Race Recap & Review: Akron Marathon Relay

In February 2014, I got an email from a few friends (that I'd just met at Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend) asking me if I wanted to be the fifth member of their marathon relay team for the Akron Marathon. Of course I said yes- that was the beginning of our running ohana; the group of running friends that have become family. We met on twitter and now meet a few times a year at races across the country.

Sadly, I didn't get to run in Akron 2014 because of my stress fracture. I went along for the weekend and cheered on my friends, vowing to return in 2015 and run the blue line with two, unbroken feet. 

This year, I would get my chance. 

Matthew and I signed up for the half (on 9/26) almost nine months ago. At some point, Chelsea invited me to run the first leg of the relay with her team. The plan was to run my relay leg (5.8 miles), hand off to Chelsea, remove my relay bib, and continue on to finish the half. 

Coach Jeff, Steff, her husband Joe, Lauren, her husband Mark, Nathan, Lauren H., Natalie, her husband Jimmy, and a bunch of Coach Jeff's "old guy running group" friends all planned on making the trip out to Akron, OH. Lauren and Mark ended up not coming out and we definitely missed them!

We all arrived in Akron on Friday afternoon and visited the expo. While this is a small expo, they did have some nice stuff. The hotel we stayed at was just a few blocks from the convention center (expo) and start/finish line so we were able to go back and forth all day.

Nathan, Coach Jeff, Me, and Matthew

This race offers a pasta dinner at the expo on Friday night and we all decided to go that route for our pre-race carb load. It was $20 per person and included pasta, salad, vegetables, and cheesecake. I think we'd definitely do this again- it was quick, easy, and tasty!

My right foot had been rocking all damn day. I'd had an x-ray the week before but no MRI so I was trying to take it easy as I was still suspecting a stress fracture. After the pasta dinner, I laid out my clothes for the race the next morning, keeping my fingers crossed that my foot would behave and let me finish the half marathon the next day. 

The crew.

Did I mention that Natalie was 7.5 months pregnant?!

Race morning. I got up and get dressed. Matthew got up... and immediately went back to bed, feeling super sick. He was feeling awful and running a fever- definitely not in any running condition. Heartbroken, he headed back to bed, reluctantly agreeing to skip the race due to illness. 

My foot was already bothering me but I met up with our ohana in the lobby of the hotel. Together, we walked up to the race start and got situated in the corrals. Steff was gunning for a PR so she started at the front of A. The others made their way to the relay stations or other corrals. Coach Jeff, Natalie, Jimmy, and I agreed that we would start together and hopefully stay together the whole race. And of course, no babies would be born on the course! :-)

We look pretty good for 7 am!

Our group of four started slow and steady. We did three minutes running, one minute walking. We chatted and ran and walked and laughed and the miles flew by. However, my foot kept hurting. It was a dull ache right in the area of my stress fracture. Soon enough, I saw the first relay exchange. I had been debating off and on the entire race of continuing to complete the half or to just cut out at the relay exchange. 

Hands up if you love running with friends!

I made the incredibly tough decision to stop. I handed off to Chelsea and watched her, Coach Jeff, Natalie, and Jimmy keep running. I stood there watching them and sobbing. I considered jumping back into the race for probably 10 minutes after they ran past me. I stood there at the relay exchange feeling super sorry for myself and blubbering on and on about my failure. 

After trying to call Matthew (he was still sleeping), I called my Dad and sobbed to him for a while. I knew this was the smart decision. Anytime there's pain, you should back off. But it still felt like utter and complete failure. I walked back to the hotel to check on Matthew. Luckily, he'd been able to get some sleep and was slowly starting to feel better. 

A very quick shower later, I went out to the finish area to get my post-race snacks: pizza, beer, chocolate milk, chips, etc. They had quite an awesome spread! I met up with Steff, Nathan, and Chelsea and we chatted for a while. 

Then we went back out on the course to cheer for the finishers, including looking for Coach Jeff, Natalie and Jimmy. 

Jimmy and Natalie trucking along towards the finish.

I ran/walked with Natalie and Jimmy until just before they entered the stadium and the final little section of the race. Coach Jeff had gone back on the course to run in one of his friends completing the full marathon. We got back into the finisher's area in just enough time to see Joe (Steff's husband) finish the marathon relay. 

