YESSSSS

Ok, I am sorry it has been so long since my last blog post. Not that you are all waiting on pins & needles for a new post, but it helps me to get this stuff off my chest and on to this virtual message board.
I feel like I'm just about over the Christmas holiday hangover, just in time for New Year's! I have not been weighing myself, as per Janelle's request. I have been eating all the holiday goodies, just like the rest of you, but in more moderation I feel than in years past.

We did not run over the holiday, and I didn't allow myself to beat myself up about that...we were busy! We were able to spend time with family and friends and enjoy the many blessings that we count at this special time of year. Christmas Eve Eve I made up a hair appointment that I had cancelled because of Jingle Bell 5K #2. As always, that made me feel fantastic! Afterward, as Shawn enjoyed a few drinks with some old friends, I went shopping. Yes, shopping on Christmas Eve Eve...and not for our friends or family members - my shopping had been complete weeks ago. As all of our gifts were wrapped and nestled under our tree I shopped for myself!

Now, all of my friends know that I have a love of luxury goods - specifically handbags and jewelry. But when it comes to actually buying myself something, I'm a bargain shopper through and through (thanks Brenda), and am especially hesitant to buy new clothes when I feel like I'm heavier than I should be. Besides, have you seen some of the clothes they try to get plus sized people to wear?!
That night, however, be it because I've been running for more weeks than I can recall off the top of my head or divine intervention, everything I tried on FIT! Oh - and was on sale :).
Two pair of work pants, a festive red v-neck sweater, a pair of dress boots, a bargain pair of Chaps Mary Jane Wedges, socks and some lacy panties (remember - still on the salon/hairgasm high), all for $140! Wait, I forgot to mention the Fila reflective pink and gray long sleeved shirt - yep, I actually tried on and bought a running shirt that night, I think a tide is turning.

Christmas Eve itself I experienced the first injury of this journey, and remarkably enough it wasn't due to running. You see we gathered at mom's as we always do on Christmas Eve and as I attempted to scale a baby gate (for the dogs, there are no babies), in said new pants, sparkly sweater and dress boots, I realized that the baby gate was attached to NOTHING. That's right, that sucker was just floating in the hallway, and decided to fall, and soon, so did I (thanks again Brenda). Yep, I bit the dust in my cute new outfit, thankfully the glass of wine I had just consumed lessened the blow. The next morning it was sore, and bruised, and swollen, and I doubted that a run would have even been possible, had our schedule allowed.

So we enjoyed the rest of our Christmas festivities and by Tuesday evening the knee was good as new.
We ran Old Farm Ln. I ran most of what I think is a mile. The Pandora and the new Droid Running app both crapped out, however Shawn got me some super cute Sony ear buds that are pink and sparkly and fit perfectly in my ears and do not budge during my work-out! So we now know that my inner ears aren't deformed, but this girl with a Master's Degree has yet to find a way to get her SMART PHONE to do three things at once.

Today is Thursday and if I have ever had touch of the runner's high that you running fanatics speak of - it was today. I got out of work a little early, and as I neared my house I realized that it was still day light out and still 43 degrees! Mind you, I don't think it has been this warm during any of my runs! So I rushed inside, let the dogs out and called Shawn - I was hoping that he wouldn't mind if I got ready and ran without him - who was I kidding? Of course he didn't. Fed the dogs, dug out my Adidas warm up pants with zipper pockets, a regular long sleeved tee, jacket, socks, shoes, and I was out the door. I was so great not having to lug the gloves, ear warmer, etc. Oh, I also took the ipod, this running without music business had to end!

Got to the track before sunset, set the ipod to shuffle and zipped it in pocket #1, stretched, then found my starting point on the track, started the stopwatch on the (new) Droid, and placed the phone in pocket #2 and was off. It had been weeks since I had run at the squishy track and I had forgotten how nice and FLAT it was. Not that long ago, I was only running a 1quarter mile lap before slowing to walk and catch my breath. That was several weeks and two 5K's ago though...tonight, in the near perfect temps, the first lap came easy, then the second, then the third. I was focused on my breathing and the was able to drown out everything else (including the sounds of my belabored breaths) with my sweet sweet music. I'm pretty sure the last lap was run on sheer momentum and I felt amazing. I reached for pocket #2 ready to stop the stopwatch and revel in a good time AND a fully run mile to find that, of course, the stopwatch had stopped when the new phone went into sleep mode...son of a B&$%@! It was around 12 minutes, that's about as exact as I can get knowing what time it was when I started.

Regardless, I had accomplished something major. In 8 or so weeks I had gone from struggling to run one lap to running an entire mile without dying! I had done this without Shawn, without my "coach" running beside me, coaxing me to carry on, this victory was my own...but I still had to call someone! Once I stopped myself from full out crying as I crossed the "finish", I tried to call Janelle as I walked my cool down half mile. She was probably enjoying her tottie time as I struggled to compose myself and catch my breath. Shawn, however, picked up! I've got some work to do before I can catch up with his progress, but I am so glad that I can share these mini milestones with him.

Saturday is New Year's Day, and weather/hang-over permitting, we'll be out running. My vote is the squishy track!