Give me some sugar.

Our next big challenge, the cake decorating class, begins just two weeks from today!
It's going to be fantastic. Nothing like going from a 5k to baking and decorating cakes.
I almost wonder if I should start graphing my weight as we go through these challenges, it might be interesting to see what exactly happens in a food based challenge versus an active challenge.

Fondant and Gum Paste

Discover a great new way to add excitement to your cakes using these easy-to-shape icings. In this new course, you´ll experience a variety of fondant techniques and the beauty of decorating with gum paste. You will create flowers and accents with beautiful detail. You will see how to use tools to cut and shape amazing textured ribbons and borders. Each new technique will prepare you to decorate a Grand Finale cake you will be proud to take home.

my second attempt

So I'm sort of hooked on writing about running, much like I'm a little hooked on running. I decided to start over and do the couch to 5K training from the start, rigidly following it. I ran the first day today, and I was astounded at how different it felt than on my first go round. The first time, I couldn't even finish the 12 sequences of 1 minute runs and 1.5 minute walks. This time it was a breeze. I was able to focus on my stride, and my lungs kept up with me. Crazy how much can change in a couple of months.

So I decided I'm going to keep track of my progress/training in this one entry, and just add to it as I go along (so as to not get in the way of all the cake talk/pictures/adventures.) I will add a link to the side column for this entry, if anyone feels like following along. My ultimate goal is to be ready for another 5K in September, and to come in under 30 minutes.

Day 1___7/15/07___5 min warm up walk; alternate of 1 minute run and 1.5 minute walk for 20 minutes (12 reps). Felt amazing.

In summary....

attempting to keep this short and sweet.
what I've learned:

1. when you have a plan, stick to it. training doesn't work when you just stop.
2. every time you want to quit, push yourself a little more. rinse and repeat. etc.
3. trying new things is fun, even better when you have other people giving it a shot with you.
4. if at first you don't succeed try, try again. i plan to do that and finish in style (like mary!)

with this, on to the next challenge.....

This is where I landed

In the end, I have grown to enjoy running and I will most likely continue. I want to start over and train on a real schedule, to see how much further I can push myself. I crossed the finish line with a time of 34 minutes and 36 seconds, at a pace of 11:1:10 per mile. I was number 60 out of the 77 women running in my age group. That alone inspires me, makes me want to work on my running and come in under 30 minutes, within the top 50 runners. Carrie said it yesterday, now we have a number to work against, a personal best to top. I love that.

The greatest thing I got out of this challenge though is my newfound ability to stick with things, to muscle through the hard stuff. By willing myself to run an entire mile, then a mile and a half, then two miles without stopping, I have been able to will myself to push through other tasks. I willed myself to make it through a hideously tiring day of driving back and forth across the state, something I don't know that I could have done without the running. I even used it for work this weekend, willing myself to go to the Science Museum to shoot pictures for a math book. Just like with the running, getting myself there was the hard part. Once I got there, I got in the groove. The same goes for pushing through research when I'm on a tight time crunch. I am now able to convince myself to research 'just one more spec' just like I will myself to run 'just one more lap'.

So I've gained a lot. I'm less of a quitter, less of a complainer, more of a fighter. It's a very good thing.

Now bring on the cake!

I ran, I jogged, I sprinted, and I finished!

Yesterday I crossed the finish line at top speed, after running 3.1 miles. It was the man standing at a mile and a half all by himself that clapped for me, and the woman who told me I had a good pace going (even if it was a lie) at mile marker 2 that prevented me from walking. It was seeing all the other runners in front, and imagining all those behind me that keep me going when I wanted to stop. I may have run slow, jogged a good portion of mile 2, but I didn't stop, I didn't walk and I finished in 36:03.

I can't say I enjoyed the run. From the second we started off, I knew it wasn't going to be a nice run around the lake, and I just keep repeating over and over in my head that I just needed to put one foot in front of the other. At one point I remember telling myself running is basically walking, but I'll just be finished sooner if I keep running.

When I saw the finish line, I sprinted to the end, expecting to find my runner's high, to find that excitement I'd been training for, thinking and talking about for weeks leading up to that moment. I didn't find that high or joy instead I found myself tired, with a bit of a headache for the rest of the afternoon, and sore legs today, but I did it. I can now say with confidence that I can run a 5K.

On to the next challenge...

WE DID IT!

Individual recaps to follow. For now, two pictures!


Right before the race started.



After we all finished and were stuffing our faces with free fruit, granola bars and goopy power bars. Envelope = raffle win!


*Please excuse the smudge on the camera lens. It's Matt's hair gel!

Didn't even have to unbutton them!

So, while I haven't made much progress running, I feel as though I have made a lot of progress overall. I have been going to the gym a minimum of three times a week, and my cardio level has drastically improved over this time. Even though I may not be running, I am on the elliptical and have been able to increase my resistance while still keeping up the pace.

I have no idea at this point how far I can run, but I feel like if I stay focused on Sunday I can get through it. This may be a stretch, but at this point I'm not giving up. I still want to like running, it just hasn't happened yet. I plan to hit the track sometime this week and see if this is the key to my running happiness.

That said, I do love exercise in general and the changes that come along with it. Not only has my endurance increased from working out, but I have also gained a lot of upper body strength and have lost some weight. Well, the scale may not show a huge weight loss, but my clothes are showing it and that's all that really matters to me. Last night, for the first time in a while, I took my jeans off without unbuttoning them first. May not seem like a big deal, may seem weird that I would even try, but for me this is a huge accomplishment and enough to keep me going!