All smiles for Joe at the end of the blue line.

Captain Chelsea's a popular gal with all that beer ;-)

Akron Marathon Relay Team 2015

While I'm disappointed I wasn't able to run the half marathon course, I did feel some sense of redemption by getting to run the first leg of the marathon- what I should have ran in 2014. 2014 was the year of the DNS- Did Not Start. 2015 brought my first DNF- Did Not Finish. At some point in every runner's career, a DNS or DNF will happen. This was mine. Looking back and knowing what I know now (that my foot is fine) makes it hard to not beat myself up about not finishing the half. But, I made the best decision I could with the information I had at the time; I can't ask myself for anything better than that.

I can't say enough great things about the city of Akron or this race. Well-organized from the expo to the starting corrals to the finish line party. The shirts, medals, and post-race food were all really high quality and made the whole experience feel very runner-focused. In short, this is an awesome race and I hope we keep doing this one every year. 

#runakron fans

Have you ever had a DNS or a DNF? How do you cope with the negative feelings it brings?

Race Recap & Review: Akron Marathon Weekend

As you know, I did not run the Akron Marathon Relay a few weeks ago. But, I have a special treat for you today- a recap from Matthew! He has relayed his experience during the half marathon to me so I can share it with all of you. I'll throw in some spectator stories too so you can get the full experience. So, let's dive right in!

Saturday, September 27th started with a group photo in the lobby. The race started at 7 am and we wanted to get everybody corralled and ready to go before then. Nathan and Matthew were running the half; Steff was starting the marathon relay and running legs one and two. After dropping them off at the start, Lauren, Mark (Lauren's husband), Jeff, Chelsea and I headed to the VIP area to watch the start. 

We look pretty good for 6 am!

Matthew:

After they dropped us off, I tried to get into my corral- C. It was a confusing set-up and I eventually found my way to the port-a-potties and then settled into corral B. I couldn't get into corral C. 

The race started and I noticed that the volunteers holding the rope at the front of each corral weren't walking the group forward so people just started running a few blocks before the start. It was peculiar. 

Sarah:

Watching the race from the VIP area was AMAZING! It was elevated so we could see the entire street. Lauren was hilarious- she looked the like the mayor waving to people. It was adorable. 

Panoramic start view.

The mayor of #runchat, Lauren, waving to her people.

Matthew:

The first few miles of the race were pretty cool- we ran an out-and-back course over two bridges and there were tons of spectators out lining the streets. There was fantastic signage for the different races. Every few miles, there would be signs directing you to the marathon, half marathon, or relay course. And then about a half mile later, a sign would confirm what course you were on. The relay exchange areas were well-marked and well-organized. About a quarter of a mile before each water/medical station, there was a sign letting runners know it was coming up. 

Miles 4-7 went through the city of Akron, neighborhoods, and business areas. I knew I was keeping a great pace. My goal for this race was sub 2:05 and up to this point, I knew I was doing exactly what I needed to. I ran straight for 6.5 miles; after that, I walked for one minute at every mile marker. As I approached the second relay exchange point around mile 9, I knew to look for Jeff. I was able to see him and say a quick hello. I also tried to stay on the blue line- the line painted on the course that was the shortest route of the race- it ran along the tangents. 

Sarah:

After the start, Chelsea and Lauren headed back to the hotel and Jeff headed to his relay exchange point. Mark and I, after consulting the course map, tried to scope out some places to watch our runners. We settled into a location at mile three. We were able to see Nathan but couldn't find the others. Eventually, we found a Starbucks and we grabbed breakfast. I had planned on seeing Matthew at mile 10 but I missed him... again! I forgot how frustrating and stressful it is to try and find your runner in a sea of people!

Mark and I made our way down to about mile 12.5 and decided to stay there to see Nathan and Matthew finish. Nathan zoomed past us finishing in 1:30 something and after he finished, he walked back to us to cheer for Matthew. Once we saw him, I knew he was going to SHATTER 2:05 :-) He passed us and we made our way back into the stadium to the finish- I had my bib on the scooter and Mark had a VIP pass so we had no issues getting into the runner's only area. 

