition

Last week I completed the Ultra Eagle Competition my trainer holds every year at RAF Lakenheath. It sucked! :) Here are my thoughts:

1. Perhaps I was not as ready for it as I thought I was. I thought I could do it in 20 minutes.
2. Perhaps I was still recovering from the Paris Marathon.
3. Perhaps I still had antibiotics in my system - I'd been off them for a week.
4. Perhaps I didn't believe in myself enough.
5. Perhaps I gave up on myself too soon and should have tried to push through that skyrocketing heart-rate.

Who knows? All I know is I was not pleased with my performance. I've been training with Herman for a year and a 1/2. All the events in this competition are familiar to me, I have done them time and time again. I even took time and trained for this competition. Not as much as I would have liked, but do I normally hit the gym on a weekend? No. Did I? Yes. 

I was slightly nervous, because I didn't know how I was going to accomplish each event and still breathe. When I trained for it I only timed myself on each event, not the amount of time in between events. During the competition the clock does not stop. So it is intense, which is okay, I've done intense. However, I was having some issues with my heart rate. My resting heart rate is 50-60. When I put my heart rate monitor on it was already at 100...okay, nerves, right? I got on the elliptical for just a few moments to warm up. When I stepped off my heart rate was 140. Not normal, especially for that tiny warm up. 115-120 would have been more like it. So I started the competition with my heart rate higher than I wanted.

Before I got on the bike for the first event, I turned my music on. I thought if I'm gonna do this craziness I am going to need something in my head besides ME. 

1st event: Cycle, level 10 for 1 mile. Now all of this is timed so you want to get it done as fast as you can. I beat all my training times on this one. That made me feel good, but my heart rate was up there now and I had to get on the Row Machine. 

2nd Event: Row 500 meters. My time on that one was about normal, which surprised me because I thought with my heart rate already in the 170's I was gonna loose it. It was here that one of the people helping thought he needed to tighten the strap on my feet...next year I will tell everyone "Do not tighten anything!" I have BABY feet, they slip no matter what! They slip in my shoes...it's life, I deal with it. Anyway, when I went to get up and go to the next event I could not get my feet outta there! It really flustered me, don't be locking me in somewhere when I gotta be moving!

By the way I love the way my arms look in that first picture on the row machine! I should really take more pictures in the gym. I usually don't think about it as I'm too busy sweating my hind-end off!

Event 3: 50 sit-ups on an incline. This killed me, as I could not breathe by this point. Usually, I knock these out in 1-1:30 time. It took me almost 4 minutes according to the sheet they gave me. 4 minutes - not fast enough, but as you can see by these beautiful pictures I was struggling here.

Event 4: 30 strict push-ups. Which I can do, thankfully!

Event 5: 30 Sept-ups with 10 lbs each hand. I was hurting here, but I kept going. I strongly dislike step-ups. I'm not sure why but they are the enemy!

Event 6: 30 reps back pulls with 25 lbs each side. Back pulls are one of my favorite exercises, but on this day they were not as fun as usual. 

Event 7: Jump Rope 100 revolutions. 

Event 8: Shoulder Press, 25 lbs each side, 30 reps. Another exercise I like. Here I was trying to catch a breath an prepare myself for the torture of the next event...it didn't work.

Event 9: Run 1/2 mile on a 10 degree incline. I had wanted to reach this part within 10 minutes. I didn't. I was far from it. This was also the part I dreaded most. That incline kills me. So guess what I'll be visiting a lot this year? Yep, there is more than one way to skin a cat and I am not going to let that thing get the best of me again. If you look at the 2nd picture to the right, that is the look of defeat. The look that says, "I didn't make it." I thought about getting off that darn thing and just leaving. I only stayed for 2 reasons:

1. My Mama didn't raise no quitter. I may let myself down from time to time. I may get so close to quitting that people don't believe I'll continue...funny thing is that pisses me off & I just gotta prove them wrong. I may walk away, but I'll come back. I do not quit.
2. My trainer, Herman. Even though I already felt like I'd let him down by not going faster, I couldn't quit with him standing there watching me. I've come so far since I began training with him and I have never said "I can't" or "I won't" or "I quit" and this day, this day was no different. I had to do to this, I had to finish it; for myself and my trainer. 

Once I realized I just had to finish it I tried to run a little, but my heart rate was pretty high and that really freaked me out. I wasn't used to it being so high for so long. It took a long time for it to come down after the competition too. I was not expecting that to happen at all I can tell you that. I wish I could of run the whole 1/2 mile, but I didn't have it that day.

