Random things

Today is a short work day for me. I only need to work five hours and I'm done. It is really nice because I need a break. I spent most of the day and evening at The Palace of Auburn Hills photographing state individual wrestling finals last Saturday. The finals themselves took a long time and the drive home also took a long time. It rained all day then switched over to snow. Driving conditions weren't the greatest. But some drivers thought so. Passed a few of them stuck in ditches. Besides that long day, this week I traveled to two out of county girls basketball games. Both evenings I got to bed later then normal. But like the trooper I am, I got up the next morning at the same time for work: 4 a.m. I'm looking forward to relaxing and getting more sleep. Since I don't have any games to shoot this weekend, I can do exactly that.

My sister told me last night that I'm too skinny. I don't think that I am. Over the last few months people have commented on how I look. They always ask how much weight I have lost, which is 80 pounds. The next question is do you want to lose any more? I do want to lose another 10 pounds. When I tell them that they usually ask why? Most people tell me that I look great and that I don't need to lose anymore. I would like to be another 10 pounds lighter because I know it will help with my running. If I weigh less, I hope I can run a little faster and lower my PRs again. I just want to run as fast as I can.

I will be watching so much college basketball today. I mentioned that I like the conference tournaments last week. Starting at noon, I'm be watching the Baylor vs Kansas State women's game. At 2 p.m., Michigan vs Illinois men's basketball and tonight at 7 p.m. Duke vs Maryland.

Fitness profile

Back in December, I was featured in our newspaper's health magazine. The fitness profile was about me losing 80 pounds over the course of a year.

Since the magazine has come out, many people have been talking to me about it. I have heard from so many of them that I'm an inspiration to them. My fitness profile has made them want to better themselves and lose weight also. If my story can help others, I think it is great.

Soon the complements will die down and stop, but that is alright with me. I will continue to run and eat better. I hope that the people that I inspired will keep up with what they start and reach their goal like I did.

Read the article.

Left photo: Christmas 2009 with my husband, Mike

Right photo by Lad Strayer: November 2010

Miles run in 2010 - final count

What a year! I can't believe I ran 2764.6 miles this year. This is probably my best year since high school. I didn't run that many miles in high school, but I weighed about the same as I do now. Everything good that has happened to me running wise is because of my weight loss. I lost 80 pounds in 2010. Dropping the weight has helped me run more miles and lower all of my PR times in the 5K, 10K and half marathon. A couple of weeks ago I ran a timed mile with the Ann Arbor Track Club in 7:35. Just shy of my best high school time. I thought I would never run that time ever again.

My running goals for 2011 is to continue running strong. I want to keep running 80 mile weeks, do more speed work, keep running 6 or 7 days a week and keep improving on my times. I am confident I can do it.

Total miles run for the year:
2004: 318.6
2005: 350.8
2006: 470
2007: 573.7
2008: 960.2
2009: 1257.9
2010: 2764.6

Random things

My work week is coming to an end, as is 2010. I'm working a double shift again today. I already worked my five hour morning shift and will be heading back into the office tonight. I'm not a big fan of the double shift, but if it let's me have the next day off, I'm all for it.

I will post my final mileage for the year Friday. It is high this year. With Monday's 17 mile run, I passed 2700 miles run for the year. That is awesome! My final count for 2009 was 1257.9. At the time, I thought that was a lot. Looking back at that now, it was a lot for me then. I was still overweight and didn't run 70-80 mile weeks.

My New Year Eve plans are set with my husband. We aren't doing anything too special, but it will still be fun. Our plans are to go to the Westfield Franklin Park Mall down in Toledo, Ohio. I received a bunch of gift cards for Christmas and I want to use them. After I shop, we will be going to a see a movie at the mall. My husband and I won't be seeing the same movie. I will be seeing Black Swan, while he watches Tron. Then after the movie, we will be having dinner at Famous Dave's BBQ. I could eat there everyday because it is so good. I love their cornbread.