Chelsea and me plotting out spectator routes, Mark looking confused.
 Thanks to Lauren for this picture. 

Matthew:

After mile 9ish, we ran past the start line again and I knew we just had that same out-and-back (minus a block or two) to get to the end of the race. At mile 11, I looked at my watch- 1:42. I felt like I'd break 2:05. From miles 11-12 we ran back over a bridge and towards the stadium. At about mile 12.5, the spectators started lining the streets. As I usually do, I took out one earbud so I could experience the finish. I heard Steff yell out to me and then later saw Sarah, Mark, and Nathan cheering me on. 

I ran toward the stadium and then entered under the scoreboard. There was a weird fabric down on the field- it felt like running on a blanket; it was awkward. I crossed the finish line and checked out my time- 2:01:43. Awesome! I grabbed my medal and then went up into the stands to find the team. 

Matthew (in blue) headed towards the finish. Thanks to Chelsea for this picture!

Sarah:

Steff and Matthew met up with us in the stadium. We all relaxed while the runners went down on the field to get their food and beer. They each got a bag of food and two beers. We took some pics, goofed around, and waited for Jeff and Lauren to get shuttled back to the stadium. When we knew Chelsea was close, we all went down on the field to watch her finish. 

That's right, my team carried my scooter and helped me get down STADIUM STEPS to get onto the field. They are amazing :-)

We were able to get right up to the finish line and see Chelsea finish- it was a cool moment. Then Chelsea gave us all our medals and my team gave me the sweetest card. There were some tears :-)

Afterward, we headed back to the hotel to get cleaned up, traveled to Pittsburgh, and spent a good three hours in a Cracker Barrel off the PA Turnpike laughing at inappropriate jokes and offending lots of elderly folks. Fantastic day.

Rock. Star.

Waiting for our finishers! Notice Nathan in the heat blanket- he can't handle weather outside of Florida! :-)

Captain Chelsea bringing it home for Team #4PrincessesAndAFrog

Love these people.

Teammates for life.

Matthew:

Would I do this race again? Absolutely. It was very well-organized, it was a safe course, a well-supported community race, and I loved everything about the "blue line." If I can talk Sarah into it (yeah, right!), we'll be back in 2015. 

Sarah's Final Thoughts:

Seriously, the entire Akron Marathon team did such an impressive job with this event. Big thank you to Andrew and Panera for allowing us to be part of a great race weekend. Since I didn't get to run, I'm pretty sure it's a rule that I have to come back for 2015! Hope to see you there!

Spectator Report: Akron Marathon Weekend, The Expo

About eight months ago, I got an email from a group of #runchat friends- some of whom I hadn't even met yet- about participating in the Akron Marathon Relay on September 27th. There would be five of us and we'd each take a leg of the race. I would start the race, then hand off to Steff who would hand off to Jeff who would hand off to Lauren who would hand off to Chelsea who would finish the race.

We trained all summer for speed. We kept each other updated on our progress. We all participated in races during Pittsburgh Marathon Weekend and bonded like crazy. We counted down the days until we'd be reunited in Akron.

Jeff, Steff, Matthew, Chelsea, Lauren, and me after the Pittsburgh Half/Full Marathon.

Then I got diagnosed with a stress fracture nine days before the race. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. 

But, the race would go on. Steff agreed to pick up my leg and last Friday, we all started making our way out to Akron, OH. 

In addition to our team, we had some other guests make the trip. Matthew ran the half, our friend Nathan ran the half, and Lauren's husband Mark came along to cheer for everyone. 

Matthew and I started our five hour trek to Ohio at o'dark thirty (aka 5:00 am) because we wanted to meet Joan Benoit Samuelson at the expo at 10 am. If you don't know who this bad ass is, just click here. Anyway, so as soon as we crossed into Ohio, we stopped at a rest stop. As we were getting back into the car, I heard someone call my name. I don't know anyone in Ohio so imagine my surprise as I turned around and saw Jeff aka Coach Frog, parked RIGHT FREAKING NEXT TO US! Insane!

