Trotting Along

I'll start from the beginning. February 2nd, 2007 my baby boy, Jax was born. Oh I love Jax with all my heart, he's all I think about every single day. However, along with Jax, came 50 unwanted pounds. For some reason I was super duper hungry throughout the entire pregnancy:). I would eat a meal and 15 minutes later be ready for another. Since I didn't deliver a 50 pound baby the weight lingered and Jax was in my arms. I needed to lose quite a bit of weight and deifinitely felt overwelmed. Being the planner that I am, we scheduled a family trip to the Bahamas in early May, only 3 months after Jax was born-yikes!

Exercising my booty off and eating well was the only way I knew would get me the results I wanted. So that's what I did. I exercised VIGOROUSLY 6 days/week. I did this along with watching what I ate and skipping late-night snacks (something I became very good at the previous 9 months). Most of my exercise regimen came from running. I worked up to run around 4 miles 3-4 times per week in combination with strength training 3-4 times per week. I lost almost 40 of the 50 pounds in 3 months, just in time for our trip.

Of course that was a big victory but I had the last measly 10 pounds to go. That was tough. I actually didn't get my act together until March or April of this year and it all came off. A pound or two just wouldn't go. Although, I wasn't as concerned with the last 10 as I was with the first 40.

Since I was running as a means to lose weight, I accidentally fell in love with it. I loved the freedom it gave me to clear my head and think as well as time away to keep my life "balanced." So I decided last year that I would sign up for a couple of 5K races; the Kansas City marathon 5K in October and the Arthritis Jingle Bell 5K in November.

Then I got a crazy idea to complete an organized race every month in 2008 in order to stay accountable to myself. So far I'm on track to complete that goal-yay! As if 12 organized races in 2008 wasn't enough, I thought it would be nice to complete a half marathon and marathon as well.

Back at the beginning of 2008, I'm not sure if it was February or March when I decided I would work to complete the Nike Women's marathon in San Fransisco. The date for the marathon is just 4 short weeks away from yesterday; October 19th. When I decided to do the marathon, like every other decision in my life, I thought about it for quite some time. It wasn't a decision I made overnight. The first thought of the word, "marathon" entered the picture late 2007, probably around November. I went back and forth, back and forth. Should I or shouldn't I go for the marathon? The decision really weighed on me for quite some time. Alas, I decided to go for it.

So here I am 4 weeks away from my goal of completing a marathon. Right now has been the toughest part of all. I see the finish line but there's still so much to go. Gosh the 20 miles I need to complete this Saturday is just draining. You see, I have what's called exercise ADD. I love exercise but I've always had to mix it up. Even in my classes, I get super bored if we do the same thing over and over. I guess it's a good thing but right now the last thing I want to do is put on my running shoes. I'd rather go for a good bike ride or head to a pilates class. Just something to change up my routine. But the SWEET feeling of sticking with and accomplishing a goal I set for myself is what's getting me through....plus knowing that I'll get my fix of every other fitness-related activity when I'm done training for this race.

So there wasn't a ton of meaning to this post other than I have struggles too, even as a "trainer."