Half Marathon Number 10 - Princeton Half Marathon

I know it has been over two weeks since my last post. Life has been a bit busy, a lot going on and a bit emotional.

We are now 11 days into November but since my last post we closed out the great month of October. There are 31 days in October and looking at my calendar (picture left) I completed 25 workouts and only missed 6 days. I felt great and I can tell you exactly why I missed those six days. Three days were due to work and travel times and three were based on needing rest days.

So this month, November, I have challenged myself to 30 days = 30 workouts. I realize that some of you are thinking, you need rest days, and I will listen to my body. If I feel I need one I will take a rest day or I will complete an easy workout, less intense than others that I do. Needing to move is important to me and right now I really want to move!

One week prior to my 10th half marathon I completed my last long run, 4.5 miles. I felt great, strong and ready to take on the world. The following day I was emailing a great friend of mine. This friend I actually met when I was training for my marathon 11 years ago. I shared with her that for the first time in a long time I loved running again. I enjoyed going out and covering the miles. The best part was I felt strong! Once again I don't regret having the bariatric surgery!

One week later I was on the start line of my 10th half marathon, The Princeton Half Marathon. The race started at 7 am on a beautiful fall morning. The sun was shining, the temperature hit the mid 50s and it was perfect running weather. The course had a strict 3 hour cutoff and at two different points on the course you had to be there within a certain time limit; mile 6 and mile 9.5.

My goal was to finish this race and do it under 3 hours. I was nervous, but I always say if you aren't nervous it isn't important to you. Of the 9 half marathons I had done previously, five I completed under 3 hours and four were over 3 hours. With this in mind it didn't settle my nerves. The last 9 half marathons I completed the cutoff time was 3 1/2 + hours.

Another good friend mine, prior to the race, reminded me that I am stronger than I think and I just have to run my pace and keep going. The race started and I kept going. I passed the first cutoff, mile 6 (on the top of a very long climb) and I was ahead of schedule. I continued running and made it to cutoff #2, mile 9.5 and I was still ahead of schedule. At this point of the race I was in the middle of a 2 mile climb so I allowed myself to walk for 3 minutes which got me to the top of this hill. I started running and continued until mile 11 where I walked for another 2 minutes. I began to run until just past mile 12 and the last water stop. I stopped for one minute to walk and take in some water. I looked at my watch and I knew I would finish this race with time to spare. With less than a mile to go, and on the last uphill climb, there was my family cheering me on and letting me know that I was accomplishing my goals. I was so thankful that they were there.

I crossed the finish line and the clock read 2:57...I did it. I finished strong and was happy. Due to the changes I made in my life, I took 20 minutes off my last half marathon finish time! The finish time was still not a PR (2:51, completed 11 years ago) but I didn't care I did everything I set out to accomplish!

Fifteen (15) weeks post surgery and I am down over 55 pounds. I can't rest now. I worked out the day after the race to loosen up the tight muscles. Training for the next half marathon (March 26th) starts this weekend.

3 months post surgery

I am now 3 months post surgery and down 52 pounds. I went for my 3 month appointment today and my medical team is thrilled with how things are going. Yes, things are going really well but I am still not at the finish line. This will be an ongoing race for the rest of my life. As I have shared before this isn't easy, and every day is a trial and error and I am always learning something new. However, as the learning process continues I can be learn to be proud of my achievements and of myself.

This week I took part in a GXT test. The GXT test measures your Oxygen intake and your VO2 max, which helps determine your energy level while working out. Students in the Exercise Science department at Ithaca College help to administer the test and it lasts all of 8 - 12 minutes once you are all hooked up to computers, EKGs etc. Well I completed 8 minutes of the test running a 12 minute/mile pace and finished on a 7.5 incline on the treadmill. During the process it was discovered that I currently have a resting heart rate of 50 beats per minute and I am the 90th percentile of my age group for my fitness level. This made my day and helped me appreciate all the minutes, hours and miles I cover when exercising!

8 mile training run in Forest Park

The next step in my plan is the Princeton Half Marathon. I have just over 1 week left until the race, which will be my 10th half! In fact according to their website I have 9 days 9 hours and 11 minutes! Training has been going really well but I have to admit I am really nervous about this race. There is a 3 hour cut off for this race (14 minute/miles). Although I have completed 5 half marathons under 3 hours, I always had that cushion time with race cut off 3 1/2 or 4 hours. Two weeks ago I finished a five mile, very hilly, race with a minute/mile time under 13 minutes, but my confidence still isn't high. For now my goal will be to show up on the start line, ready to run. If I am cut from the course so be it...but I will be working hard to finish #10!!

Prior to my surgery I asked the doctor if he could make me a stronger and faster runner. He laughed and said he could. In three months I found that I am running faster and stronger and I will be bringing this with me to Princeton!!

Good luck to my friends running the Marine Corps Marathon this weekend. I will be thinking of you!

Finally...

...the scale finally moved this morning and I hit the 50 lb mark! I am down 50 pounds!!I know I still have a long journey ahead of me but this is a nice milestone! So what will tomorrow bring??

What a Run!

Sunday, October 16, 2016 I ran the 10th Annual Eastwood 5 Miler Race. It has been five years since I ran this course and the course runs through an old neighborhood I lived in at one time in Syracuse. I love this run but I have to admit there are many hills. I actually forgot about so many of them after not running there for so long.

