A Fresh Start

Inspired by my lackluster performance at the Shamrock Shuffle, I am declaring a fresh start -- on my running and weight loss efforts. When I started running last year at this time, it was a way to finally lose the "baby" weight. (My kids are um, 6 and 4 years old) And I did lose weight, was just under 20 pounds down come Marathon day. Only problem was that after the Chicago Marathon last October, I took a brief break from running, then winter began, then the holidays, then the brief running break turned out to be a long break. All the while I continued eating pretty much like I was logging 10 and 12 mile runs. Oh, and there was a little bit of stress eating involved too. Bottomline, the weight started creeping back up. Or in my case, sprinting back up.

So, with a training run calendar developed for the Soldier Field 10 Mile and a new attitude (also some inspiration from my friend Marina) I joined Jenny Craig. I'm not about to bare down to a bikini on Oprah, but being able to wear a bikini before I'm 40 would be nice. A goal recap:

1) Complete the Chicago Marathon before I'm 40 (on track with two years to spare)
2) Raise $3,000 for the American Cancer Society
3) Lose 35 pounds (and back to pre-babies, wedding day weight) by Marathon day

Wish me luck!

Tallies and Countdowns

Day 2 of me bringing Lean Cuisine for lunch - - and actually eating it instead of letting it grow an ice sheath in the office fridge

Day 2 of me not blowing $ on lunch out

Day 1.5 of me not visiting my office neighbor, the vending machine. (Can't count two days yet, the afternoon is young.)

24 days until the Chicago Marathon sign up

25 days until the Lake Geneva 5k (crap!)

82 days until the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle

278 days until the Chicago Marathon

Getting Back into the Game . . .Slowly

Started off 2008 with a 2 mile run on the treadmill. The first 5 - 6 minutes were not fun! Could be that I'm a bit under the weather today too, but more likely because I haven't run in over a month.

Preparing for the treadmill run was not exactly smooth. I noticed with despair that my running clothes did not fit quite as well as they did a couple of months back. Definitely packed on a few holiday pounds. Then, I could not find my little Nike + connector thingy for the iPod. Damn! I really need to get organized.

Searched high and low and still haven't come up with it. I'm really hooked on the Nike + for running, so need to find it or get another one before I start running outside again.

Mike and I signed up for the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle. Thankfully, my parents agreed to walk the 5k portion and take care of the kids. Shuffle web site says goodie bag includes long sleeve tech shirt; pretty impressive!