I know our plans don't involve a wild party, but that is OK. It will be a nice and quiet evening, just how we like it.

One year ago

So much has changed in one year. Last year at this time, I was overweight. I didn't think that there was anything I could do about it. I wanted to lose weight, but I didn't know how.

The second week of January 2010, I was looking at Christmas photos. It was then I saw what I really looked like. I didn't like what I was seeing. It was then I decided that I had to lose weight. No more wishing that I could. It was then I took control of my eating habits and changed my running routine. I didn't know how much I would loose. I know I just had to do it.

Almost a year later, I have lost 80 pounds. Everyday I try to watch what I eat. Sometimes I do go overboard and gain a couple of pounds. When I do gain a few extra pounds, I know that over the following days, I really have to watch what I eat. I do have a goal of losing another 8 pounds. In the new year, I'm really going to focus on that goal. I'm going to go back to how I lost my weight. Really following portion control. I want those last 8 pounds gone. If all goes well, by the end of January they will be gone.

Top Photo: Christmas 2009. This is the photo that helped me change my life.

Middle Photo by Lad Strayer: November 2010

Bottom Photo: December 19, 2010

Haunted Graveyard 5K

Over the weekend, I ran the Haunted Graveyard 5K. The race was held at the city's largest cemetery at dusk. The course is nice. It is a looping two lap course that is very challenging. It is challenging because it has many hills.

I wasn't expecting too much going into the race. Usually when I run this race, I have run the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon the week before. I know from running this race in the past, my time would be slow and my legs would be tired. This year was different. My time wasn't slow and my legs felt really good.

I was pleasantly surprised that I ran as fast as I did. The hills really didn't bother me until the very end. When I turned the corner to run to the finish line, the first thing I saw was the clock. The clock was helping me sprint to the end. I checked my watch after crossing the finish line. My watch read 25:50:10. I couldn't believe it. That time was only six seconds off of my PR that I set the first weekend in October. I was thrilled.

With that being said, this was the third year I have run the race. I have never placed in the top two of my age group. That changed Saturday. I placed second in my age group. Instead of medals, glass mugs were handed out. The mugs were very cool. It has the race logo on it. I wouldn't be able to hang it with my medals, but every time I drink out of it, I will remember the great time I had.

Miles run in 2010

What a great year it has been! I have definitely beat my New Year's goal on mileage I wanted to run this year. Through Sunday's run, I have run 2043.1 miles so far in 2010. I can't believe I have run over 2000 miles. A couple of years ago, I would have never thought I would run that much. Now I know it is possible. I'm just going to keep running and see where that takes me. If you didn't know, I love running. I guess you could call me addicted to it.

2004: 240.5
2005: 288.2
2006: 394.8
2007: 458.2
2008: 724.5
2009: 949.4
2010: 2043.1

Weekend update

I did it! I totally smashed my PR from last year's Detroit Free Press Half Marathon. I ran a 2:03:14 Sunday. My goal was to improve my time by 15 minutes to a half hour. I didn't know I would beat my old PR by 44 minutes.

I trusted my training and knew I would do well. The weather was perfect and my legs felt great. For the first six miles, it felt like I was passing everyone. I was still running really fast to make up for lost time leading up to and on the Ambassador Bridge. The road leading up to the bridge got backed up. We came to a standstill three times. I was very mad. I'm sure most of the other runners and walkers were too. On the bridge, we only had one lane to run in. Can you image 20,000 runners/walking all sharing one lane? It was awful. I just kept thinking to myself, "Once I get off the bridge I can make up some time." I did my best to make up time. I was doing well until I hit the incline coming out of the underwater mile. My quads were dying from the incline. I still did well. I think I made it out of the tunnel in 9 minutes. It took me about 1/2 mile to get back into a nice running rhythm.