After exchanging quick hellos, we got back in the car to get to Akron by 10 am. Once there, we were quickly parked and meeting with Joan Benoit Samuelson. She gave me kudos for listening to the doctor and not running on a broken foot- she wasn't sure if she would have followed his advice :-) She also told Matthew to have a great race, signed a picture for us, and took a few photos. Pretty cool.

After that, we waited for the expo to open at 11 am. Akron did something that I thought was brilliant- in the big room just before the expo, they had all the bib numbers listed for each person along with little sticky notes that said "My bib number is ______." This way, everyone would have their bib number before waiting in line for packet pick-up. Genius!

When the expo opened, we were one of the first 100 people there. Packet pick-up was a breeze. We easily picked up Matthew's half marathon bib and my whole teams' bibs, shirts, Team Panera shirts, and... VIP BADGES!!! I feel like a real blogger now!

Then we headed to the social media booth to finally meet Andrew- Akron's social media guy- who'd we'd been emailing for months. He was absolutely great in person and so helpful and enthusiastic. Then we checked out the vendors. I loved how organized Akron's expo was- lots of vendors, lots of space, and you picked up race shirts at the very end of the expo- cutting down on massive lines usually found at packet pick-up.

Andrew!

After a great lunch with Jeff and Nathan, we headed to our hotel to rest up. Another great thing about Akron- our hotel, start line, finish line, and expo were all within about a mile. Easy to walk and easy to get to- it made the whole weekend so much nicer and less stressful.

Matthew napped at the hotel while I met up with Lauren and Steff to give them their packets. Then they headed off to a late afternoon volunteer shift while Matthew, Jeff, Nathan and I checked out the finish line area. I may have scooted down the blue line just for fun.

Matthew and Jeff standing in the STILL OPEN ROAD to grab a picture at the start line. 

Lauren and Mark joined us for dinner that night which was a whole lot of laughs and maybe a few tears. My team bought me a whole bunch of princess stuff to decorate my scooter and myself for the race the next day. It was so unbelievably touching. They truly are the greatest people I've ever known and I can't ever repay my gratitude for the wonderful things they did for me.

ANOTHER PRINCESS CROWN!!!! 

One for me, one for the scooter.

Me, Captain Chelsea, and Steff. The best friends a girl could ask for :-)

After dinner, we all made our way back to the hotel- we all stayed at the Akron City Center Hotel. We made a plan to meet in the lobby at 6:15 the next morning to walk to the start. Matthew and I laid our clothes out, I dressed up the scooter, and we were sound asleep by 10:30. Marathon morning was just around the corner :-)

Chelsea, Matthew, Jeff, Steff, and Nathan

Ready.

AM: 9/29/14

Welcome to another Monday! I hope you had a fabulous weekend filled with all the stuff and people you love. If you follow me on social media, you know I flooded your feed with tons of Akron Marathon and Great Race love with all my favorite running friends. I'll be blogging lots more about the whole experience this week but let me just say that I am so blessed to have friends that have become family. My Akron Marathon relay team and all our running friends in Pittsburgh really made this weekend incredible and unforgettable. Despite all the sadness and depression this injury has brought into my life, I was able to forget all about it this weekend and spend time with the most wonderful people. Thank you, friends. You are so beyond loved.

My heart.

Let's get right into some accountability!


Training:
Monday- Rest day
Tuesday- Rest day
Wednesday- Rest day
Thursday- 30 minute circuit of strength training
Friday- Lots of walking scootering around Akron and the expo
Saturday- More scootering around and cheering
Sunday- Cheering for the Great Race, crawling up and down stairs, and scootering around Pittsburgh

There are lots of insane pictures from this weekend of me using unconventional methods to get around- look for them in the Akron posts later this week :-)


Nutrition:
As we were out of town three days (and I've been wallowing a little in sad feelings), it was hard to stay on track with my eating while going to restaurants for each meal of the day. Luckily, the Weight Watchers app is loaded with good suggestions on low point alternatives at a variety of restaurants. Every time we went out, I tried to pick the most nutritious and low-point option available. I think it worked pretty well. I cut into some of my weekly allowance points but there is still a good amount of them left. We'll see what the scale says on Wednesday when I weigh-in but overall, I'm proud of not eating my feelings this week and tracking every bite I took.

