Marathon success!

I was one of 1500 runners and walkers yesterday who raised 4.5 million dollars for leukemia and blood cancer research.  What a powerful experience and I wanted to take a moment to share the day with my supporters who donated to the research. Thanks to my media team for all the pics! 
No injuries, a cool morning, and a pleasantly uneventful 4 hours and 43 minutes of running. Absolutely a success. I only walked twice on the uphill (for less than 5 min total), and the downhill was the worst part (aching knees). I went out a little faster than planned, but my first half was 2:16 and my second was 2:27, so I didn't fall that far off at the end.  (click on the pics to make them bigger)

at the start (balboa park)

mile 7 (little italy)

mile 11.5 (sea world drive)

 mile 15 (clairemont drive)

mile 22 (robinson in hillcrest)

 

mile 23 (upas by morley field)

mile 24 (redwood)

mile 25 (13th ave in east village)

all done! 

Holiday 5k

Rumor has it we'll be walking a 5k every day this xmas break. I love it!!! I've been doing ok with eating, but slacking off in the exercise department and this is just what I need to motivate. Go team!

Thanksgiving turkey trot

Thanksgiving Day 10am Walk on the FC Levee.

BE THERE!

Tomatoes from vine to meal

I picked these guys at the advice of the man, who knows a thing or two about these things. And he was right. They were almost overdone, but since I'm eating them myself, I can chop off the ugly parts and enjoy. From the vine to taco salad... Including the gorgeous self portrait in the reflection of the patio door.

good attitude

So I haven't been exercising - but I'm going to do it tomorrow. Not letting the lazy few weeks get me down. My legs (hamstrings) are sore from the 2 hour weed pulling/lawn mowing (I actually got sunburned while doing it!!!) on Friday and the 2 hour weed pulling today. Did I tell you how much of a pain in the butt gardening is? It takes forever... but it's going to be so worth it.

Anyways I am very sure that jogging for a few miles will help stretch my legs out and make me feel way better. Funny how people might think it would make you more sore, but at least with the moderate fitness level I have, I feel better after exercising and more achey when I don't do it.

Weather is warm here (Socal) so I should get back to morning running. I learned from my afternoon experiments that running in my neighborhood is no good after about 5 because I can smell the yummy food everyone is cooking. Doesn't help keep me going. =)

I'm supposed to be doing a 100 mile bike ride on April 18th. Have been on the bike twice this year, for only about 20 miles each ride. I have to seriously get my butt in gear (literally so I don't get saddle soreness and increase my fitness level). Biking is not as hard as running, but the 100 miles will take me about 7 hours to finish, so I must get some endurance built up. Especially because I'm planning on riding with 2 really nice guys who ARE in shape, and I don't want to make them wait forever for me. So we'll see how much I can do... but I'm super busy with volunteering... I'm actually kind of guessing that I'll start running again (which would be good) for fitness and then "trade" that for bailing on the bike ride. But I don't have to decide for many weeks so we'll keep the options open in the meantime. Either way I will work out so that will be good for not gaining weight. I'm about at my the max I allow for myself so time to get serious again. It would be good to go down about 5 lbs so my clothes fit more comfortably. Enough of me already............... How about you?

Thunder and Rain can't keep me away from the gym

Highlights of the last few months:

I joined the gym (and got a personal trainer for a little while) for New Years.
I've now lost 31 lbs.
I'm hoping that Cindy will post on this blog.
I've lost almost 2 dress sizes.
Most of my clothes don't fit, but I still wear them anyway.

I'm making my goal to go to the gym 5 days a week, Do cardio more and practice planks and pushups.

I am also committing to tracking my food, planning my meals and checking in to make sure I am not getting bored with the foods that I am eating.

I challenge you gentle reader to make goals for yourself and post them here on this very blog! Go to!

Happy New Year!