Taking the Reins

Well, I just can’t stop smiling right now.  The non-runner…..the girl who could barely manage to do the mile run in PE in under 15 minutes….the girl who five months ago could not run a mile without walking……

 Got 2nd place!!!

Oh yes, this was momentous indeed.  So, the fast runners in my age group didn’t come out to play today, but there were 15 or so of us, and I was #2.  I hit the podium in my very first running race, and I can’t stop smiling!  There were over 1000 of us towing the start this morning, and it took about a minute and a half to clear the start chute and get running.  I felt like I was out in the water at a triathlon, battling for space…..I had no idea that runners experience the same thing.  In order to make up for the non-movement at the start of the race, I knew I’d have to pick up my pace for the first mile, then settle into my 9-minute miles for the rest of the race.  I was surprised at how well things went for me.  In triathlons, the 5K is a nightmare and I am tired and hating life.  Today, I was invigorated running in the crowd and enjoying dashing around people in their costumes.  The last mile was a bit tough, but I kept up  my pace and finished strong.  It was the first time my husband has been at the finish line waiting for me, so that was excellent motivation to not slow down and disappoint him.  But what fun!  And then finding out that I’d placed was pretty sweet, too.  My official time was 28:03 (I said that the fast people didn’t show up in my age group!), but if I back out the start, I probably did a 26:30 5K.  THAT makes me exceedingly happy. 

Now I have a taste for it…..and I’d better get close to the podium in triathlon now, because that’s what really gets my juices flowing.  I just need to buy more frozen peas….my poor knees are hating me right about now!

Here’s a pic from the race….I dressed up a little, but I still look like I’m hating life!:

I’ve been absent since I got back from Thanksgiving.  It’s not because I couldn’t post.  It’s because I’ve been hiding things.  Yes, I have been bad.  And because I use this blog to talk about my eating habits, I shall now outline all of the horrible things I’ve done over the past few weeks.

1.  I ate two bagels for lunch yesterday.  (I can explain this— have been working 12+ hour days and was unable to leave work, but because I have no food in the house, I couldn’t pack a lunch — so I was at the mercy of what was leftover from meetings that morning and I was REALLY hungry)

2.  I have Reduced Fat Jif in the cupboard.  I know I can’t resist the stuff.  In fact, I must have at least a tablespoon a day.  I know for a fact that even that small amount adds pounds to my rear end.  But do I stop?  No.

3.  I have had little to no extra time for exercise.  I sometimes get in to work at 6am.  I’m there until 7pm.  There is nothing left in the tank for the gym, considering what I’d want to do is swim or take a spin class. 

4.  When faced with chocolate cheesecake, I demolished the entire chocolate topping.  (I left the cheesecake, though– mustn’t that count for something?)

5.  I ate Chick Fil A french fries with DH.  He is an enabler.

6.  I’m back to binge eating my favorite cereal, Honey Bunches of Oats.  (Although I’ll do it to pretty much anything, save for All Bran, which is a little too gritty for that)

7.  AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, all better now.  Clean slate.  How many slates must I wipe clear before I finally get a handle on this?! 

I need to find a balance with work.  Go to my 1st yoga class.  (Except I’m too nervous because I don’t even know what to wear or do)  Do something to channel all this extra angst that is showing up in my eating habits.

I shall contemplate and try to find a better way.