Beets and goat cheese might be my favorite combination OF ALL TIME.

Weight-loss:
152.6 as of 9/24/14 weigh-in.
-1.2 since last week.
-37.8 since January 2013.
-49 since heaviest; 202 in 2005.

I LOST A POUND WITHOUT ANY ACTIVITY!!!!!!

I was SO surprised when I stepped on the scale and was down 1.2 after a full week of no workouts! I don't know if this trend will continue but I feel much more confident in my ability to manage these next five weeks and not back-slide into old habits/thought patterns.  I'm actually looking forward to the challenge of eating better and being more diligent about what I'm eating over the next few weeks. Imagine that :-)


QOTD: What was the biggest challenge you faced this week? How did you overcome it?

Accountability Tuesday: 9/2/14

Good morning! Welcome to the post-Labor Day accountability check-in!

I hope you had a great holiday and are ready to make it an awesome September. I'm a little sad that the summer is officially over but I'm looking forward to the fall for many reasons; cooler weather, pumpkin flavored everything, and lots of fun half marathons on our race calendar.

So, how did this week go? Well, better than last week. I was back to my regular routine and felt like I could better control my eating and the spaces around me. That is...until I went home for the weekend. We went to a winery, had two cookouts, and went out to eat multiple times. I tracked all but Labor Day- and I just grazed all day long (I entered 30 PPV for the day). I'm starting this week with -11 PPV. And I'm ok with that. It's been a slightly-off weekend but I am happy to be getting back on track this week.

Training:
Monday- Walked 2.27 miles
Tuesday- 45 minute run
Wednesday- Rest day
Thursday- 45 minute track workout
Friday- 10.42 mile run with Jen
Saturday- Walked Color Vibe 5k
Sunday- 4 mile run with Dad

Total: 27.08 miles

Nutrition:
This week I did so much better with fueling for the long run. Since I was running 10 miles with Jen on Friday night after a full day of work, I knew I needed to eat well throughout the day. For lunch I went to Panera and got a Mediterranean Flatbread Sandwich and Chicken Noodle Soup. The sandwich is a little higher in PPV than I usually eat (11) but I knew it had a great mix of protein and carbohydrates that would keep me full without making me feel too stuffed. I also had a salad from Wendy's (Apple Pecan) about two hours before the run. The result? I only had a handful of sport beans 30 minutes before the run and didn't get hungry for the over two hours we were running. Success.

Apple Pecan Salad, obligatory vineyard shot, doughnuts involved in the "grazing" day, and Panera goodness.

Weight-loss:
156.2 as of 8/27/14 weigh-in.
-1 from last week.
-33.4 since January 2013.
-44.6 since heaviest: 202 in 2005.

Update on August goals:
As part of the instagram #TeamrunDisney August photo challenge, I set out some specific goals for the month.

PS- You can follow me on ig @sparklyrunner :-)

So... I met one of these goals. I actually ran 90 miles in the month of August. :-)

I lost 4.4 pounds and ran my Akron Marathon leg training run (3.9 miles) in 43:42. But September is a new month and I'm confident I can set and accomplish some new goals for fall... whenever I figure out what they are.

By the way, summer has historically been the worst season for me in terms of weight-loss. I have ALWAYS gained over the summer- featuring all my favorite foods and the mentality of being on "vacation," summer has always been a struggle for me. BUT, this year I actually lost 10.6 pounds from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Here's to hoping the fall season will be just as fruitful!

QOTD: What are you most looking forward to about the fall season?

Meet the #runAkron Team: Coach Jeff

In just 39 short days, Team #4PrincessesAndAFrog will be reunited and running the Akron Marathon Relay together! In today's post, you'll meet Jeff; our "Coach Frog." I first "met" Jeff through #runchat on twitter and he's become a dear friend in the last few months. He's a super fast, super experienced, and super fun to be around runner- just read this post and you'll know why he's our favorite frog!

Name:  Jeff Smercani
Location:  Pittsburgh, PA
Favorite Race Distance:  Marathon
Races on your “Bucket List”:  Tough question! I’ve completed some of the best in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Disney World, Las Vegas, Niagara Falls, Pittsburgh & Twin Cities to name a few. I guess the big ones left to concur would be Big Sur, LA, London, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco and the original course in Athens, Greece.

