Austin Half - 2009
My favorite running pic by M.Hamby
Sunday, October 28, 2012
It has been a long time since I've posted to my blog. Weight loss and maintaining can be a struggle for me. I have to refocus on my goals after the beginning of each year. This year however, after running the Dallas White Rock full marathon, my eating habits went out the door.
It took all I had to finished the full marathon. Dieting to loose weight was not the focus. Dieting to sustain myself for 26.2 miles was the focus! Then after running the race it was very hard to turn myself back around and remember how I started the journey! I was able to regain my dieting strength by getting back in alignment with my walk with God. Dedicating my focus back to Him and doing my New Year fasting with no sugar, and calorie counting again.
The Dallas marathon was a brutal 45 degrees and it poured down rain during the entire 26.2 miles. Sometimes a sprinkle...but really hard cold rain for 26.2 miles. I had several hours to talk with God and to realize just what my journey had been, and why I was running. I had to believe that God's calling to the cross was much more of a struggle than my desire to complete 26.2 miles even in the rain. How could I even compare the two? I can't. What I could do was use His love for me to complete the journey and know He died loving me in my sinful self. His love became my every step...it pushed me forward to something bigger than what I could accomplish on my own. Oh how I NEEDED HIM that day and everyday!
The post race blues that everyone seems to get after a full marathon, I tried to dissolve by running more races. I added the Austin 3M Half Marathon, I ran it for a recovery run in January of 2012. Then I added the Capitol 10K, my favorite race to run each year...then another half marathon Zooma...then Austin 10/20. By the end of April I was spent..my body had rebuked me and said, "You will stop!" I had finally hit a wall and couldn't continue on successfully. I took the month of May off to rest and set new goals for myself.
I gained 10 pounds in May! So much for focus! By June I took off running again! This time I changed the hour of the day that I was going to run. No more running when I got home from work in the 100plus temperatures! I got up each morning and ran before the sun ever came up! I did this right through the hottest part of the summer. It built a new determination in me and helped me to loose the 10 pounds I had gained. It helped me to regain my love for running. It gave me quite time with God and I could focus on the day before me.
I decided I wanted to run another full marathon and the local Austin marathon was my choice. I have volunteered twice to serve the running community and given back working as a volunteer for the Austin race. Last year I gave out medals for the full marathon. I cried with the participants that set personal goals, I witnessed families running together for the first time, I hugged a beautiful woman who qualified for her first Boston marathon, after 21 attempts! It was the most rewarding day and THIS is what reminded me why I love to run. Knowing with God I can do anything because He is my strength!
Austin marathon is one of the toughest hill courses in the country for a marathon. Dallas White Rock was flat...that is why I chose it for my first! How can I handle 26.2 miles running through the hills of Austin. NO THEY AREN'T MOUNTAINS! But they might as well be for a runner like myself. This is my new challenge, pacing myself to get through to the finish of the Austin marathon.
I ran the Chosen half marathon this weekend in New Braunfels. It is one of the toughest half marathon courses in hills in comparison to the Austin course. This was my 3rd year to run the Chosen course...and the first time to run my 3/1 intervals with total success. I got a PR for myself running this course with intervals...I was able to run with 3 stronger women. Each of us consistently ran the Chosen half together. Our focus was the finish line knowing a sweet little boy was waiting for us. After 3 years of an adoption process Erika Sears was finally crossing the finish line with son Joseph in her arms...and with her husband Kyle! Their adoption journey was complete! The ministry of the Chosen races had helped finance their efforts and the efforts of so many other families trying to adopt. Another race that has grounded efforts to support children who need loving homes through adoption. If you need a reason to run...this race would be it! Talk about crying at the end....Seeing God's love in the Sears family was the greatest blessing for me!