With less then a 5K to go, I picked up my speed. I gave all that I had and finished just over two hours. What I ran this year is an incredible time, but I was thinking what could have been. If we didn't have to stop so many times on the bridge, would I have gotten under two hours? Who knows. That gives me motivation for my next half marathon. I'm going to be training hard during the fall and winter to reach that goal. I hope on April 17, 2011, I will reach my goal.

Half marathon

I'm running the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon in five days. This year especially, I'm looking forward to it.

I have been training all year for this race. I have increased my weekly mileage to over 60 miles and I have lost 80 pounds. If I lose eight more pounds, I will have reached my goal weight. Almost every race I have run this year, I have improved my times. I dropped my 5K time by nine minutes and my 10K time by 11 minutes. I am hoping to drop my half marathon time by 15-30 minutes. I know it is possible. At the half marathon last year, I dropped my time by 13 minutes. I dropped that time when I was overweight. Now that I'm not overweight, I want to see what I can run.

Besides the race, I excited about attending the expo. For the past two years, I have just picked up my bib, bought official merchandise and left. I actually want to look at and purchase some running items. I want to look at compression socks, shirts and shorts. Maybe I'll find something I wasn't even looking for. I'm sure the latter will happen.

I checked the weather for Sunday's race. It looks like it will be nice running weather. The temperature, as of now, will be 63° and mostly sunny. The low will be about 48°. I will take that weather. At the start last year, the temperature was 28°. I will be happy if it is not that cold. I don't need my toes to be frozen for the first mile.

I am ready to run the half marathon. I can't wait to set a new personal record Sunday.

Weekend update

So many things happened this weekend. I lost 80 pounds. I set a new PR in a 5K. I raced in two 5Ks back-to-back and placed third in my age group for both. I spend all of Saturday with my husband.

I was so thrilled when I stepped on the scale Friday after my run. The scale told me I weighed 80 pounds less then I did in January. I can't believe I just typed 80 pounds. That is a small child. I am so close to my goal that I can see the finish line in sight. My goal is to lose 88 pounds. I only have eight more pounds to go. I know I will be able to do it.

I ran a 5K Saturday morning at my alma mater, Siena Heights University. I enjoy this race because it is so challenging at the end. The course runs uphill for most of the entire last mile. I can say that I did give my all the last mile. The only concern I had was the turn into the parking lot that lead to the finish line. The parking lot was really slick because of the rain that fell hours before. It was like running on ice. I had to back off in the parking lot so I didn't fall. When I made the final turn into the backdoor that lead to the indoor track, I heard the volunteers read off the time: 24:58. I was happy that I knew I would finish the race under 26 minutes. But I really wanted to finish the race in the 24 minute. I was just a little off. I finished in 25:42 and I was third in my age group. Finishing third was OK with me because I finished behind two former Siena cross country runners. They both finished three minutes ahead of me. I will catch them someday. My times are coming down every race.

Later after lunch, my husband and I took off on our road trip. We went to Dundee, Michigan and then to Toledo, Ohio. I really enjoyed the time that we spent together. I even told him that during the evening. We visited Cabela's, Silver Belles, Westfield Franklin Park Mall, saw Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and ate dinner at Famous Dave's. Best day ever.

I ran another 5K this morning. It was so much colder Sunday morning then at Saturday's 5K. The race started out well. I do remember thinking during the first mile that my toes were frozen. I passed the first mile in 7:52, the second mile in 16:30 and according to the clock, I finished the race in 22:05. I instantly knew that was wrong. If I just PR'd in Saturday's 5K with 25:42, I knew I just didn't finish a 5K in 22:05. I overheard a couple of ladies saying that the course was only 2.7 miles. I was disappointed as were others. I was trying to lower my PR. The race director apologized for the error. This was the first 5K for this group. It was a simple mistake. She promised that next year the error would be fixed.

After the apology, the awards were handed out. The woman handing awards mentioned that the women's age group of 30-34 was the largest for the entire 5K. I didn't hear my name called for the top three. That disappointed me. I know I can't win them all. Following the awards, I asked to see the award sheets to see what place I came in for my age group. When I was looking at the sheet, the woman who finished first in my age group said that there was an error. The woman who won third place in the age group of 30-34 was actually 35. With that error, that put me into the third place slot. I did come home with a bronze medal. I couldn't believe that I ran two 5Ks in two days and won two medals. Best racing weekend of my life.

