Run from the Sun 5k

I did it! I registered for the 5k set for April 14! It should be fun and we also get a free skin cancer screening. That's a great bonus. I hope we have a large group representing MM and we can wear our MM t-shirts.

I'm looking forward to Saturday for our last run on the levee. Not because it will be our last trip to the levee (I'll miss that), but because we're going to do 4 miles. My husband told me this morning after my 50 minute walk that he can't IMAGINE walking or even moving for 26.2 miles. I imagine it all the time. Sometimes I'm actually proud of myself for getting as far as I have. But then I think, I have so far to go. Will I really make it? I certainly want it badly enough!

See you Saturday, Marathoners!

Great Saturday!

I had such a great day Saturday! I don't exactly know why, but this was my best MM day thus far. I was so pumped and excited and had more energy. I keep trying to figure out what I did differently this past Friday than all the other Fridays before. I can't come up with one thing I did differently. I couldn't believe that I finished ahead of my "whipper-snapper" friends! It must have been my blue "I AM A MARATHONER" bracelet! LOL. . . I now KNOW I can cross that finish line in Chicago. And that Bread!!! I thought the cinnamon swirl was out of this world, but that stuff (white chocolate cherry?) was fabulous!!!

I also want to take this opportunity to thank everyone in MM (and my family) for all the support and encouragement. I know this journey will be much easier with this extraordinary group of people!

Have a great week!!

Looking forward to Tomorrow!

MM is such a big part of my life now that I just live for the weekends! And I'm actually walking more but I still have a problem with xt. I am working on that part and WILL do better. I have kept my promise not to step on the scales until 4/12; I just hope I see some improvement in that department. I definitely feel smaller although only slightly, but I figure my clothes aren't lying to me when they fitter looser than before. So at least that is encouraging. I must admit that Wednesday was a bad day for my diet - some of us went to lunch (Mexican-one of my favorites) and then we had the monthly birthday cake at work. Yes, I did partake; sweets are one of my pitfalls, but I have increased the fruit in my diet so that helps the old sweet-tooth!

I love the idea of having the picture gallery on the website. Now we can put a face with a name and blog! Yea!

See everyone tomorrow! Blog on Marathoners!

Getting Better

Spring has sprung at last!!! I didn't get my walk in after work yesterday but I did get up this morning at 4:30 and do it. And I feel so much better. Even though its xt day, I just had to walk. Yesterday I was still feeling, well, not so good. So I went to bed early, slept well and got up at 4:30 with no problem. I'm on my way now! What a great way to start the first day of Spring! Of course, after Spring comes the Mississippi heat of July and August. If we can train through those tough months, Chicago will be a piece of cake, or should I say, CHEESECAKE! Am I right? Or is it my "wishful thinking" popping up? Just a few more weeks (3, I think) before Mark tells us it's okay to run now. I guess I'll find out what I'm really made of during that test!

Blog on Marathoners!

Starting off bad

This week is not getting off to the best start. I didn't get enough sleep Sunday night so I was unable to make myself get up at 4:30. Went to work, came home, changed and went out for my walk. I could only do 30 minutes before my hip and back started hurting too bad to continue. So, I thought, I'll do 45 minutes tomorrow morning but I forgot to set my clock and didn't get up until almost 6:00. It's also a little weird that I woke up tired, not rested. So as I'm writing this at 7:45 a.m., I feel like I've been up all night. Things definitely have to get better as the day goes on because I'm going to get back out there after work and give it another go. Wish me luck; I'm gonna need it.

Great Walk Today

I wasn't really feeling my best today, but I got out there and walked the three miles with my friend Connie, who had just returned from a week-long vacation in California. We both walked slower than usual today since she was tired from her trip and I wasn't feeling well. But we did it and weren't exhausted when it was over.

I loved the meeting today. Mark is so funny and so was Angela! However, I'm a little disappointed about the room rate. I had planned to get a room for my son, his wife and daughter to share with me, but there is no way we can afford that. So it looks like they will be looking at staying wherever my Michigan son and his family stay and, since my husband will be unable to go with me, I'll be looking for teammates to share a room. Anyone interested? I would be willing to be a fourth in the room. I wonder if we have the option of two bathrooms like at the Hilton? Since I had already requested a double for the room count, I hope I win the lottery so I can afford to stay in the room alone! LOL!!! Oh well, it's not that big of a deal and it's definitely NOT a deal-breaker. I AM A MARATHONER AND I AM GOING TO THE CHICAGO MARATHON!!! I may be walking like I just stole something, but I'll be crossing that finish line with all of my buddies from MM!! (and my son - who, BTW, did a 5K this morning! Go Dusty! Go Dusty!)