Now in the weeks ahead of me, I continue on training for the Austin full marathon. I have a week of recovery this week...then the big miles start coming, 15, a week off, 17, another week off, 19...and so on. Race day is February 17, 2013. I will have to find balance or I'll never make it to the finish line. My spiritual self, life, food, running and play all will have to be in balance to get there. Keeping my eyes on God has always worked for me. I know I can't do it on my own nor do I want to! Here's to the days ahead of me...I dedicate them to the Lord who is my strength! Keep moving forward! KMF! Mama Barb
Friday, February 4, 2011
Weigh In Day Arrived
Well Thursday was the test for me. Did I work hard enough to loose any weight this week? Did I watch close enough to my food intake and calories to stay on target for it to make a difference?
I got up Thursday morning and weighed myself before I did anything. Then I got dressed and weighed myself again to see how much I would weigh fully clothed. I felt that if I had done anything positive I would have to see how much I weighed fully dressed. When we have weigh in for the health challenge we weigh in at night. WELL that is when I weigh the most! I knew this was going to be my biggest challenge. I also chose to fast the day of weigh in. I ate a minimal calorie breakfast and lunch, but made sure I took in my water. I also had one more chance for a workout before the weigh in. Last chance workout you might say...
We actually had some of the worst weather come rolling into central Texas on Thursday. It was suppose to snow...and that meant I was going to have to figure a way to do a simple 30 minute, strong workout indoors. Since it's so hard to come home and leave again from my house at rush hour. I chose to hang out at my elementary school and wait for the meeting time. I really had planned to used the big open hallways to walk...when I remembered that we have a so call, "workout room" our P.E. teacher had put together for our staff to use. I went to check it out.
There were 2 old treadmills and a stationary bike for equipment. I stepped up on one of the treadmills to check it out. This was a very old machine...it was me doing all the work...not setting the machine to a pace and keeping up. I tried to run and realized...it was going to be just what I needed for a quick, strong workout. After 20 minutes on the machine...I went to the floor to do some basic floor exercises...crunches, push-ups, leg lifts, and lunges. I used some simple hand weights that were available...really not much weight but I felt I could do more reps with them to make it worth it. IT DID! Overall I got in a 45 minute workout before the weigh in and it felt good.
Doing all this and preparing my mind for a chance that it wouldn't be a big number...6:30pm came and it was time head to the meeting. I arrived to much excitement going on at the meeting. The weather, the chance for snow meant we were not going to have a full meeting...we needed to get weighed in, then we would have a very brief discussion as a group. I got in line for the weigh in.
I brought a very lightweight pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt to wear for my weigh in clothing. I stepped on the scale and could see that I had lost weight...but how much was the question? When I asked what my starting weight was they told me and I knew then, I had lost 5 new pounds for week one! That is 2.9% for me. All the work I had put in for week one brought me positive results.
I listen briefly to the group discussion on motivation. They reminded me that motivation in the scheme of things is going to depend on me. No one else is going to do the work for me! I have to motivate myself to work hard and get results. Whatever that looks like for me...that is what will be my mantra.
Well I left the meeting thinking, "I have fasted all day...and now my reward is to eat!" When I got home I was fully prepared to enjoy a plate of my leftover pasta and meat sauce. I even got out the container and was almost ready to put some on a plate. When I stopped...I put the lid back on and put it back in the fridge. I got out a Larabar and filled up a big glass of water instead. I did my calorie update on myfitnesspal.com. I quickly realized I did need to eat more...or I would suffer in the long run from not taking in enough to eat. I made a bowl of cereal with dried blueberries and So Delicious coconut milk. (this milk is very low fat, low calorie) The bowl of cereal finally took me to a comfortable full feeling so I knew, now it's OK.
Bottom line...working and planning the days for worked outs, making a menu that was calorie safe, is how I will win this final battle to reach my goal weight. I have 21 lbs. to go.
