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Up until the morning of the race, I wasn’t sure if I would even participate as I have had a very difficult recovery from my Lower Body Lift in May.  I had done one 8 mile run and one 10 mile run post op, but was unable to do most of my other runs due to pain and sweilling within the first mile.  I was so afraid of being pulled due to being so slow and getting the ever so expensive bus ride to the finish line.  After many talks with Kevin, including in the car driving to Disneyland, I decided to go ahead and give it a try.  I didn’t believe I could do it…and wasn’t happy about trying.

 

The morning of the Disneyland ½ Marathon started bright and early (ok..maybe dark and early) at 3:15 a.m.  We got our stuff together and were on the road at 4:00 sharp to head to Disneyland.  Parking was a breeze and we were at the start area with an hour to spare.  We met up with Helen and Monica who were running their first ever ½ marathon and hung out with them in our corral.  We were in the first corral of the second start wave.  The first wave went and we moved up to the start.  We didn’t even have time to stop walking when the countdown began and we were off.  My race plan was to try to stay ahead of the cutoff clock of 16 minute miles.  Due to my surgery I have regressed back to doing a 1/1 walk/run ratio and figured I could average 15-16 minute miles.  The first couple miles were soooooooo crowded and dangerous.  Within the first ¼ mile I got pushed on to one of those little reflector bumps in the middle of the road and slipped and twisted my ankle.  Thank God I wasn’t hurt…I have horrible ankles and am infamous for doing major damage to them and ending up in casts.  My ankle was sore, but nothing to keep me from going on.  Running through Disneyland and California Adventure was so crowded….had to stop dead in my tracks many times to avoid collisions with walkers and photo takers.  When will people learn to step to the side when they walk or stop??  I was pleasantly surprised when I got my 5k time through my text messages…..45:06.  14:30/mile pace.  I was under the cutoff. 

 

The second 5k was starting to get harder.  Did I go out too fast?  I took a quick potty break around mile 4 and was feeling tired and achy.  I know we are never supposed to try anything new during a race, but I had hammer gel with me and tried it at mile 5.  I knew I needed something or I wouldn’t finish.  I had just heard from Kevin and he was behind me and told me to keep running and he was going to try to catch me.  Wow!!!  That hammer gel worked great!  I quickly regained my composure and got my next text message.    10k split….1:29:33  Overall pace 14:24.  I was getting faster!

 

The third 5k is a long boring run through the streets of Anaheim, around the Honda Center and Angel Stadium.  I was bummed to find out that we were not going to run the bases of the stadium as we had done last year.  During this 5k, I found a zone I had never found before.  Beep went my watch….run Kirsten.  Beep went my watch…walk Kirsten.  It was like I was a robot on auto pilot.  Mile 7…Mile 8…Mile 9….they were coming up on me so fast I couldn’t believe it.  Beep…run….beep walk.  I was hurting so bad….how was I doing this?  Kevin was also getting my splits by text message.  He texted me saying he couldn’t catch up because I was running too fast…just to keep going!  At one point I was hurting so bad I almost just sat on the curb and waited for him, but I was afraid if I sat down I wouldn’t be able to get up when he got to me.  Got my next text message….15k…2:11:49…overall pace of 14:08.  How was I getting faster when I was hurting so bad?  I was truly amazed!

 

Hit mile 10 and the sun was starting to come out and it was warming up.  It had been a nice overcast morning, which was wonderful compared to last year when it was over 100 degrees.  It was more of the same.  Beep…run.  Beep…walk.  I was still in a zone and kept getting faster.  Each mile was coming upon me and left me wondering how I got there.  I hit downtown Disney and saw the crowds and just kept running to the finish.  Official finish time…..3:02:40  Average mile pace…13:55!  Only 5 minutes off of my ½ Marathon PR of 2:57:04! 

 

Ok…here’s where I have to suck it up and admit it!  Kevin…yes dear….You were right!   You’re always right!!!!…that’s why I keep you around!  LOL

Here's the link to the official pics...

http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=31324&B IB=5213&LNSEARCH=1

