The Race Story: Two Versions

Day 7 of six weeks

Weight today: same

Total lost: two pounds in six days

1/2 cup of oatmeal:150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer with coffee:30
with sweet-n-low:0
total:195

4 oz of strawberries:36
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 lefse:30
with 1 Laughing Cow French onion cheese spread:35
1 tbl of powder creamer with coffee:30
with sweet-n-low:0
total:146
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running total:341

1 piece of toast:50
1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
1 tsp of peanut butter: 66
total: 141
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running total:482

Salad at Old Country Buffet: It had peas, broccoli, cauliflower, sesame seeds, croutons, cantaloupe, honey dew, jello wedge, fat free french dressing:170

2 oz turkey:70
1 cinnamon roll:250 (est)
ice cream:75
apple crisp:75
mousse:75
total:740
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running total: 1222

1 tbl of powder creamer with coffee: 30
1 slice of toast:50
1/2 tsp of Smart balance light butter: 7
1 tsp of peanut butter: 33
total:120
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running total: 1342



Today's challenge: hydration, keeping on-calorie, getting my sit-ups in.

Planned fitness: My abdominal routine.

Note on picture: My husband grills up the best chicken. He puts together this season that contains flour, salt and paprika and then works his magic on the grill. I de-boned this and it melted in my mouth last night: 4oz of de-boned chicken breast:200 (est). 1 1/2 oz of corn:30 with 1/2 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:7 total:237

The Race Story: Two Versions

I decided to go with giving you all the two-version race story option depending on how much time you have to read.

First there's the meet-you-in-the-street-quick version of how my half-marathon went...

Me... upon seeing Sunshine Meg as I'm taking a walk downtown, "Hey, Sunshine Meg, how are you doing?"

"Great," she says as she stops and we both embrace for a quick hug.

"It's so nice to see you! You must be out shopping for stuff for your wedding!"

"Yah, ya know only 48 days left! Hey, how did your half-marathon go? Did you break two hours?"

"Yeah, it was great. I felt great starting out. I found my brother and we both ran the first mile in 8:13, then after I pulled away, I got to the half-way point at 56 minutes, 40 seconds. Then, I finished in hour and 44 minutes and 31 seconds."

"Wow, so that means you beat your old record by..."

"By thirteen minutes. I ran a minute faster per mile this year, than I did last year at an average pace of 8:45."

"Do you think losing the weight helped?"

"Totally, I felt lighter, faster, my knees didn't hurt at the nine mile mark. You should try doing one."

"Yeah, I'd like to...maybe after the wedding."

"Well, let me know maybe we can run together... We'll be Team Sunshine (Thanks for the name, Amanda)."
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Then, there's the long, sordid version. I thought maybe this would be a version I'd share with my female blogger buddies during say... a girl's night out.

Upon arriving at our local pub, I immediately see from my friend Jo.

She calls out, "Hey everyone! Sunshine Mama is here! Let's PARRRTTy!!"

"Hi, folks, friends, compadres... Hey, what's up! Anybody leave me any Mexican to eat? Ha, just kidding."

Jo, " Yeah, don't remind me, So,....how'd you do? did you break two hours?"

"Yes, but it wasn't an hour and 97 minutes like you guessed."

Jo rolls her eyes and smiles, "Is that what I wrote? Well, you know what I meant."

"Close. Actually it was an hour and 54 minutes and 31 seconds."

Sunshine Meg who had been listening pipes in, "You Rock!!! You Go Girl. I knew you'd break two hours."

Dawn adds, "Yah, I knew you'd do well too. If you can lose 20 pounds in 10 weeks, then you can definitely break two hours. I was thinking about you."

"Thank guys. I was totally thinking about you during the race too. In fact, where's Lindsey....I think her advice might have helped me PR."

Lindsey moves forward, "Hey, Sunshine Mama, How's it going? So you made it under two hours? That's great!"

"Yeah after I read your comment about not running with my running pack and water, I decided not to wear it."

"Really."

"Yay. I wore these shorts that had zipper pockets to carry my energy gels with. Then as I got near each water station, I ate my energy gel...and then stopped for about fifteen seconds to chase it down with water cause I can't drink water from a cup and run at the same time. I'll gag."

"Yah, I know what you mean. So, how many energy gels did you have?"

"Well, five total. At the three mile, five mile, half-way point, eight mile and ten mile marks. Two of the five gels were Roctane while the others were regular GU gels with some caffeine. It's way more energy gels than you usually eat...but that's just me. Hey, it looks like you've been doing your abs. You're looking good."

"Thanks, yah. I've been trying to get them in after my runs. It's tough sometimes."

"Yah, you have a busy schedule. I don't even know how you can work all those hours and then train for a marathon."

Then, I look over and see Hadley. "Hey, how are you doing?"

"Great, I can't wait till I can run a half -marathon! How did all the preparations for you go?"

"Good! I was SOOO nervous. We only live like two miles from the start of the race. And since I knew there'd be this long line for the bathroom I stayed at my house using the bathroom till the very last minute. Then, my husband dropped me off at ten minutes to 7:00, I got my chip, which is what we attach to our ankle for the timer's to keep time. And then at like five minutes before the start of the race, I realize I have to pee."

"No way!"

"Way! So, I was scoping the area and actually thinking about using these bushes, but then there were way too many people in the area plus there were cops. And I was just like...uhh...I don't want to run with a full bladder for six and a half miles."

"So, what'd you do?"

"Well, I went to the beginning of the line for the bathroom and asked the people who were in line if I could use it cause I had to race in two minutes. See, there was a five mile run scheduled for fifteen minutes after my race, so I knew a lot of the people in line were going to be running that race. There were a few dissenters....but I got in the bathroom two minutes before the race started....and I'm so glad I did because I didn't have to go at all during the race."

Lynn says, "Hey! Is this the long sleeved t-shirt that you got for the race? I like it!"

"Yeah, It's gold with reddish wording. I'm not big on yellow but it's ok."

"So, what'd you learn about yourself during this race?"

"Well, that I'm not going to drink protein drinks before the race anymore, because my stomach felt a little queasy and I even had a few side-aches. But, overall... I was surprised at how good my legs felt. I think weighing less made a huge difference. One thing that was really neat was that I got to race with my brother for the first two miles. We talked for a little bit during that part. I don't think we've ever run together before let alone race together. That was really nice."

"So, Hadley, can that body bugg of yours figure out how many calories I burned during this race?"

"Yes, but you actually have to be the one wearing it."

"Oh. Well, Isn't this girl's night out cool?"

"Yeah!," said Sunshine Meg, "Girl's Rock!"