Event 10: Chest Press, 30 reps with 25 lbs each side. Another exercise I like...I like lifting weights, have you guessed that yet? If you look at my face tho, I'm not enjoying it at that moment haha. I was never so glad to be done with a workout, but I was disappointed. I didn't reach my goal and I knew I didn't win one of the top 3 spots. My finishing time was: 29:25. YUCK! I guess I'll chase that 20 minute mark next year.

Once again, I felt a bit defeated and a bit pissed off at myself. So much so, that I was just a tad emotional for a moment. Not normal for me and it ruined one of my secret gym goals! I was never going to cry in front of my trainer. Oops! Not only did I get a little teary in front of him, but everyone else! Damn emotions. :) Tears are not something I do...

My friend Jessica sorta laid into me about it, I wish I could find what she said to me about it on Facebook, but it seems to be missing. Herman was great. They both kept telling me how proud they were of me. It felt good to hear, but I sure wish I had done better. Next year, right? Only got 1 more shot at it before we leave. Unless Herman leaves...which I never know about. I'm going to miss him like crazy when that time comes, he is a great trainer and I really appreciate all he does.

I got a T-shirt for my efforts. It's massive. I can sleep in it or bum around the house in it. Someday it will go in my quilt that I plan to make from all my event shirts...when I'm tired of wearing them that is.

And that my friends was my very first fitness competition...gonna have to train a little harder. Time to step up the game, seriously!

5K to Marathon

Once upon a time, before I knew anything about running...

April 2007. Finishing time: 37:50 a pace of 12:12

Jenny's time: 37:53

April 2008. Finishing time: 56:39 a pace of 18:14

Jenny's time: 44:05 a pace of 14:11

I do believe I walked this one, if I remember right. 

I think I walked it with my friend Becky, pictured above.

By the way, Jenny - just got herself a new PR at this years New Path 5K!!! 37:23!!! I'm so proud of her!!! Someday, I'll get to run it with her again and we're gonna crush it! :)

I didn't do any further 5K's until October 2011, when I did the one for Breast Cancer on the base. I did a few other 5K's on base, but I have no photos of those and the only one I remember my time on was my fastest. That was May 2012 and my time was 32:45. That was a memorable run for me. My friend Amy knew I was aiming to beat my previous time, and I don't remember what that was, but she finished before me and waited to see if I accomplished my goal. It was the first time anyone had been at the finish line for me. Made my day. 

The next race I have pictures of is my first 1/2 marathon with my sister Holly. We did not properly train for this and we wore shoes that had not yet been ran in. Thankfully, our feet were only sore and did not suffer too much. By this time I had learned a little bit about running clothes and had purchased a pair of Nike running tights...I still wear them! I also had purchased 2 Nike running tops, one short sleeve, one long - in case it was cold. After all it was Missouri in December. However it was a nice 57 degrees and sunny. I actually got hot. 

December 18 2011. Finishing times: 3:24:56 a pace of 15:38

We did the whole thing together and crossed that finish line together too!

I believe Holly was the best person I could have ever ran my 1st marathon with. She was motivational, encouraging and hilarious! She would pick people out of the race that we HAD to beat and she just kept me moving the whole time. I had asked her to do a 5K with me...I thought she was nuts when she suggested a 1/2 marathon, but man, do I love her for it. It was a challenge and we completed it. 

We had 3 goals that day: 

1. Finish
2. Finish in under 4 hours
3. Inspire our Mom

I am pretty sure we succeed in all 3 goals. We learned a lot about ourselves and running that day. I'll never forget it. I hope to someday run with her again when I live back in the USA. I sure do miss her.

The next 5K, I did was actually a mud run obstacle course. My first experience with that and I did it with the RAF Running Club. It was great to go with the group. It was so much fun. I thought it was the craziest way ever to celebrate Mother's Day, but hey! We had a blast. 

May 13th 2012. Finishing time: 56:23 a pace of 18:11

I will be doing Mad Monk again this very weekend. I'm excited but not looking forward to that darn river. It's freezing! And this year they have this!!! Burrrrrrrrrr....I'm cold just looking at it.

The next supposedly 5K (I think it was longer) I did was the Spartan Race. I signed my husband up to do it with me...without asking him first haha. He did and it was fun to have him with me for it. 

