A Rest Day?!

Guess what happened on Sunday... I had an honest to goodness rest day. It wasn't intentional but I was grateful for it regardless. Let me explain how this happened, I had originally made plans to either go for a short run or hit the gym this afternoon before we took Bella out trick or treating. Patrick, Bella and I were out and about longer then we had originally planned, by the time we got home there wasn't time to go to the gym or for a run before the Halloween festivities began. I even considered going to the gym this evening because of the whole "Lost It" competition but decided that I really needed the rest. I am sure that my sore body will be very grateful for the day off when I get back to it tomorrow.

This evening, I got together with some of my friends and their families to take the kiddos trick or treating. These kids have known each other for the majority of their little lives and they are such great friends, I really hope that they stay this close as they grow up. It was such a fun evening and we had a ton of laughs watching the kids. Now, I'll be one of those moms and share a picture of Bella (in the Dorothy costume) and her little homies.

Saturday Night's Alright For Bloggin'

Friday morning, K and I went for our long run and were able to get in another seven miles. We took it easy and didn't try to better our time at all because to be honest, I haven't had the energy for it in the last little while. I was on such a high from the completion of the seven miles that I thought I should go to cycle class. It sounded like a great idea at the time but I was incredibly wiped out when it was done. All this exhaustion would keep most people at home instead of going to Groove on Friday night, but not me. I shimmied it out with my Groovy friends, but I'll be honest, I was tired. This ILIATC final push is awesome because I am seeing results but I am exhausted all the time, the good news is that the end of this insanity is near. I am ready to return to regular life from my extended stay in Crazy Town. I was telling K that I am entirely too competitive with things like this and it brings out a CRAZY side of me. Lucky for you, you've all had a glimpse at my brand of crazy.

I had my second last ILIATC weigh in today and I lost another 7 pounds!!!! I couldn't be happier but I have to just keep working super hard for one more week to finish strong. So close to being done! K, A and I have BIG plans for next Saturday after the last weigh in and workout. First of all, we are going to go eat pancakes... oh delicious carbs, we're heading to a local hang out to have a drink afterwards and we're finishing strong by making a stop at a local cupcake shop. It's a sad state of affairs when pancakes on Saturday are what's keeping me going right now.... all I want is my one cheat day. After this "Lost It" thing is done I can get back to a real way of eating and still getting result just not drastic results.

It's Saturday night, and I thought that maybe I should tell you 5 things about me.

• I LOVE musicals. I've been singing show tunes all night.
• My childhood heroes were not your run of the mill heroes. They were and still are Cher, Bette Midler, Julie Andrews and Barbara Streisand. I wanted to be Julie Andrews.
• I've always wanted to take dance lessons, the only kind of dance lessons I've ever taken were short lived swing dance lessons with an ex boyfriend. 
• I've been called an old soul more than once.
• I love to bake and I miss it dearly but it would be my downfall right now.

Here are a few show tunes I've been belting out tonight...

I won't even put in all the Sound of Music ones I've been singing. 

And because it's Halloween and I love Rocky Horror Picture Show...

Today's Theme Song

Exciting First

K and I ran this morning but let me be honest and tell you that it was a slow, humid and chatty run. Not a huge deal because it was fun to get out there regardless and I love the time K and I spend together having our own therapy and gab sessions. After that run, I had a training session with Amy but it wasn't our normal sessions in the gym. We met at a track and did some sprints, speed work and some other things that we do not normally do. It was a heck of a workout and an eye opener. The 100m sprints were faster than I thought they would be and even Amy was impressed as to how fast they were. I'm not going to be the next Flo Jo, but it I was still pretty happy with my time. The best part and my exciting first was the run at the end of the workout. Amy had me run so she could see my pace per mile. I did a little run/walk and managed to do a 13 minute mile. I know that for most runners, that isn't a great pace but in my world this is HUGE. It was faster than my usual shuffle, and I'm just happy about it. I know I say it all the time but a year ago, I would have laughed in your face if you'd told me that I'd be out running, or trying to do anything remotely like running.

