Bumps/Hurdles along the way

Yes, I am determined and nothing is going to stop me but today was one of those uh-oh days... after work I came home quickly and got changed straight away to go for a run before the kidlets got home. I went over to the bike path. It was loaded with people: runners, walkers, bikers... lovely! It was a beautiful day too :D

I set out. I had to do 4 miles today as my training plan says, towards my half on May 13th. Well... at the very beginning it went well but after that I felt I was dragging myself all the way and like I was running in place... it was hard. There was a strong head wind on the way there too. Anyway... I did get 6.780 in between walking and running but my running pace was very slow, averagin 7:14 I think... oh well... guess next one will be better.

Must not take my eyes off my goad. It will happen... still lots of weight to lose and getting back into training regularly... some days are good and some days are... better!

Watch Cool Runnings at work today. I love that movie. Love the message and love it when the "coach to be" says "do the words give up mean anything to you?" And he answers: "NOTHING.AT.ALL"... gosh... love that guy!

Keep going, keep going, keep going!!!

D-E-T-E-R-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N

That's it. I am right on track. And I am DETERMINED to get to the end.

I volunteered at the Barcelona Marathon today... wow... what an amazing experience! It was great... a neat way to approach the marathon... I loved it. It was fun. Hard work but fun. I have no voice. The bibs had their names on so I cheered on as many as I could... AWESOME! I got a sunburn as well but hey... such is life, LOL!

My goal is to run the Barcelona Marathon (my debut) in 2013. And the date is set: March 17th. I think registrations open tomorrow... I'm in.

First things first, obviously... losing the weight. I am doing a good job I think. Slowly but surely :D And then build up. Signed up for the Leeds Half Marathon on May 13th... can't believe it... my 3rd already! Wow! And training for it I am. This time I will NOT undertrain or just give it a try. I am doing it right this time around. Yes I am! it is going to be a blast... I just know it! Bring it on!

So there, determined to lose the weight and do strength training and determined to run that marathon. Start slow and easy to build up and not get injured and take it from there! Here I come!

OMG... Leeds!

After my 5 miler yesterday, I'm still tired. I was actually dragging myself today, not nice, but I'm over it now, LOL! My back's given me a break too :D

I was e-mailing back and forth with my wonderful lovely brother and I told him about some races I am going to do and he said he wanted to check the Leeds half marathon. I said "Leeds, why?". He said someone told him. So I checked. It is on May 13th and 26 pounds per entry and 61€ per flight... well... he said he was getting flights and entries and then we'll see if we manage to go, OMG... I better get going... I so want to! Fits perfect again: flight Saturday am and back Sunday night... couldn't have it better... I sure hope we get to do it... YAY!

I have to get my back fixed but I'm starting training for sure, wether we go or we don't... it's a booster and it'll sure help with my weight loss... what else do I want? Well... Leeds... here we come!!!!!!!

Valldoreix

I got up at 7:45am this morning to go to Valldoreix. Today were the 5 milles femenines de Valldoreix (women's 5 miler) and so I headed over. Went to the board to see what my bib number was and saw the profile of the race hanging... OMG... up and down with 2 1km long hills :O OMG... how on earth was I going to get through that??? Oh well... I was there so I might just as well do it ;)

The little girls set off, then the 2 1-mile races and finally, it was our turn. It was very very very hot and sunny. A bit windy too... it was lovely, and the area was beautiful :D

The gun went and we all started running, all of us girls. We took off going uphill to turn right almost inmediately to turn left to a huge hill :o Pulled that and then went downhill... I liked that, LOL! At the bottom of the hill, turn right and a huge hill again... oh dear... I managed to run to the top and from then on, slides all the way... eek! Until we got to THE hill... 1km long ahead of me... I run the beginning of it and walked exactly 257m of it, took off running again before the hill was over... so proud :D I walked the same distance my second time on the hill. We finished downhill (the 2nd hill we took at the beginning :D) which was lovely to then go slightly uphill at the end, by very slightly, I even managed a lovely pace at the end... very very fast for me and with good form (I think). Very very happy with my performance today and because I was able to change my form to go uphill rather well :D

It was hard but I think I did a heck of a job. My averabe was 7:15m/km... I know, nothing to be excited about but taking the walking away, my average running was always under 7 mins/km and that is amazing considering the amount of hills... no matter what the pace, very very proud and very happy... going back next year unless anything weird happens :D

Came back home to a sick Jan :( Took him to the docs as he was at 39.2 but there's "nothing" there so lots of patience and hope he's all better soon!

Montornès

Sunday last week, March 11th I went to Montornès. I had signed up for the half but hand't trained so I did the 5K. Cati stayed with me. She runs way faster than me so she went slower to run with me. I pushed it a bit not to make her slow that much... in the end... 30:53 for a 4.660km... over the moon with it!

I have only gone swimming once since and no running. Doing a 5 miler tomorrow... first time at the distance. Quite excited about it :D

Paula won her competition again. She did a wonderful job :D

After the race we went to a calçotada with my brother and lots of people. It was great! My eating went out the window from then til Weds but managed to get back on track for a 200gr loss this week!

On the right path

Or so I think so :D

I managed a run during the week, just one, but that's more than I usually do. I did 6kms 330m on my run on Weds. It was nice. I was falling asleep at home. I had no energy, so I pushed myself and I'm so proud I did. I felt great after that.

This am, Paula and I went to Banyoles to do the "around the lake" popular race. The half marathon was being held too. Paula did it all running, non-stop. I'm so proud of her. And she finished way ahead of me :D I managed it all too, in my own pace but feeling very good, happy and proud.

I was very happy to be able to let people know I appreciated what they were doing. Some "grallers" were at the church at Santa Maria de Porqueres playing. It was lovely. I clapped and waved. They waved back. I could tell they were happy someone noticed they were playing. I loved the feeling :D Once our almost 6,5km were over, and on the way to the car, we stopped to cheer the half marathoners that were finishing already. It was amazing... I could see such appreciation on their faces (most, some couldn't care less). I told them how well they were doing and how they were all champions and heros... I would have liked to hear those words when I did the half. Their faces turned from "pain" and "agony" to a smile... another priceless moment for me.

I got to see lots of runners I know at the half... I was very happy to cheer them on. I also met a woman that was watching. We got chatting. She's a runner herself but was sick today and thus, she wasn't running, but her husband was. It was nice to talk to her.

I weighed myself yesterday, just as I do on Saturdays... I am proud and please to report yet another loss... -500gr, which puts me in -3,700 in a month and a half. Very happy if I may say so! Lots to go but on the right track for sure!

Speaking to that lady I think I found a spark and I'm still carrying it around... running well for an hour and a half gets you through a half, so... that's what I'm headed for :D I'll try to get out every day. Alternating walking days with running days. Let's see how much I can do :D Looking forward to it!