A Subzero 5K Part II

Almost 16 weeks of 20 weeks

weight today: same

total lost: 9 1/2 pounds in 20 weeks

1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150
1 1/2 tsp of sugar:22
1 tbl of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar:30
total:232

8 to 9 thin apple slices:40
bite of cookie:20
1/2 graham cracker sheet:35
total:95
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running total:327

1/2 a plate of chicken Alfredo with vegetables:257
3 coffee creamers in coffee:90
salad:25
total:372
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running total:699

brownie bites:100
running total: 799

rest of chicken dish:258
brownie bites:100
bread dipped in olive oil:150
1/2 cup of Blue Bunny premium vanilla light ice cream:100
1 tsp of chocolate:20
4 tsp of powder creamer in tea:30
2 tsp of sugar in tea:30
total: 688
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running total:1, 487

Today's challenge: I really need to throw out these brownies that our friend's brought over...and the bread.

Today's victory: I had the same low calorie meal at a local restaurant that I had last week. Again I could only eat half of it before having to stop and take the rest home. I also clocked in a four miler tonight because I had some of that brownie and bread.

Actual fitness: 4 mile run in 41 minutes in fifteen degrees. (It's warming up.)

Note on first picture: Jack Frost!! My sister-in-law's nephew raced in the sub-zero five mile run yesterday, and this is what he looked like upon finishing it. Pretty lashes.
Jack Frost won first in his age group in the five mile run.

Note on second picture: This is what I won for my effort in the 5K...second in my age group.

A Subzero 5K Part II

Ok...where was I...so I approached the same location where I had fallen five weeks ago and noticed that even if I had wanted to, I couldn't fall at that spot again. Two cars were parked in that spot.

So, I smiled to myself. My legs felt great. My knee didn't hurt. Granted I'd taken three weeks off, but this race would be the first time for me to run this next section of the race...pain free.

And if I recalled correctly, there wasn't that much left of the race.

Onward Ho!!

I continued to run and keep my pace even. I passed this one guy who had been ahead of me for most of the race. My one friend who was in the race five weeks ago, was nowhere to be seen.

As I raced on, I kept looking for the turn that would reveal the final stretch. But it took longer to approach than I remember. I thought to myself, geeze, I can't believe I ran this far in pain the way I did five weeks ago.

When the final stretch finally arrived, I kept it steady and made sure to lift up my legs. The guy who I had passed, along with another crowd of guys and one gal beat me at the end. I figured the guy didn't want to get beat by a girl.

My time?

Well, I figure the reason it felt so good was because I was a full two minutes slower than five weeks ago...I was 24:26 compared to 22:26 two weeks ago. The first place finisher in my age group finished in 24:06.

I know, I know...I shouldn't lament. Heck, think of what I did accomplish, right? Back from an injury, racing in cold weather conditions...but a part of me...just a little part...ok, maybe a realistic big part thinks to myself, "I was good enough to get first in my age group if I hadn't been off for three weeks."

But I suppose I should look at the road conditions as well. The surface was not dry, it tended toward slippery.

A 24:26 means that I ran approximately 8 minute miles. Now...just for a frame of reference and comparison...my 12 week pregnant sister-in-law ran the 5 mile run in 40:41. Five weeks ago she ran it under 40 minutes. So, what that means...is not only is she 12 weeks pregnant, but she also ran about an 8 minute-a-mile pace...and held it for two more miles than me. Ha, Ha.

I'm so proud of her!! With all that she's facing with feeling sluggish from her pregnancy and dealing with the weather and working as a teacher full time and also lugging around three younger children...She's a champion!!!! She's so busy she doesn't have time to blog, because she gets up even earlier than me...4:45 a.m.

Anyway, people, I guess I digressed a little from talking about just my race...but that's because everywhere I look...there are examples of people succeeding despite the odds they face. The challenges seem really high, but the reason they succeed is because they determine to do so.

They have the attitude of trying anyway and giving it their best shot.

And, here in Wisconsin...there's a sick part to our personalities that make us want to race in this weather... just so we can say we did.