I want you to know I walk this journey with God on my side. I can't do this on my own. As I stood at the counter last night getting prepared to fill up my plate. I stopped just long enough to hear Him say..."What about the victory? Don't you want to win?" I could see all the times I have won a battle against a sin in my life and then...turn my back on God and jumped right back in to my flesh. That is when I could put down the plate. Seeing a visual of myself overweight, frustrated, never making it to the finish line. I don't want to do that anymore, I want to think about winning the victory and how it will feel when I reach my goal weight finally! How it really feels to complete a race...to know that with God - I CAN DO IT! No one else runs 13.1 miles for me! I run those races with God. He moves me through every phase. The highs and the lows...He brings me to the finish line where I get to enjoy the victory in Him.
Another week of training has begun...no turning back! My victory is in Him.
"For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.(Deuteronomy 20:4)”
Mama Barb
I got up Thursday morning and weighed myself before I did anything. Then I got dressed and weighed myself again to see how much I would weigh fully clothed. I felt that if I had done anything positive I would have to see how much I weighed fully dressed. When we have weigh in for the health challenge we weigh in at night. WELL that is when I weigh the most! I knew this was going to be my biggest challenge. I also chose to fast the day of weigh in. I ate a minimal calorie breakfast and lunch, but made sure I took in my water. I also had one more chance for a workout before the weigh in. Last chance workout you might say...
We actually had some of the worst weather come rolling into central Texas on Thursday. It was suppose to snow...and that meant I was going to have to figure a way to do a simple 30 minute, strong workout indoors. Since it's so hard to come home and leave again from my house at rush hour. I chose to hang out at my elementary school and wait for the meeting time. I really had planned to used the big open hallways to walk...when I remembered that we have a so call, "workout room" our P.E. teacher had put together for our staff to use. I went to check it out.
There were 2 old treadmills and a stationary bike for equipment. I stepped up on one of the treadmills to check it out. This was a very old machine...it was me doing all the work...not setting the machine to a pace and keeping up. I tried to run and realized...it was going to be just what I needed for a quick, strong workout. After 20 minutes on the machine...I went to the floor to do some basic floor exercises...crunches, push-ups, leg lifts, and lunges. I used some simple hand weights that were available...really not much weight but I felt I could do more reps with them to make it worth it. IT DID! Overall I got in a 45 minute workout before the weigh in and it felt good.
Doing all this and preparing my mind for a chance that it wouldn't be a big number...6:30pm came and it was time head to the meeting. I arrived to much excitement going on at the meeting. The weather, the chance for snow meant we were not going to have a full meeting...we needed to get weighed in, then we would have a very brief discussion as a group. I got in line for the weigh in.
I brought a very lightweight pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt to wear for my weigh in clothing. I stepped on the scale and could see that I had lost weight...but how much was the question? When I asked what my starting weight was they told me and I knew then, I had lost 5 new pounds for week one! That is 2.9% for me. All the work I had put in for week one brought me positive results.
I listen briefly to the group discussion on motivation. They reminded me that motivation in the scheme of things is going to depend on me. No one else is going to do the work for me! I have to motivate myself to work hard and get results. Whatever that looks like for me...that is what will be my mantra.
Well I left the meeting thinking, "I have fasted all day...and now my reward is to eat!" When I got home I was fully prepared to enjoy a plate of my leftover pasta and meat sauce. I even got out the container and was almost ready to put some on a plate. When I stopped...I put the lid back on and put it back in the fridge. I got out a Larabar and filled up a big glass of water instead. I did my calorie update on myfitnesspal.com. I quickly realized I did need to eat more...or I would suffer in the long run from not taking in enough to eat. I made a bowl of cereal with dried blueberries and So Delicious coconut milk. (this milk is very low fat, low calorie) The bowl of cereal finally took me to a comfortable full feeling so I knew, now it's OK.
Bottom line...working and planning the days for worked outs, making a menu that was calorie safe, is how I will win this final battle to reach my goal weight. I have 21 lbs. to go.