Later. Blog on Marathoners!

The weekend has finally arrived!

I haven't done so well this week so I'm really glad the weekend is here and I can hit the levee! Our Saturday meetings and walks really get me pumped for the coming week. I plan to do much better next week. Every day we get to start all over again. How great is that?!

Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.

I AM A MARATHONER

Thanks for the encouragement!

Thanks to Kim, Kelvin and Dusty for their encouragement when I really needed it. It really made me trudge on and get up at 4:30 again this morning to do my walking (without stepping on the scales first). That's going to be my new mantra - don't step on the scales! Give it more time and be surprised - in a good way - when I finally do step on them again. Maybe I'll wait one whole month before trying that again. April 12 sounds like a good day to try that - what do you guys think? Is a month long enough to build a little confidence, lose some pounds and get back on the scales? Or should I totally ignore them during training? There I go, wanting that instant gratification. Boy, it sure is hard to be patient. When it comes to losing weight, patience is not one of my virtues. That's another thing I will have to work extra hard on.

Blog on Marathoners!! Saturday will be here before you know it!

I need encouragement, please!

Up at 4:30 this morning for my 45 minute walk, I stepped on the scales and BAM!! I was UP about 3 pounds! Are the Girl Scout cookies from last week finally showing up on the scales? I've really been working much harder at getting the exercise in and watching what I eat and eating healthier. Maybe grazing is not for me and I should go back to the strict WeightWatcher plan. We were extremely busy this weekend with my daughter and her husband in town from South Carolina for a wedding in which my daughter was a bridesmaid. Our eating schedules were a little "out of whack" but I didn't really over-do it. Okay, I did have a piece of wedding cake, but that shouldn't have blown things that bad.

Our Saturday meeting and walk was great. I can really feel my endurance improving and can hardly wait for each Saturday. I love getting out there with the group! It really pumps me up for the week ahead of doing the walking alone.

Work is going to be especially busy this week, so I may not be able to blog as much, but I will be reading as much as possible. Blog on Marathoners! You inspire me!!

NO TURNING BACK NOW!

I did it! I have officially and successfully registered online for the Chicago Marathon! I even purchased the ChampionChip because this is just the beginning!

GO SHEILA! GO SHEILA! Hey, that's me! I'm going to run/walk the Chicago Marathon!

Can you tell that I'm excited?

I AM A MARATHONER!

I spoke too soon!

I woke up this morning at 4:40 and could barely move. For some reason, if I wake up and I'm on my stomach, my back feels like it's going to break when I try to move. After back problems years ago, I had to re-train myself to sleep on my side. But occasionally now, I'll wake up on my stomach - it's so weird. When that happens, the only thing I can do is slowly roll to my side and just lie there for a while. Well, to make a long story a little shorter, I didn't get my morning walk in. I'm still waiting for the ibuprofen to kick in so I'll be able to walk after work.

And I've had one more set-back. Girl Scout Cookies! HELP! You try to do something nice for the little girls, but in the back of your mind you're thinking, "this is bad." So you put the cookies away for when your kids visit. Then all of a sudden the cookies are gone before the kids even arrive! Well, at least they're gone and the temptation is no longer there. Fruit! Veggies! Yogurt! Nuts! Those are the things I'll have from now on when I feel the need to "graze."

Blog on Marathoners!

Great Weekend

Saturday was a great day to walk the levee! I am so excited now that I feel no pain before, during or after our walks. For the first few weeks I had constant low back pain and shoulder pain. With the "stick to it" attitude and ibuprofen, things are going great. I was up at 4:40 this morning to get in my 45 minute walk before work. I have a lot to do this week after work, so I need to get my walking time in early. It is totally amazing that I feel exhilarated the rest of the day instead of tired after the morning walk. It's definitely getting easier!

Wasn't it fun to get our MM duffel bags? I had so much fun going through the goodies inside the bag. I can hardly wait to get our t-shirts! We have such an amazing group of people and it's going to be so much fun sharing the trip to Chicago with each of you.

Hope everyone has a great week and blog on marathoners!