How did you start running?  
I was overweight - 205# at my heaviest and would get out of breath going up a flight of steps. I received a call that my Grandmother whom at 84 years of age was diagnosed with breast cancer and going through treatment.  I decided to run the local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to raise money for Breast Cancer in honor of my Grandmother's fight.  I became hooked on running and ran my first marathon a year later.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened to you/weirdest thing you’ve seen while out on the road?  
I was training on my favorite trail and came upon a deer standing off the side of the trail. As I caught up to it, I fully expected the deer to run off. Instead it looked me right in the eyes and started to run alongside me for several yards!  I thought I had a new training partner there for a while.  You gotta love nature!

I can’t run without...
My Garmin.  It keeps me consistent with my training pace and I’m obsessed with running accurate distance! 

What’s the best piece of running advice you’ve been given?  
During my first marathon the Pace Team Leader told us “You can’t bank time! You bank energy!”  For every minute ahead of pace in the first half of a marathon, you generally give that back plus an additional minute for each one you are ahead. Very smart advice.  I’ve learned this lesson the hard way more than once!

In the starting corral for a race you can find me...
Nervously bouncing, swaying side to side and praying for a safe race for all competitors, volunteers, race officials, safety personnel and for God to allow me to perform to the best of my ability on that day.

If you could go back in time, what’s one thing you wish you’d known before you started running?  
Take nutrition and hydration seriously!  Listen to your body, take ample rest days and allow injuries to heal properly. Eat a good quality meal full of complex carbohydrates to fuel your run the next morning.  You can’t cheat on your training! Make sure you get your long training runs in; they are the foundation of your training for a successful and enjoyable race. Also try to enjoy the races more. I’m never going to win; therefore I enjoy the atmosphere, talk more and enjoy meeting people.  

When I’m not running, I’m...
Enjoying Trivia with my friends (I’m a self-proclaimed Trivia Geek), chatting on Twitter, planning or day dreaming about my next runDisney trip with my wife or watching movies.  I’m a diehard Red Sox, Steelers and Penguins fan.

What’s your favorite post-race food?  
Immediately after finishing a Marathon - My wife usually has my Kettle Chips and an iced tea.  Then it’s on to the BBQ, Bacon, Cheeseburger and Salty Fries!  BRING ON THE SALT PLEASE! :-) 

My running mantra is...
“A Consistent Comfortable Pace - Wins My Race!”

If you could run with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?  
Besides my Akron Marathon Relay Team? :-)  I’ve already met and had the opportunity to run with some of the Greats – Bill Rogers, Dick Beardsley, Jeff Galloway and Kathrine Switzer.  I’d love to run alongside Meb Keflezighi, Joan Benoit Samuelson, Paula Radcliffe and Shalane Flanagan provided they slow down to my pace! :-)

About Jeff:
I’ve completed marathons in 11 states and Canada.  I’m a runDisney fanatic having run 7 Disney Marathons, 3 Goofy Challenges, the Dopey Challenge this year and registered for Dopey next year as well.  I just completed my 30th Marathon running my hometown Pittsburgh Marathon with my Akron Marathon relay teammate and friend Lauren Bailey helping her complete back to back marathons while raising money for a worthwhile charity.  I’ve recently started pacing and coaching friends offering a variety of tips, techniques and training plans.  I’m starting to consider “crossing the line of sanity” and attempting my first Ultra run of 50K or longer.  I’m active on Twitter - Give me a follow at @JSmerc26pt2 - I enjoy chatting, talking about running, races and meeting fellow runners. 

And there you have it; the whole #4PrincessesAndAFrog Team: Jeff, Steff, Lauren, Chelsea and me. The next Akron posts will be of the actual race- can't wait! Blue Line, I hope you're ready for us! :-)

AM: 8/4/14

Good morning and happy Monday!

Some days, this is the best way to describe weight-loss:

Source.

Yup, I was up again (.6) after a pretty good week. Luckily, my #wwchat tweeps know just what to say to help me press on for another week- "it's all part of the process." So, we are moving on! 

