Whew!!!  I took me 5 1/2 months to lose 50 pounds but I made it :-)   I'm over halfway there!!!

Yep that's what I feel like today.  Same as I felt yesterday.  You should not be allowed to get a head cold in the summer time.  Ugh. 
I didn't go in to work today because I really needed the extra time to rest up and get healthy for my next 5K on Saturday.  Yep just 4 days away.  I'm excited.  I can't stop thinking about it.  It's a big deal for me because while it will be the 3rd one I've done this is the first one that I've trained for.  My C25K training isn't complete yet but I'm 5 weeks into it and the difference is amazing.  I am a bit obsessed with running now.  Yesterday was not a training day but I got out and ran 2 miles just for fun.  Even while feeling like crap on toast!  I have Runners World Website on my FAVORITES!  Cheese and rice it's crazy.  I'm dreaming about running.  Does that make me a runner?  In my head heck yeah.  In reality I think people think this is just the latest "fad" that I'm into.  I've invited my mom and I'm making the girls (hehe) go to the 5K with me.  I want them there to cheer me on and I also want to show my mom that I can do it.  It's kind of silly but it can't be too much fun not to have someone either running the race with you or waiting at the end.  Saturday I will have both.  A friend from work is going to do it with me although she will be walking it.  That still counts!!!  And then I will have family at the end.  A pat on the sweaty back and a "good job" is what I need.  It's like grown up show and tell.  See what I can do??  Lol  

Oh...and I had an nsv this weekend.  I put on my running clothes and when I looked in the mirror I could see that my shirt was not as tight as it was a month ago when I got it at my last 5K.  I like that shirt because it's a wicking shirt and I haven't splurged and bought myself one yet.  I have also had to tie my shorts.  They aren't too big yet but they fit better tied. 

I'm also not quite as worried about who might see me while I'm running.  I just do my own thing.  That will be put to the test this weekend though because this 5K is in my hometown.  Like I could run the route in my sleep with my eyes closed because I know the area so well.  I'm sure to see people that I usually avoid and I'm going to be running.  It's not like you can hide and be invisible while running down the middle of the road wearing very awesome and bright running shoes.  :)  It will be a difficult thing for me to overcome.  I've been stressing about it ever since I actually registered for the run.  I have that nervous feeling like when you have to talk in front of a group or you're going on a job interview.  I know this will be a smaller run than the other 2 I've done so I can't really get swallowed by the crowd.  I just hope there are more than myself and my friend registerd.  Lol   The good thing is that it's a run/walk so as long as there are walkers I won't have to worry about actually crossing the finish line last. 

Ok.  I'm done rambling again for now.  I've added some new pictures and I'm going to try and change my avatar pic too.  Time to get rid of the old me and show off the new me for a bit :)

I want to BE a runner.  Right now I run but it's hard.  It takes me a few minutes to fight through the breathing and to find my rhythm.  Once I do I'm good to go but doing this C25K training is about intervals and once I get into my groove it's time to walk again.  I know it's working.  I can do so much more than I could a month ago.  I LOVE being able to finish the training.  I love even more that last night I decided to go out on my own and go for a run.  What????  Really??  Was that me???  Lol   I will be a runner.  I love the feeling of pushing myself and running even longer and farther than the training tells me too.  My first 5K since starting the training is in one week.  I can't wait.  I'm hoping that I can cut a few minutes off of my time.  I have a few more 5K's lined up already into September.  My youngest daughter is 14 and she's doing them with me too and I love that.  I just feel like right now that people stare at me and wonder what the heck is she doing here.  She's not a runner.  I feel like an elephant lumbering behind all of the gazelles.   My head gets in my way sometimes.  It tells me that I can't do this and why do I keep pretending to run?  When I look in the mirror I still see that 40+ pounds that I've lost still sitting on my body.  Even when the skinny jeans that I bought in a size I haven't worn since high school fit with room to spare.  It's exciting but I keep waiting for someone to laugh and say they just switched the tags and that's not really a size 16 it's a 22.  Stop trying to be someone you aren't.  Why does our mind have to work so hard against us?   As if it's not bad enough to have to fight cravings and addictions to food every day as it is I have this little Jiminy Cricket voice in my head laughing at me.  Telling me to go ahead and give into those cravings.  UGH!!!  I knew this would be more of a mental game than a physical one.  You just can't prepare yourself for it. 

Ok my random ramblings are done for now.  I guess I just had to get a few things out of my head.  Lol    I'm off to put on my skinny jeans and go to the mall with my daughter.  Wow.  Those words are just about as foreign sounding as going for a fun run.  Huh....I kind of like the new me :)

Today I jogged 2 full laps around the track WITHOUT STOPPING!!!!!

Yesterday when I was doing my couch to 5k training I almost made it around during the 3 minute run so I was pretty sure I could do it so I decided to try today.  I didn't do my training this was just for fun.  My mom and I went to the track.  We walked around twice and then I started to run.  I made it around the first time and decided I felt pretty good so I'd just keep going and see how far I could go.  Before I knew it I was coming up on my second full lap!!!  I got really excited and was getting tired so I walked a lap and then I ran another one!!!!  Go ME!!!  I'm really excited now for my next 5K in 2 weeks because I should be able to shave a couple more minutes off of my time.