July 29th 2012. Finishing time: 2:01:36 a pace of 39:13 haha

David's time: 2:01:38

I know some probably do that for time, but we were just doing it for fun and the experience. There were a lot of obstacles, however we waited in this line in this tunnel forever! So if you want to do a race like that for a time, go in the very first heat -otherwise you might be stuck waiting in line and singing silly songs. 

The next race I was brave enough to attempt was a Sprint Triathlon! Yep, I'm nuts! All I gotta say bout that.

September 15th 2012. Finishing time: 1:11:41 

1 minute and some change shy of my 1:10 goal.

For some reason I signed up for a 5K Zombie run...I could care less about Zombie's, but it was another running club thing and I thought, "oh it will be fun, why not". It was entertaining that is for sure. Downfall? It was the day before Run to the Beat. Trail running with bad knee the day before a 1/2 marathon - dumb idea. Lessons learned tho.

October 27th 2012. Finishing time: 1:05:15 a pace of 21:2

Next day, London's Run to the Beat 1/2 Marathon. I was really excited about this one. Sadly, I was injured. However, that did not stop me. A lot of things almost stopped me that day. 

1. It was freezing cold.
2. My knee was already hurting & I was wearing a brace.
3. I was all alone. The running club was there but I arrived after and could not find them. I was really missing Holly & I almost asked David to just take me home several times. 
4. I kept thinking "I don't have to do this". 
5. ...and more!

However, I stood in line waiting to start, all by myself, freezing and contemplating my escape. Somehow my escape went across the start line and so off I went. I made it to mile 3 ready to be done and thinking, when I see David at mile 7 I will just have him take me home. He wasn't at mile 7. I didn't see him until mile 9/10 and by then I thought well I might as well finish this thing. So I did. It was however a brutal race for me. I wanted so badly to finish in 2:30 but I realized I wasn't going to make it. I thought I might be close enough to hit 2:45 and so I was pushing for that when my phone died and left me without music and my shoe came untied. Mile 12 and I did not like each other. 

October 28th 2012. Finishing time: 2:54:37 a pace of 13:19

It was not a pretty finish. The clock read 3:16 if I remember right and it just crushed me. I thought, no way! My phone can not be that far off the time. I didn't realize the time would be different according to when you started. It was my first big race. However, after seeing that time...getting through there and to David without totally breaking down and losing it was extremely difficult. He kept telling me I did it and I was just wanting to cry, "No I didn't! The clock said 3:16!" I learned a lot that day. I can do far more than I imagined. I'm tougher than I thought and I can even run 13.1 by myself. It's more fun with friends, but I can do it alone.

My next run was a really short Santa Run with my son. I've no time or distance for this one as there was an accident that day and our entire route got shortened by a great deal. We had a great turn out from the running club!

After that I did not enter another race until the Cambridge 1/2 Marathon & Relay. I did it as a relay with members from the running club, my first experience with that and I rather enjoyed it...as you can tell, cause I'm actually smiling! I ran 4.4 miles. It was freezing and snowing that day too! Crazy!

March 10th 2013. Finishing time: 56:51 a pace of 12:55

Now, we come to my 3rd 1/2 marathon. The Reading Half. This was also a running club event. I was once again chasing that 2:30 time. I'm still chasing it. :) It rained the entire race. We were soaked through to the bone. However, the spectators were amazing and there were great bands along the way. I ran with my friend Jessica and together we chased that 2:30 time. We started to slow down about mile 9 as Jessica was not feeling well. At mile 12, I went ahead of her and I'm really glad I did, watching her finish was a great blessing to me. 

March 17th 2013. Finishing time: 2:42:49 a pace of 12:25

Jessica's finishing time: 2:45:45

Then came the BIG one!!! The Paris marathon. I still have no idea what I was thinking. I have no official finishing time for this race as I did not complete it within the 6 hour time limit and my Garmin died at 5 hours. Therefore, I am chasing a 5 hour marathon.

Fitness competition: Ultra Eagle Competition. I'll tell you more about this in another post.

April 26th 2013. Finishing time 29:25

I've come a real long way since April 2007. Sometimes you just have to sit down and take a look at all your progress. You may feel like you are going no-where, making no improvements, getting stuck in a rut...but if you just keep truckin' along you will soon find out that you've come a lot further than you imagined. Don't let negativity in or you will become your own worst enemy.

I'm still chasing a few things down and one of these days, I'll catch them. Until then, I'll just keep truckin' right on down the road...one foot after the other. 

1. What keeps you motivated?

2. What keeps you signing up for event after event?

3. Do you see your own progress or do you need to sit down and take a look too?