Boy does time fly when you're having fun.  I'm still sitting here 3 lbs. away from goal.  Not losing...but not gaining either so I'll take it!  I've been so busy the past couple months.  We went to Vegas in August and I JUMPED OUT OF A PERFECTLY GOOD AIRPLANE!!!!!!!  It was the coolest thing ever and I can't wait to do it again!!!!  I also ran my 2nd half marathon.....through Disneyland.  Not my best time....but definitely was a lot more fun than running through the desert.  LOL  I've begun the training for the L.A. Marathon through APLA.  I have to raise $1500....I'm a bit worried about it though.  I'm doing good....already at $700, but still have $800.00 to go.  I've signed up for the LB 1/2 Marathon on October 14th and also the City of Angels 1/2 Marathon on December 2nd.  I hate running, but can't seem to get enough of the races.  I love the medals and am turning into a "bling ho".  LOL  LB should be interesting....it will be my first race since I've started training without my running partner in crime.  :-(  I know I can do it....running is a single person sport and most of the time we don't really run together anyways (I'm faster  ) but I feel like something's missing by going solo.  If you're reading this...I still have 3 weeks to try to convince you to do it!!!  You know you want to!!!!LOL

I am sitting here bright at early on the morning of my 1 year surgiversary.  I can't believe how fast time passes.  This surgery is the best thing I've ever done!  I only have one regret.....that I didn't do it years ago.  I have my life back!  I was remembering last summer...before my surgery.  How tired I was all the time.  Being at Disney World and being so hot and sweaty.  My feet hurting so bad after just walking around for an hour or two.  Being afraid that I wouldn't fit on the rides.  Being uncomfortable and barely fitting in the seat on the airplane.  Taking a cruise to the Caribbean and weighing too much to go horseback riding or to do the Zipline.  Going snorkeling and barely being able to climb out of the water and back into the boat.  This summer is so different.  I've lost a total of 95 lbs. with my band.  I started at 250 and am currently 155....just 5 lbs from my goal.  I have gone from a size 22/24 to a size 8/10.   Last summer I was exhausted after walking around the mall.....now I've RUN 5k's, 10k's....even a 1/2 marathon!  I've signed up for the AIDS Project training program and plan to complete my first marathon in March.  I've climbed a rock wall.  I've ridden a wave runner.  I've hit the trails on a mountain bike.  I'm jumping out of an airplane!!!  I HAVE MY LIFE BACK!!!!  When I started my journey, I never expected to have accomplished so much.  Sure....I knew I'd lose weight..and look better..and be healthier.  But never in a million years did I imagine that I'd be doing all the things that I'm doing now.  I also never imagined that this journey would bring so many new friends into my life.  I have met some amazing people here on this board, and you all are such an important part of my life.  You encourage me daily with your posts.....You support me every step of the way in all the crazy things I decide to do.  I have so many great memories of the OH events I've been a part of this past year and the friends I've made.....nights at Bounce, last meals, the convention, the cruise, camping, wine tasting and Bombay nights, 5k Runs, Toms Farm.  For all of this...I thank you!!  This past year has brought so much joy into my life, and I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for me.  I just read Monica's post and realized that today is not only my surgiversary....it's my Re-Birthday.  This is the day that my life changed forever....the day that I changed my life and became a new person.  I never really liked who I was before....but I love who I am now....and can't wait to celebrate my 1st Birthday all over again.  :-)

Well....it's been an interesting ride lately.  I am currently sitting here with an empty band.    Seems that it suddenly became too tight for reasons unknown and I was having problems even getting liquids down and had bad heartburn.  Luckily I caught it before I had more problems, but the thought of an unfilled band is scary.   I will get another fill in about a month so for now it's ALL up to me.  I've finally made it into the 150's.....157 to be exact.  That's a loss of.......92 lbs in 9 1/2 months!!!!!!!  My goal for the next month is to use portion control and just maintain until I get filled again along with steadily increasing my mileage.

Speaking of mileage.....I'm starting to like running!!!  Man...I never thought I'd say that.  LOL  I am finally feeling the endorphins about halfway through the runs and I am bouncing off the walls when I finish.  LOL Unfortunately my "running partner" doesn't think this is as funny as I do.    I'm doing two 3-4 mile runs during the week and a long run on the weekends.  My longest so far is 8 miles and will increase by a mile every other week until the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon!!!!!!  I am getting so excited.  I feel so strong and just wish Sept. would get here!!!!!

I've been battling with the 160's for over a month now.  Can't seem to get down under 160.2 for anything.  I scheduled a fill for this weekend, but am not sure whether I will go through with it or not.  Part of me really wants to, but the other part is worried.  I've been really increasing my activity (Disneyland 1/2 Marathon here I come!!!!) and am afraid that with a fill I won't be able to get enough food in to give me enough energy to keep up the running.  Maybe I should wait another month or so and see what happens and decide then.  

I've been thinking a lot about how my life has changed the past 9 months since my WLS.  Thanks to the OH Cali Board,I've made some great new friends, and reunited with some old friends I kinda lost touch with.  :-)  It's definitely been a wild ride, but for the first time in a long time, I can say I'm truely happy!  :-)