Weekend update

I had a great weekend.

The past weekend was the start of my week-long vacation. It was also the weekend of my new 5K PR, finished 4th overall for women, first in my age group, finally losing 75 pounds and running 60 miles in a week. OK, I didn't run all of the 60 miles over the weekend, but I did complete it on Sunday.

I started the 5K running fast. I was near the front of the pack. Before reaching the half mile mark a lady ran beside me and started to pull away. I didn't let her pull away too far. She was in striking distance. I glanced down at my watch after running by mile marker one, it read 8:32. I was right where I wanted to be time wise. Not too fast, not too slow.

The start of the second mile had a huge hill to run down. I'm glad we had to run down the hill. Coming down the hill, my speed was so fast. The downhill helped me catch up to the lady that passed me a half mile into the race. We ran side-by-side less then .25 of a mile. She started to fade and was no longer running beside me.

My next goal of the race was to catch two guys that were in front of me. I passed one of the guys right after crossing the two mile mark at 16:58. After passing him, he picked up his speed and passed me right back. Running together, both of us caught up to the second guy. The guys started talking to each other. When they started talking, it seemed liked they slowed down. I was boxed in behind them. I was going to swing around them on the outside right, but they both moved over to let me pass.

I passed the guys and continued my pace. Less then a half mile to go, I was passed by one of the male runners. I tried my hardest to stay with him, but I couldn't. Making the final turn to the finish line, I was amazed to see 25 minutes on the timing clock. I have never seen those numbers ever while heading to the finish line. I started picking up my pace, sprinting towards the finish line and lowered my 5K PR. I finished the race in 26:18. I was first in my age group and the 4th woman overall. I dropped my PR set in August by a minute. I finished 12 seconds behind the guy that passed me with a half mile to go.

Not a bad way to end the week.

Random things

I was asked Tuesday to speak to a beginner's running group Saturday. The group is a From Couch to 5K. Most of them have never run more then a mile. The group leaders are people I have known for years. We all grew up in the same community and went to the same high school. They thought I would be perfect to inspire a group of new runners with my running and weight loss story. I hope my story can inspire them and keep them running.

I was asked this week by a woman I know if I have been losing weight. I answered yes and that I have lost almost 75 pounds (I have lost 74.5 pounds officially). She asked how I did it and I told her running 50 miles and portion control. She said I looked great then said "I was now too skinny." I just smiled. That is a first. Someone telling me I'm too skinny. It was only 9 months ago I was in the obese category of the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator. Now I'm in the normal weight category and that is where I plan to stay for a long time.

I have another vacation coming up next week. Usually my husband and I go somewhere during the week of our wedding anniversary. We went on our vacation back in August, so next week is just a chance for me to relax at home. I don't know what my husband has planned for our ninth wedding anniversary. It could be big or not.

Besides our anniversary, I have a couple of things I want to do on my week off: photograph some dance classes and go to a high school and college cross country invitationals. The dance studio where I've been taking photos at for years started class this week. I decided to wait a week so they can get into the swing of their classes. The high school cross country meet is a conference invitational at one of the local parks in town. The college cross country invitational is at Michigan State in East Lansing. It is the Spartan Invitational and the University of Michigan men's and women's teams will be running in it. I thought since I'm on vacation and it is not that far away, why not go? I'm excited to see Michigan run against some good competition. I will also be happy to see some of the MSU runners as well. What will make me the most happy is seeing great runners. I love cross country!

Weight loss

I have lost 70 pounds so far in 2010. It has taken me 26 days to drop five pounds. I felt like I was never going to hit it. I finally did Sunday.