My goal was to keep a 14 minute/mile pace which would have me finishing in 1:10. Instead I kicked that courses A$$! I completed the course in 1:04:40 which means I ran under a 13 minute/mile. Although this wasn't a PR, I missed that by less than a minute, but I was faster than my last 5 miler in 2015 and it was faster than my training! I was so happy and I felt great the entire course.

I used this run as a trial for my nutrition for when run a half marathon I registered for in 3 weeks. Since the surgery I can't eat the same things I always did when doing endurance events. I can't drink Gatorade and Gels are hard to take in so I have had to try a few new things. I even had to change up my usual breakfast. Two hours prior to the race I had an egg with some cheese. Then 1 hour before the race I ate half of an English muffin with peanut butter. While running I drank the water on the course plus I used Ultima in my water bottle. Ultima is an electrolyte replenishment that has zero sugar and zero calories but filled with electrolytes! I also used a few Honey Stinger chews that did not seem to upset my stomach. With this in mind I think I am one step closer to completing my next race on November 6th.

Later that evening I decided to treat myself to an early birthday gift, I registered for my second marathon in Burlington, VT. I decided to do the Vermont City Marathon on May 28, 2016. Eleven years ago I completed my first marathon in San Francisco. I always called it my first marathon when I would talk about it because I always knew I would do another one. I am ready for my second marathon. Although a majority of my training will be done during the middle of winter I will be looking to my marathon friends to get me fired up to train!

Finally, I am a bit frustrated with the scale. I know I am not supposed to measure my success just by the digital box but sometimes you want to see the magical numbers. I know I have had so many success since the surgery; down four sizes; off of my diabetes and HB medication as well as feeling fabulous. Recently I even had to go shopping for new bras ...I don't think I have ever looked for the size I am looking for now...bring on the padding!! I just want to hit the 50 pound mark ... it is a milestone and I am 1 1/2 pounds away!  I hate the scale but when it doesn't move the way you want it to, all the old negative thoughts come rushing back. The numbers aren't going up but you start to question if this will work? Am I doing enough? Will I fail? No matter how much good happened to me yesterday, the digital box can overshadow all of it!

One year ago...

On October 10, 2015 I completed the first annual Rock n Roll Brooklyn Half Marathon. That was my 9th half marathon and I really enjoyed the course and the race itself. It was a beautiful fall day, as a runner, you couldn't as for anything better.

At this point in my life I had been dealing with Type II diabetes for 11 months and was struggling with my blood sugar numbers and obviously my weight (based on this picture). Just one month earlier I had my first conversation with a member of my medical team about Bariatric Weight loss Surgery. Of course at that point I had dismissed the conversation. One month after this photo the subject was brought up again and my whole life took a different turn.

One year later (less one day) I went for a run on Sunday, October 9, 2016. I completed 3.5 miles as a drop back week, since I am training for another half marathon. In less than four weeks I will be on the start line of half marathon number 10 in Princeton, NJ. I don't know what the day will bring as training for this race is so much more than just the miles. However, I am ready to take it on ... what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right?

Over 45 lbs down!

Down over 40 pounds

Officially 40 lbs down

40 lbs down!

It's been 10 weeks and I am down over 40 pounds. Last week I went and met with my diabetes coach. Even though I haven't taken any medication (for my diabetes or anything else) since my surgery I wanted to make sure I was still OK. As my coach explained my daily number counts looked great and going forward I don't need to check them every day as I was. However, she did explain to me that I am not diabetes free, just in remission. With this in mind I have to stay on top of it, continue to check my numbers on a weekly basis and make sure I stay in a "normal range". She explained that this surgery definitely helped but doesn't mean it is a cure. Either way I was happy to hear stay off the medication and this is motivation. I will not go back and I want to stay medication free. It is not my plan to slack off and let my blood sugar numbers start to climb again.

Before my appointment was over we talked about my workouts and my training goals. She asked me if I was strength training ... my least favorite thing!?!? I explained to her that I know how important it is but I don't enjoy it. She then challenged me to start adding it in even just two days a week. With the fast weight loss, I am also losing muscle and I need to keep that. Of course this I know but I would rather go for a run or swim than lift. However, I never turn away from a challenge so here I go...adding weights to my workouts!!

Another highlight of this past week, I went shopping to pick up a few things. My closet is dwindling and I need a few dresses for some upcoming events. I bought three dresses ... two were a size L and another was a size 14! I am officially down 4 sizes! Since I don't check my scale every day, it's nice to have other ways to measure your success!

Below is two pictures showing another success. Some of you may not understand this or probably can't relate. However, as someone who travels often for work, this is a huge success!!

"Insert the metal fittings one into the other, and tighten by pulling on the loose end of the strap"

Yes, I can do that now!!

Trying On Clothes...

This evening I am watching the first 2016 Presidential debate. While listening I decided I needed to multitask because some of these answers are just crazy ... so I decided to try on clothes in my closet. My wardrobe is getting bigger and bigger. I am not complaining but I need to figure out what I can wear now and I need to distract myself.

Even though I know I have lost weight sometimes it is hard to see yourself thinner when you have seen yourself fat for so long! I need to tell myself that these clothes are hanging off of me and I need to let them go! Psychologically this is tough. How many of us have saved clothes, because someday you may need them? I don't want them and I will not go back!

So far my clothes donation pile is getting higher and I have a lot of empty hangers! I tried on an LL Bean winter jacket I bought last year, one that I love so much, but it is huge on me. I will need to purchase a new one soon.

As much as this debate is upsetting me the closet clean out is not!! Looking forward to a small shopping spree soon.

I think it is time for a new jacket!

Yeah I would like a new jacket!