Since it's the beginning of a new month, I've got some new goals I want to work on:

• Run my Akron Marathon Relay split in 42 minutes- that's about 10:40 minute miles.
• Run 80 miles. July's total was 64.85.
• Lose five more pounds. This one might be challenging- I lost 3.8 in June and 2.4 in July so five pounds in just four weeks is ambitious for me and my slow metabolism.

With Akron right around the corner, I'll be kicking up the training and the speed workouts this month. Let's hope that translates into some losses at the scale :-)

Training:

Monday- 30 minutes of laps in the apartment pool

Tuesday- 45 minute speed workout at the track

Wednesday- 30 minute cardio dance DVD

Thursday- 45 minute run

Friday- Rest day

Saturday- 3 mile trail run

Sunday- 60 minute at-home walking DVD

Nutrition: 

This week was a bit all over the place. We went out of town this past weekend and that resulted in lots of eating out and going through all my weekly and activity points for the week. In fact, right now I'm in the negative. Boo. But, I had some delicious food and I am happy with how I choose to spend my points.

I regret nothing. 

I was famished on Wednesday after I worked out and went to my Weight Watcher's meeting. So I went to Panera and grabbed a You Pick Two: Caesar Salad and Garden Vegetable with Pesto Soup. I scarfed it down so quickly that I forgot to grab a picture. But it was delicious! I don't normally like vegetable soup, but this one has great flavor. 

Weight-loss:
160.6 pounds as of 7/30/14 weigh-in.
+.6 from last week.
-28.4 since January 2013.
-41.4 since heaviest: 202 in 2005.

Monday Bonus! So, if you follow me on social media then you may already know- I've been selected as an Enell Ambassador! I'll write much more about it this week- I am just so excited to "officially" represent a company that changed my life and helped make me a runner. 

Another Monday Bonus! I went zip-lining this weekend and didn't cry- not even once! I have this awesome habit of crying when I'm scared, or mad, or happy, or upset, basically, anytime my emotions are heightened. Think Kristen Bell and sloths. But zip-lining was really fun and most important, I survived :-)

QOTD: How was your week/weekend?

AM: 7/28/14

Hello and happy Monday!

If you follow me on facebook or twitter, then you already know- I had a big loss on the scale this week: 3.4 pounds! Your body can be super weird when you're trying to lose weight. Last week, I gained unexpectedly and this week I lost a heck of a lot more than anticipated- usually I only lose .5 to 1 pound a week. I'm really proud of myself for not letting a gain throw me off- the "old" me would have probably spiraled out of control and ended up gaining more. I think I'm finally starting to have a better relationship with food. 

In other news, I got a great treat in the mail- a Panera gift card from the Akron Marathon and Panera! As part of Team Panera, I got a gift card to help fuel my training. How awesome is that?! They are also sending a shirt for me to wear on race day- I'll post pictures as soon as it comes in!

Stats for 7/21- 7/27

Training:
Monday- 45 minute dance-cardio DVD
Tuesday- 45 minute speed workout at the track
Wednesday- 30 minute Pilates DVD
Thursday- 45 minute run
Friday- Rest day
Saturday- 5k race, 2.5 easy miles
Sunday- Rest day

13.5 miles total

Training note- I'm really trying for sub-10:30 minute miles for my portion of the Akron Marathon Relay so Matthew has been kicking my butt coaching me in speed work at the track. It's not my favorite but I know it's necessary if I want to get faster.

Nutrition: 
This week can best be summed up with two of my favorite foods: 1. Deep-fried Oreos/Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. 2. Panera Everything Bagel with Roasted Veggie Reduced-fat Cream Cheese and cucumber slices. Yum. Both are high in Points Plus Values but that's what I love about Weight Watchers- I can have them, track them, and still stay dedicated to my plan and lose weight.

I have also eaten three (yes, three!) watermelon (Matthew helped) and made a new recipe with spaghetti squash, feta cheese, tomatoes, garlic, and onions- it was delicious!

Weight-loss:
160.0 pounds as of 7/23/14 weigh-in.
-3.4 from last week.
-30.4 since January 2013.
-42 since heaviest: 202 in 2005.

All in all, an awesome week!

QOTD: What's your favorite "indulgence" food?