I want you to know I walk this journey with God on my side. I can't do this on my own. As I stood at the counter last night getting prepared to fill up my plate. I stopped just long enough to hear Him say..."What about the victory? Don't you want to win?" I could see all the times I have won a battle against a sin in my life and then...turn my back on God and jumped right back in to my flesh. That is when I could put down the plate. Seeing a visual of myself overweight, frustrated, never making it to the finish line. I don't want to do that anymore, I want to think about winning the victory and how it will feel when I reach my goal weight finally! How it really feels to complete a race...to know that with God - I CAN DO IT! No one else runs 13.1 miles for me! I run those races with God. He moves me through every phase. The highs and the lows...He brings me to the finish line where I get to enjoy the victory in Him.
Another week of training has begun...no turning back! My victory is in Him.
"For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.(Deuteronomy 20:4)”
Mama Barb
Saturday, January 29, 2011
13.2 Long Run
This was a tough run today. I over dressed for the weather...So about mile 3 I had to start unzipping the jacket...and the by mile 5, I tied it around my waist. Then my IPod started acting up...and I started working on it as it as I was running...trying to figure out what was happening. So, I'm running and working on my IPod and headset...and figure out it's my little Belkin adapter that had gone out. I switched everything over to my IPhone and got my music up and running again. This all took about a 1.5 miles out of my focus. When I looked down at my Garmin finally, I had dropped my pace way down and my stats were not going to be good now.
I tried to refocus and get moving again. I was about 20 minutes off my pace for finishing already.
I picked this route today for the hills. I want to be ready for the hilly route I will be running in Austin for the half marathon. The Austin course is very hilly. So, I was about to reach Double Creek (a big hill) when I saw Michael's car come around the corner. He came out to do some banking errands for our daughter, Cara Jane and he came looking for me on the route. This helped to encourage me as I approached the DC hill.
By the time I got to my turn at Rusk Rd...I my right heel was hurting pretty good. I was on now 9.1 miles into the run...and the pain in my foot won me over. I stopped running and started walking. I was so close to my car...I was so tempted to cut through the back of the middle school and call it quits. BUT, I kept walking down Rusk.
I told myself, you only have 3 miles left...you can do this. KMF! So, I started running again, then I would walk some. The last 3 miles were done run/walking. I hit Collingwood and I ran up that big hill...and then I had to walk again. When I finally got back to my car at the school...I was just glad it was over.
It was hard to be excited about my accomplishment because I want to finish strong...and I didn't feel this is what I had done. I let my fatigue win over in my mind and felt I gave up. That is not like me...I've had one other long run like this...it was last summer when I got over heated. I had to stop and walk, then when I tried to run again my legs started cramping and said, "No your not!"
I went back out the next week and ran the same route again and finished strong. I plan on doing this very same route again next weekend. I am going to finish this one strong too.
I really only have one more long run that counts toward the training for Austin. So, I'm good for running this same route again next weekend. Then I can start my taper and rest my body for race day.
Running can really be a mental battle. You have stay focused and get it done. Not mess with IPods and headsets, jackets and really just stuff. Same lesson with my walk with God. When I'm focused on Him, I reach the goal. BOOM! Lesson LEARNED!
Mama Barb
I tried to refocus and get moving again. I was about 20 minutes off my pace for finishing already.
I picked this route today for the hills. I want to be ready for the hilly route I will be running in Austin for the half marathon. The Austin course is very hilly. So, I was about to reach Double Creek (a big hill) when I saw Michael's car come around the corner. He came out to do some banking errands for our daughter, Cara Jane and he came looking for me on the route. This helped to encourage me as I approached the DC hill.
By the time I got to my turn at Rusk Rd...I my right heel was hurting pretty good. I was on now 9.1 miles into the run...and the pain in my foot won me over. I stopped running and started walking. I was so close to my car...I was so tempted to cut through the back of the middle school and call it quits. BUT, I kept walking down Rusk.
I told myself, you only have 3 miles left...you can do this. KMF! So, I started running again, then I would walk some. The last 3 miles were done run/walking. I hit Collingwood and I ran up that big hill...and then I had to walk again. When I finally got back to my car at the school...I was just glad it was over.