I've heard the expression that "the last 20 pounds are the hardest to lose." That is so right. There were many days that I was a half pound away from 70 pounds. Then eating too much lunch or dinner would set me back. It is just so frustrating sometimes. You feel like your doing everything right with exercising and eating, but the scale tells you differently.

With me reaching the 70 pound mark, I'm finally out of the overweight category on the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator. To be in the normal weight category for the first time in 12 years feels so good. I don't plan on hanging around the tail end of the normal weight category. I want to be in the middle of it. I still have a few pounds to lose to reach that goal.

Clothing

I have lost over 65 pounds. I'm very proud of that. I have been holding off buying new clothes until I get to my goal weight. While getting to that point, all of my clothes are super huge. The belt on my shorts is as tight as it can go and it bunches the fabric. What I think is funny is the end of my belt touches my back. I can almost wrap my belt around me twice. Besides my clothes being super baggy, my rings are now loose. I know thought my fingers were fat, but I guess they were.

I have been hesitant to buy new clothes. I did buy some new pants for work and shorts. The sizes that I bought still feel loose on me. I've been so heavy for so long, it is hard to get myself to look at smaller clothing. I'm afraid to buy the smaller clothing because what if I gain weight again? That is something that I don't want to happen. I got to keep exercising and eating right to make sure that avoid weight gain.

My goal weight is 15-20 pounds away still. I will keep working on that goal everyday until I reach it. When I finally do reach my goal, I will be shopping for a bunch of new clothes. You can guarantee that they will fit me right.

Random things

I saw the numbers on the scale that I've been wanting to see for weeks. The scale told me Tuesday that I lost 65 pounds. These five pounds were the hardest to lose. It took 25 days. I spent almost an entire month trying to get rid of them. I hope the next five pounds don't take as long.

Michigan's primary election was held Tuesday. I'm sure it has always been this way for every primary, but we were told by the clerk that we had to vote straight party ticket. That upset me. I wanted to vote for people that were on both sides of the ticket. Instead of voting with my party, I voted for a person from the other side of the ticket. The person I voted for was an incumbent. They needed all of the votes they could get. I hope people that I really wanted to vote for win the primary so I can vote for them in November.

My husband and I went to a jewelry store Tuesday. It was for my birthday present. The jeweler brought out what my husband picked. There was four items to choose from. The first two items were earrings. They were nice, but not my style. When the jeweler opened the bags to the other two items, I loved them. My husband chose a matching necklace with earrings. So pretty. The necklace and earrings were a wonderful gift from my husband. It indeed was a happy birthday to me.

Questions

It seems like within the last week or so, people are noticing that I've lost weight. Five people have stopped me to ask within two days, "Have you lost weight?" After answering yes, I always know what the follow up question is going to be: "How much have you lost?" When I told them my answer, which was 57 pounds on Saturday, their jaws dropped. They couldn't believe that I have lost that much.

One question that was asked of me over the weekend was if I was feeling well. I replied yes and asked why. They asked if being sick caused me to lose weight. They haven't noticed the change and thought I lost all of that weight within a couple of weeks. That is great that people are starting to notice. I will answer people's questions about how I lost weight, but I will not just bring it up the topic on my own. I'm not losing weight for anyone except myself. I was overweight for all of my adult life, it was time to finally do something about it. This was the year to finally get healthy and fit.

Weight loss

I stepped on the scale Tuesday and saw I number I've wanted to see for weeks. I finally have lost 55 pounds. During the last two weeks, there have been several times I was only a half pound away. I thought I would reach the milestone the next day, but I didn't. I ended up eating too much food. Especially at dinner. My husband makes too much delicious food and it is hard to pass up.

To reach the milestone, I've added more exercises after running. Besides the usual crunches and push ups I always do, I added bench using free weights, triceps extensions, side leg lifts, mountain climbers, stair climbing and t-push ups. The t-push ups are very hard. They are so hard, I can only do 10.

I have given myself until November to lose 25 more pounds. I know I can do it. I just hope it doesn't take until November.