Can't Stop, Won't Stop.

As most of you know, I was involved in a life changing car accident this past July. I choose the words life changing, because it has honestly been the best thing to happen to me in a long time. My Wake up" call if you will. July - December found me in a deep depression, though most people probably never knew by looking at me. I, for the life of me, cannot tell you what happened, how, when, where or why... but I thank God that it did. Mid December at the heaviest and unhealthiest I have ever been, on a whim, I joined 24 Hour Fitness in Southlake. I received a phone call from a trainer asking me to come in for the usual sales pitch to buy personal training. She was very helpful and helped me set some short term goals and advised me on a healthier lifestyle. I halfheartedly attempted to go to the gym after work, and cleaned up some bad eating habits, just in time for Christmas. With New Year's rapidly approaching I begin seriously weighing my resolution option, not that I've ever stuck to one... I'm good if I make it through Lent! My boss is a runner and had given me a little insight on her weight loss journey. She encouraged me to participate in Grapevine's, Bold in the Cold, which was on January 12, 2013. I started to think, what if I participated in one 5K a month for an entire year, as a way to hold me accountable to my fitness goal. And here we are... five months later... and I will be running my May 5K bright in early tomorrow, May 11, 2013, and I am so excited to share my journey.

Bold In the Cold - Grapevine - 01/12/13 This morning was balmy and unusually warm for the time of year, Chris Keil, who I have known ten plus years, offered to join me as a support system. I gladly accepted. OF COURSE we were running a few minutes behind, and barely made it to the table in time to get my chip. We headed to the starting line weaving in and out of other runners and walkers, an exciting energy in the air. Chris and I hung back and let the serious guys go for it. I won't account all the excruciating details of those first 3.2 miles, but I will say, it was tough. There were more hills and twists and turns than I cared for, but my only goal was to cross. That. Finish. Line. And I did so in 51:07. My goal was under one hour, so that was step one.

 Hot Chocolate 5K - Dallas - 02/09/13 Waking up before six am to go run in the cold, interesting choice of spending my Saturday morning. I had wrangled my sister and her friend Allison into doing this one with me. This race had something crazy like 100K plus participants. So of course there was traffic, and more traffic. And we had to book it to the start line to stand and wait another twenty minutes until it was our turn to go. I had just had a physical a couple weeks prior and found out that my blood pressure was 140 over some number that I couldn't comprehend because I had never had high blood pressure. I had actively been going to yoga and becoming more regular at the gym so I thought this would be a lot easier. Obviously, the girls left me in the dust, which was fine, I had my headphones. I enjoyed being a little lighter on my feet and was enjoying passing people and actually jogging. Then, I got super emotional around mile three. I started thinking about how lucky I was to be here, to be running, and so very proud of myself for these baby steps. I slashed my personal best by finishing in 46:26. Totally shocked. And we got some good swag, a sweet sweat shirt and too much chocolate.

Dash Down Greenville - Dallas - 03/16/13 - That 5AM wake up call, may have been earlier, I have blocked that memory, came WAY too early. My bestie, Chris Garey had eagerly decided to join me for this awesome St. Patty's Day extravaganza! Running late... AGAIN... we barely made the train at Carollton that dropped us over just a few blocks away from our destination. The walk to the start via CVS was quite memorable. Bass bumping, beer buying, mass consumption, and the sun weren’t even up yet. Costumes half on, and a third joiner, Chris Keil, we were ready. I was exhausted. I tried keeping up and did my own thing, yet again. I kept looking for mile markers, and didn't see any, kept looking until finally I asked this lady how long we had gone... she said just hit three miles. TALK about exciting... I booked it to the finish barely beating my personal best in 45:14. The best part, FREE BEER after the race!!! woo hoo and the costumes, I’ll skip the parade, just give me the beer.

Champagne 5K - Little Elm - 03/30/13 Horrible and then some... found it on Living Social for $15. Had just broken in my new $140 running shoes... SPEND THAT. I got fitted at the Run On! in Southlake, and I have not regretted it, seriously. I had a sinus infection, and it had rained the night before... so I did a mud run, because it was a nature trail, so I was PISSED, and then threw up around mile two something because of all the drainage. Finished in 50:13, all things considered, that'll do.

Run For Rescue 5K - Colleyville - 04/13 - We had a big group to join in for this bad boy, from work and through Chris Keil. I felt stronger and thought I had really pushed myself only to come up ten seconds short of a new record. I finished in 45:28. Again, not discouraged, just new goals to work towards. And oh yea, FREE PANCAKES. yes.

Since this race, I have moved to Grapevine, and have really stepped up my training. I am more focus, driven and determined. I keep getting a lot of inquiries as to what I'm doing and how... there is kids. I simply put the wheels. In. motion. It hasn't been easy, but the little things along the way make it worthwhile. I try to work out five days a week, alternating between outdoor running and the gym. I do yoga Monday nights and just joined Weight Watchers 04/30/13. I decided it was time to kick this up a notch or three. I can run half a mile without stopping now, I've lost about 15 pounds, I eat SOOOO much better, yes I still drink, mostly in moderation ;) and oh yea, that blood pressure... 105 baby. So buckle up because we've still got SEVEN more 5K's to go. For 2013 that is...