So...it's been awhile. Since my last post I finished that training plan and started a new one in January. To be honest, it became a lot harder towards the end of my first training plan last fall. It had nothing to do with the physical aspect of running. It was much more mental. I took a day off here and there and that turned into laziness and apathy. So I made a new plan in January. But I didn't stick to it. However, I did keep running. I just wasn't as diligent in my training. 

All of this training and non-training led up to the big day last weekend: My first half-marathon. I had done a 10 mile run in early January (just to prove to myself that I could) and some 6 and 8 mile runs over the last few weeks but I went in nervous and underprepared. My goal was 2.5 hours which meant running at about an 11.5 minute pace. Results? 2:29:30. I did it! Not only did I complete my first half marathon, but I came in under my goal time. 

Now I get to run for fun. And I'm not really sure what that means. Since I started running last year I've always had goals: complete a 5K, run a faster 5K, complete a 10K, complete a half-marathon. Now what? I supposed I could always try to run faster and farther, but I've honestly grown a little bored with it. I do still enjoy running though. So I'll continue. 

Currently I'm really enjoying getting other people into running. If I can do it (and lose 60 pounds in the process) than anyone can! I honestly couldn't run more than a few yards when I started less than a year ago and I ran a consistent 13.1 miles last weekend. I'm challenging my students and there families to join me in the AAZK Zoo Run on May 19th. I ran this one last year and it's a lot of fun. There's a 5K that runs through the zoo but there are shorter races for younger kids as well. This one is fun for the whole family and I really hope to get a lot of students out there!

Until next time...keep running!

I've been toying with the idea of adding a running blog for a while. Running is an interesting experience. It causes me to search inside myself. It pushes me to new levels. It inspires people and brings a sense of community. I've been surprised at the changes that have occured besides the obvious physical changes. I feel better when I run. It's like I have a new perspective on the day. 

I have always been overweight. Although I was really thin as a child, I started putting on weight in elementary school and by high school I was up to 275 lbs. At 5'10", that's a lot of weight. Actually, that's a lot of weight at any height. I started watching what I ate around my 11th grade year and dropped to 240 lbs. I felt great and managed to stay at 240 through college and into my first couple of years of marraige. My weight didn't come back all at once. It slowly creeped on, pound by pound, until I looked down at the scale and realized I was back at 275 lbs. I tried to fight it. I tried to change. I fasted. I tried P90X. Twice. We joined a gym (and went 3 times within the span of a year). I attempted running, but couldn't seem to get into it. 

At the end of my rope, I made a big change in December of 2010. I decided that I needed help. We bought a Groupon deal for 4 weeks of Medical Weight Loss Solutions consultations and B12 shots. I wasn't naive enough to expect this to do all of the work for me, but thought it would be a great jump start to 2011. We were put on a strict diet and had four b12 shots over the period of a month. By the end of it, I had lost 10 lbs and was ready to lose more. We joined Fitworks Fitness gym in January and Jon Reinicke trained us in proper nutrition and exercise. It is here that our journey really began. We were in the gym 4-5+ days each week, spending time on the treadmill and doing a lot of weight lifting and strength building exercises. For once I felt like I had a plan and it was working. Through the spring the pounds fell off and by May 2011 I was down to 230 lbs, lower than I had ever been in my adult life! 

We enjoyed a great anniversary trip to the beach that May and then settled in for what was to be a rough summer. Our schedule changes during the summer and I go from being insanely busy and productive to sitting on the couch all day. We left our gym and, though I had found a new passion for running and completed two 5Ks, found that it was too hot to run outside. On a positive note, I lost a few pounds and have since been maintaining my weight (220-225). Once Fall hit and we got back into our schedule I knew it was time to get into something more consistant and start losing weight again. We had recently joined Planet Fitness and in October I decided to start taking running seriously again and began a twelve week half marathon training program. 

This blog will chronicle that twelve week training program. Currently I am on Day Three of the program. I rested on Sunday, ran three miles yesterday, and will run two miles tonight befo