After the morning's workouts, I was lucky enough to have lunch with my dear friend A. She and I haven't had a chance to spend much time together lately. We had a great time just chatting and catching up, but sadly we just didn't have enough time to cover everything we wanted to chat about. Is there ever really enough time?! Then this evening, I got to spend more time with K and A when we went to Groove class to dance it out a little. K left, but A and I stayed and tried to get a little zen on in centergy, but it just wasn't the same without a snuggie for the rest time at the end of class.

"If You Ain't First..."

Someone once said, "If you ain't first, you're last". OK, so it was just Ricky Bobby in the movie Talladega Nights, not some scholar or anyone of note. We FINALLY got the results of ILIATC for this past week and I dropped to second... second... WTF?! There is ten days left in the program and I'm kickin' into over drive because I really want to win, it isn't about the prize anymore as much as it is about winning. The guy that I've been battling it out with for the top spot is going down this week! 

Shut It Down

This song is one of my faves...



Shutting this day down by watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta... yeah, I love watching crappy tv. For what it's worth, they should do the Really Real Housewives of Atlanta, and they can follow my broke butt around. Sadly, I don't wear a wig, but I will probably be tardy for the party. Oh gosh, I think I'm dumber for watching this and even dumber for writing about it. OY VEY!

Anyways, this morning not even tornado warnings were going to keep me from getting a run in. I hauled my butt to the gym this morning to get in a quick run because running outside was just not an option. It was storming and there were tornado warnings, so that threw a wrench in the plans. As soon as I got to the gym, the tornado sirens started to sound and we had to cram into the locker rooms until they gave us the all clear. I got up there and did 24 minutes on the treadmill because I had to get back to help out at Bella's school. After being a good mom and helping out, I headed back to the gym for round 2 of 3 with Amy. We had a challenging and interesting workout, and of course a little therapy thrown in there for a little added fun. Then, because I had to go back for more, K picked me up and we headed to Fayetteville and hit up the October Groove launch. I didn't go to Zumba... can you believe it?!

So, I have some great news. My friends Sarah and Shannon are joining K and I in Orlando this February! They have signed up for the half and I couldn't be more excited about it! The more the merrier!!!

Seven Miles?! Piece Of Cake

... and no, I don't mean a real piece of delicious post run cake. :( Although, cake does sound mighty tasty right about now. If it weren't for "Lost It" I would tear up some cake right about now, but I digress. Friday morning, K and I set out on what would be a most epic day for us. We started with a plan and we did not back down, we finished those seven miles and I could not be prouder of us. *TMI warning* So, I think that I can now join the ranks of the hard core because I ran the last mile and a half with something not feeling quite right. I had a feeling it was my toenail that had gone, low and behold when we were done and I took my shoe off my sock was bloody and my one of my toenails was almost completely gone. Who needs those toenail things anyways?! The toenail had also cut up one of the adjacent toes, it was not a pretty picture. The good thing is that I was riding the high of the seven miles that a little blood didn't bother me. This is going to sound crazy but between the seven miles and the toenail thing, I felt pretty bad ass.

K and I decided that the best way to celebrate the run was to make a little road trip to a running store in town called Big Peach Running Company to properly get fitted for new shoes and to spend some money. Ok, really we just needed an excuse to go shopping. I cannot tell you how much I loved this store, the staff was great, the fit process was wonderful and they had some of the coolest things in-store. I spent a bit more than I wanted to but I got a new bra, new shoes, and some more KT tape. I needed that stuff... right?! K and I considered getting shirts that said Run ATL on them, I might have to go back and pick them up because they were too cool. Now, I'm going to start breaking the new shoes in so I don't have a toenail incident repeat.

This morning I had my weigh in and workout for ILIATC, and the results were awesome!!! I lost 6.2 pounds, I couldn't be happier. There is only one issue, because there are only two weeks of "Lost It" left my focus is going to have to shift a little away from running just until the last weigh in on the 6th. That's not to say I won't run, it just means that I am just going to try and maintain what I've got going on. My trainer was giving me some strategies and tips so that I can win this thing. I am going to win this, because I have busted my butt and I could really use the free year at the gym. Send me good weight loss vibes.... Mama's gotta win!