The results are in.. and I was selected for the Full Marathon! AHHH!!!

"In running, it doesn't matter if you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say 'I have finished'. There is a lot of satisfaction in that."

-Fred Lebow

Yes.. I got in. I was selected for one of the most elite Marathons there is. THE NIKE WOMEN's MARATHON!!! Words cannot describe my excitement along with my fear of running the marathon. It is 26.2 miles in San Francisco, Ca on October 17, 2010. This will be my first (and possibly only) Marathon, it all depends on the outcome!!

With my Nike Running Plus Sportband, I am able to train for the Marathon through the internet. They have a lot of resources and training guidelines for me to get prepared. Our next run is June12th in SF as well. This will be my first half marathon that I will be running with my husband as well. We have both come so far in our journeys, it is important to do this first one together. For the Marathon though, I think it is important for me to do on my own. It will be such a personal accomplishment, that I need to do on my own.

More to come with my training plans and running playlists.

3 Lessons Learned tonight

"Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it."

-Oprah

1. Never run after 7pm in Spring in Sacramento near marshlands. I am sure this was a given, but I was just hoping there wouldn't be that many bugs.

2. Don't think just because you have lost most of your boobs that you don't need a sport bra.

3. Never, ever run in shorts. Now matter what. Spandex is better.

I'm just sayin'.

Nike Women's Marathon

"Run hard, be strong, think BIG!"

-Percy Cerutty

I registered for the Marathon on April 5.. the day that registration started. I really want to get picked for this Marathon for it to be my first one. I would have plenty of time to train effectively for my best time for a marathon.

I read a book this past week about starting to train for a Marathon. It was the best book I have read regarding running. Running has become so important to me.. so it was more important that I find joy in it. Dawn Dais, the author of thie book was able to be sarcastic (which I love) and funny about not being the best at something, but still trying.

I have always been similar to the author in competition. Running is a sport that makes competition within yourself to do your best and push your limits. My experience with competition has always been with a team and specializing in a position to help succeed. Running has taught me to be self reliant and also made me aware of what I can achieve.

Nike Plus Running Sportband...

"If the furnace is hot enough, it will burn anything."

-John Parker, Once a Runner

Ok, this is sent from God.. but at times it can be my worst enemy. I use the Nike + sportband to track my miles ran. I got the sportband for Christmas and love it. This is my problem with it. Although great, I have had to reset it twice.. in less than 4 months use. And when you reset it, you lose all your progress... so it really is a damper when you have run up to 156 miles (which I had) and then you have to delete all those sweaty miles. Tonight was frustrating, but I was able to make it through my 5 mile run.. just thinking about missing my sportband the whole time.

Half Marathon Training... 63 days left!

"Good things come slow- especially in distance running."

-Bill Dellinger, Oregon Coach

I have been training for the Half Marathon in San Francisco on June 11, 2010. This Half Marathon is to benefit Project Open Hand, which is an incredible organization. I have 63 days left to get my body, mind and spirit ready for the run.

How it all started

"Fear is a great motivator"

-John Treacy, 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist

How do you start a "new lifestyle"?I knew I wanted to lose weight. I knew I had about 100 lbs. to lose. I knew it was going to be hard... and that I would never feel like I would be done. And the reason for that is because what I was starting was my new life.

First things first, know what you are getting into. I had a small idea of what I was preparing myself for, but nothing like what actually happened.

My husband and I started attending our gym... EVERY night. I would walk and then do small amounts of weight training. Back then, I knew I needed cardio, but wasn't sure how much.

Starting May 1, 2009 I started my 5k a day regimen. This consisted of walking 5k (3.1 miles) everyday with varying inclines on a treadmill. This was not hard, but it definitely pushed me to go further and further each day.

In addition to this workout plan, I cut out ALL fast food. This was a major adjustment since I was very used to eating at every fast food restaurant known to man. My favorites included In-N-Out Burger, Taco Bell, and McDonald's. I would eat at a fast food restaurant AT LEAST once a day, sometimes more. Unfortunately it was my ignorance and stupidity to believe that--1. this could possibly be good for my body and 2. the food they served was actual food. It is disappointing to learn about all the preservatives, processed "food"(if you really want to call it that) and just plain bad ingredients that most of the food I ate every day contained.

