In 2010, I didn't work out and I ate whatever I wanted. It all started with the house and not having a kitchen to cook in for the first few months and just not having time to workout. Once we did have a kitchen and I was cooking again, I just didn't care about the working out. I got into a pattern of laziness. I knew I had gained some weight and half the clothes in my closet didn't fit me anymore, but even though it depressed me that I wasn't my usual fit self I just didn't really care to do anything about it. It wasn't until I saw this picture of me on our company facebook page that I actually realized how much weight I had gained. This picture was taken in late August and it pretty much horrified me. I realized that Hawaii was just 2 1/2 months away and I did not want to look like a beached whale! I got back into my healthy eating habits, joined the gym and really started trying to get back into shape. Weighing myself that first day at the gym was depressing, I had gained 12 lbs but by the time we went to Hawaii in November I had lost half of the weight I had gained. It was challenging after Hawaii to get out of vacation mode and I kind of stalled with the 'getting in shape' thing until New Years when another team at work challenged my team to a Biggest Loser Challenge. I took it seriously and dropped another 5 lbs leaving me just 1 lb away from my 'normal weight.' Once the work challenge ended (my team won by the way), I needed something else to keep me motivated. My friend Cynthia had an app that posted her running distance and time on Facebook and that gave me an idea. I called her up and suggested that I go up there for a 5K and she come down here for a 5K. I looked into races and found one few months away in Paso Robles which is where Cynthia lives. The Wine Country Runs 5K looked perfect! I have had a goal of running a 5k without stopping in under 30 minutes for years but have a pattern of signing up for the race and then finding some excuse not to go. The first 5k I completed in college I came in just over 30 minutes and the 2nd 5K I did a few years ago I had to stop and walk for a few minutes after 2 miles and did not break the 30 minute mark. Here was another shot at achieving my goal! I didn't really train, I just incorporated running into my workout regimen once a week. About 6 weeks ago I decided to see how far I could run without stopping and surprsingly ran 3 miles. The next few weeks I ran 3.5 miles once a week up until race time. I've always hated running. I was a sprinter and I am built for short bursts of speed, any kind of distance was always difficult for me...even when I was an athlete. I was pleasantly surprised when running 3.5 miles became routine for me and I actually looked forward to my Tuesday runs at Miramar Lake.
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| Our crew freezing our buns off before the race |
The race started and our group dispersed pretty quickly. There were so many people it was hard to keep track. I had no idea if they were ahead or behind me but I had my Ipod and my running playlist going and very quickly got into 'the zone.' I was surprised how quickly the mile 1 marker came and realized I felt good and was already 1/3 of the way done! After the second mile the course became unpaved roads and dirt and hilly. The hills were a little challenging being at the end of the race but I persevered. There was a large and long and very daunting hill and my legs were finally starting to feel a little tired but when I looked up I could see the finish line. I could see the timer clock at 28 and knew I had to book it to make it in under 30 minutes. My sprinter mentality kicked in and I hauled butt up the hill and finished in 29:21, less than a minute behind my brother! It was pretty neat to hear them announce my name at the finish line and between the endorphins and the high of knowing I just accomplished a goal, I could not stop smiling.
Peter was the first to finish in our crew. Notice the unemployeed look he is rocking. Nice facial hair Pete!
I finished next with a time of 29:21. I actually finished 7th overall for women in my age group! 
Cynthia came in next and with a time 10 minutes faster than she usually runs!
I am super proud of my cousin Amanda. She decided just a week or two before the race that she was gonna do it and started running to prepare. She ran the whole thing except for a tiny part of the giant hill at the end.
We were all smiles after the race!
Did I mention we had shirts made for this wine themed race? We were Winos With a Running Problem. We got several compliments on our shirts both during and after the race and had inquiries on how to join our club.
So I kind of like this running thing and think I might want to keep it up. I have no desire to run anything more than a 5k, but would like to work on improving my time. Cynthia is down to come to San Diego and run a race here. Can't wait for the next challenge!