It was hard to be excited about my accomplishment because I want to finish strong...and I didn't feel this is what I had done. I let my fatigue win over in my mind and felt I gave up. That is not like me...I've had one other long run like this...it was last summer when I got over heated. I had to stop and walk, then when I tried to run again my legs started cramping and said, "No your not!"
I went back out the next week and ran the same route again and finished strong. I plan on doing this very same route again next weekend. I am going to finish this one strong too.
I really only have one more long run that counts toward the training for Austin. So, I'm good for running this same route again next weekend. Then I can start my taper and rest my body for race day.
Running can really be a mental battle. You have stay focused and get it done. Not mess with IPods and headsets, jackets and really just stuff. Same lesson with my walk with God. When I'm focused on Him, I reach the goal. BOOM! Lesson LEARNED!
Mama Barb
Friday, January 28, 2011
Dress Rehearsal Time
Tomorrow morning is my dress rehearsal long run. I'm set to run 13.2 getting me set for the Austin Half. I'm pretty excited about the route I have picked out. It has a good set of hills that will mimic the Austin race coming on the 20th. I'll be running it alone and that can be tough at times. When I get to the last 3 miles of the route is when I struggle the most mentally. I'm feeling good...no aches or pains tonight. I'm headed to bed early to get plenty of rest for the morning run. Gonna be a good day for a run!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Running the Hood
4.5 miles
I needed to get in my run tonight and so it was from my front door or nothing. This has been a very busy week and getting my weekly runs in have been hard for me. So I worked up a new route from my front door to get in my 4 miles. It was a good route overall, just flat.
I'm trying to get in as many hills runs as I can before Austin. But, if it's to hard to drive to the Creek to run...I have to settle for running through my own neighborhood, even if it's flat.
My right foot is hurting some but nothing I can't focus out. I always feel better when I get it done, that's what counts.
This weekend is the dress rehearsal for the big dance...so, I'm hoping the weather will hold until I can get it in.
I needed to get in my run tonight and so it was from my front door or nothing. This has been a very busy week and getting my weekly runs in have been hard for me. So I worked up a new route from my front door to get in my 4 miles. It was a good route overall, just flat.
I'm trying to get in as many hills runs as I can before Austin. But, if it's to hard to drive to the Creek to run...I have to settle for running through my own neighborhood, even if it's flat.
My right foot is hurting some but nothing I can't focus out. I always feel better when I get it done, that's what counts.
This weekend is the dress rehearsal for the big dance...so, I'm hoping the weather will hold until I can get it in.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Austin Half Marathon - February 20, 2011
It's getting closer everyday...I missed this race in 2010 due to a stress fracture in my hip. After healing from the fracture, training hard all summer...I made it to the San Antonio Rock & Roll Half last November. Now it's time for my favorite race, the Austin Marathon Half Marathon. I have 2 really long run weekends left and then I can taper to the finish.
My goal this year with my running is to run stronger and injury free. I actually put in 657 miles running in 2010. But overall, I never lost a pound from it! For some reason...all that activity never reduced my weight one pound! That was eye opening for me. I really feel I should be seeing weight reduction along the journey of running. At least that is why I started running.
I'm definitely stronger than I have ever been. I have lost 75 lbs. in 2 years...and have maintained my weight for the past 2 years. So if you have done the math...I have been working on my physical self for the past 4 years now. BUT, I have wanted to loose at least 20 more pounds to reach my goal weight. My goal is 20 pounds away. Only with God can I do this!
My goal this year with my running is to run stronger and injury free. I actually put in 657 miles running in 2010. But overall, I never lost a pound from it! For some reason...all that activity never reduced my weight one pound! That was eye opening for me. I really feel I should be seeing weight reduction along the journey of running. At least that is why I started running.
I'm definitely stronger than I have ever been. I have lost 75 lbs. in 2 years...and have maintained my weight for the past 2 years. So if you have done the math...I have been working on my physical self for the past 4 years now. BUT, I have wanted to loose at least 20 more pounds to reach my goal weight. My goal is 20 pounds away. Only with God can I do this!
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