As the months went by, every gym workout became easier and easier and the pounds were melting away. I practiced out healthy recipes for dinner for me and my husband. Some worked... and some were just not good. But that is part of the fun. I cut my calories to 1,500 per day... which was about half of what I had been eating before. I was hungry... A LOT. But I also found ways to help with the hunger at first--eating an apple before your meal or drinking more water throughout the day.

I remember losing 18 lbs. and that was the moment I thought to myself "I can do this... no, wait--I AM DOING THIS". I could see myself for who I always felt I was on the inside... slowly coming through from what I refer to as my "swollen self". At my heaviest, I weighed XXX lbs. and it was so sad. I wasn't necessarily sad, but I did not look like the girl I felt on the inside. I knew deep down that I was able to change my exterior to match who I was on the inside, it would just take a trigger to get me motivated.

That trigger went off and I was ready to go! The 18 lbs. turned into 50 lbs. lost... and then to 75 lbs. lost. At this point, I had changed drastically on the outside.. and somewhat on the inside. I was ready for the next step. I started running.....

Running as cardio makes it hard to lose weight. When you run at an intense level, your body craves more energy in the form of food!!! Since I had cut my caloric intake to between 1,500-1,800 a day, it made it hard to have the energy to last long runs. I found foods like complex carbohydrates that would keep me fuller longer and also make my body work for the energy. I also made sure I stayed hydrated.

Last August, my husband and I ran our first 5k for Project Open Hand/SF Giants. My time was 35 minutes and 33 seconds. This was such an accomplishment for me. I had never been able to run in my life for more than a mile... and even when I did-- I hated it. Really. I enjoyed every minute of this run. The adrenaline rush is beyond anything I can describe!

My training for running consisted of 3 runs per week. I would run between 3-4 miles each day. At the same time, I started taking x-bike classes. I was frightened and sooo sore the day after my first class. It is one of the hardest gym classes I have ever taken. It was so hard that it made me want to do better at that too... I attend 3 x-bike classes each week now.

Our next battle was a 10k (6.1 miles). We signed up for the SuperBowl 10k at Sac State for February 6, 2010. My time was 1 hour 1 minute. I had definitely improved since my last 5 k! This was also a reassuring feeling because it also marked my 90 lbs. lost mark. I have 10 lbs. to go until I make my ultimate goal, but I know that I am focusing on my next fitness goal--my first half marathon and then eventually my first full marathon.

Today, I am focused on my Half Marathon on June 12th in San Francisco. This will be my first Half Marathon and I will be completing it with my husband by my side.

My training for the run consists of:
Sunday: rest day
Monday/Wednesday/Thursday: 5 mile run/30 minute x-bike class/strength training 30 min
Tuesday: rest day
Friday: strength training 1 hour
Saturday: 10-20 mile run (depending on where I am prior to the Half Marathon)

The beginning...

"No pain, No gain."

-Athletic proverb

So.. I told myself I would not jump on the "blog" wagon, but it seems as though I have. With that being said... I am approaching my 1 year anniversary of my "official" start of working out and changing my lifestyle.

On April 24, 2009, I realized I needed a hobby... and with the help (and the constant encouragement) of my husband I was able to start one. I was overwhelmed with a lot of different emotions and needed to find an outlet to work out my frustrations with certain elements in my life. Together, we made the change to eat healthy, be active, and eat to nourish our bodies. These are are so simple to say, but they are hard decisions to actually make happen.

Eating clean and healthy takes effort and discipline. It also takes time to do your research. Much of my research started with many cookbooks, Cooking Light magazines, websites, and A LOT of "nutrition facts labels" on ALL the food I purchased.

The gym was a different story. I had always been active in life, playing sports in high school and enjoying being active, but there was always something missing. The drive to want to accomplish something. I wanted to excel in becoming active, no matter how I planned on losing the weight.

My goals are...

To lose 100 lbs.

Run a Marathon before I turn 30

Be a Gym Class Instructor

Encourage others to lose weight

Make healthy recipes (possibly into a cookbook)

In the upcoming blogs, I will refer back to what I have accomplished this past year and what my plans are for the future.