Last Weigh In before Race Day!!

TIME CHECK: 11Days, 19Hours, 29Minutes till the Buffalo Half Marathon... but who's counting.

 

I wasn't expecting a lot of love from the scale this week, and will be expecting even less for the next week or so.  This is why I have decided that after this morning, I'm not even weighing myself until AFTER the half marathon on May 29th.  

 

WHY?

 

Because of the effects of TAPERING that's why.  In running vocab, tapering refers to the slowing down of running for the few weeks leading up to a major event in order to preserve (hold on to) energy for race day.  If you're also someone trying to lose weight there's this nasty little catch...

 

ENERGY=CALORIES=POUNDS.

 

I need to preserve the energy to be the best I can be on race day.  For this reason I have to slow down my calorie burn and this means less loss.  Because I know this is a vital part of being a runner, I must put my bikini body mission aside for a couple weeks and focus on the 'Athlete' in me.  

 

HA! I just typed that with a straight face! I must be starting to believe I'm actually one of those...

 

an Athlete... wow.

 

I digress...

 

So next week's blog will focus on two things:

 

#1 - how the public speaking went (I'm speaking at Peak Training's running clinic and sharing my story to a new crop of runners as their own stories begin to unfold)

 

#2 - how I feel going into race weekend (as it will be less than a week away at that point)

 

WEIGHT CHANGE 

-1lb - WOOHOOO!!! Back to 160... 10 more baby!!

 

HOW MANY LBS TO GO

10lbs

GREAT HEALTHY FIND OF THE WEEK

Harvest Crunch Cereal (honey flavour).  Although the calorie count doesn't seem too appealing, the fibre count makes this a great addition to the morning portion of anyone's diet.  Little trick for you... adding milk will add approx. 150cals to any cereal in the morning... I take Harvest Crunch and top it with 3 TBSP of Source brand yogurt.  You're saving 100 cals on the dairy portion alone, and its a LOT easier to eat while chasing a 3yr old around the house getting ready in the morning (if you also have this pleasure).

INDULGENCE OF THE WEEK

A few patio lunches with friends (hey if there's sunshine and I have a coupon the chances are good that you'll see me around a patio on lunch).  This week though I made healthy menu item choices and ALWAYS opted for the side salad.

COMMENTS ON ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE PREVIOUS POSTING

I've had the opportunity to chat with 2 beginner runners this week and run with an ULTRA MARATHONER this week as well! Talk about extremes!! I hope all three of you know who you are and know that I'm honoured to get to know you better! 

 

One of you has been under my watchful eye most of your life.... know that I'm SO PROUD of you for taking on the challenge of running.  Although running may not be for everyone and that's totally fine, I can only hope that it brings you as much joy as it brings me.  I hope this is something that you and I can share for a lifetime.  <3 you to pieces. XO.

Some Things Go Beyond Science

I had fast food twice this week... I drank coronas on Cinco de Mayo... I ran less this week because I've started tapering for the half marathon... 

 

SO HOW DID I NOT GAIN THIS WEEK?

 

I mean, I'm happy about it but - ummm WHAT?? 

 

I'm almost to the goal date I set back 2 months ago (May 15th was THE DAY if you recall)... and after all this blogging and all this 'accountability' I've only lost 6-7lbs? I see how so many of us get frustrated and want to quit. 

 

Well I don't care how long it takes me or how many blog posts I have to write - I'm going to quit trying until I see 150 on that scale!

 

My race with Ali is in 18 days.  I have that as my focus and my "weight issue" has been moved to a side bar.  I can't be stressed or worried about anything else other than 2:05:30.  

 

Looking at a whole lifestyle change can be so overwhelming, so here are my 3 main focuses for "health and nutrition" this week: 

 

• DRINK MORE WATER 
• DRINK MORE MILK 
• GET PLENTY OF REST 

 

Between focusing on those and my workouts, along with motherhood and my career, I think I'll have a strong routine set that leaves little wiggle room for error.  Consistency is key for me.   

 

WEIGHT CHANGE 

0

HOW MANY LBS TO GO

11lbs

GREAT HEALTHY FIND OF THE WEEK

Back to playing Volleyball!!! And man oh man I felt the after effects on Friday morning.  That will be a great cardio workout to mix into my routine for sure.

INDULGENCE OF THE WEEK

Grease and Beer.  Yuck.

COMMENTS ON ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE PREVIOUS POSTING

So glad that some readers feed off of my positivity.  I try to be positive - but remain realistic as well.

An emotional week for sure.

I had an awesome week!  I didn't miss a single run.  I didn't miss a workout.  I ate well.  I even volunteered on the weekend which did more to change my soul than I could have ever imagined.

 

Saturday was my "tune up" run before the half marathon (just 25 days away!), which is the last long run before the 'taper off' schedule (meant to preserve energy for race day).  I ran it with my Mom and it was a GREAT run!

 

When I did my weight training this past weekend I went up in weights from 8lbs to TEN POUNDERS!! 

 

Volunteering for the Loaring Under the Sun 10k was the highlight of my week for sure.  Since I had to run 12 miles on the Saturday, there was no way I'd be able to race in a 10k (6.2 miles) the very next morning.  I was stationed as a "race marshall" (oooo how professional!) at the 3k mark of the 5k loop which was run twice over at the race.

 

For the first time, I was able to be the loud relentless cheerer that I so often depend on at my own races.  I was able to tell others YOU CAN DO IT! perhaps when they felt unsure.

 

I saw many friends and business associates during the race that I had no idea were runners, so it was a great experience to see my circle of "running friends" is larger than I ever thought!

 

The greatest part of volunteering that day - and my reason for even doing so in the first place, was to cheer on my best friend.  Not only is she my best friend (well one of them) she's also what I call my SOLE-MATE.  She makes me want to be a better person.  She is so selfless and so sincere of a human being.  She goes through life doing what she wants to do - not for the accolades or the attention from others; she does crazy things like run marathons and run a 10k race just 2 months after giving birth to push HERSELF.  

 

I want to push myself  the way she does.  

 

I wanna be like her when I grow up.  

 

To be able to cheer her on was such an incredible and emotional experience.  One that will only be topped once her and I (and my 2 other sole-mates) finally race together in October at the Free Press Half Marathon.

 

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: find good people.  surround yourself with them.  be selfless for them as they are for you.  do not take them for granted.  

 

Aym, Ali, Mom.... you girls make me feel like  I can take on the world! 

 

WEIGHT CHANGE 

+1lb (but I think that's just my heart swelling with joy this week)

HOW MANY LBS TO GO

11lbs

GREAT HEALTHY FIND OF THE WEEK

before I volunteered this weekend I found myself in a funk, not sure why but I didn't feel great.  When you're down on yourself, go do something for someone ELSE - its amazing how much better it really can make YOU feel inside.

INDULGENCE OF THE WEEK

I have dipped a little bit into my son's Easter candy, but a piece or two after dinner is a nice treat and sharing with my lil man is worth the 150cals.

COMMENTS ON ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE PREVIOUS POSTING

Thanks for the well wishes, I'm so close to my goal!!