I have found that looking back can sometimes be hard, but at times we need to be reminded of where we came from to appreciate where we are now.
In September 2008 I participated in my first ever 5K. I thought that since I had run so many one mile runs in high school (which for me at the time had ended 8 years prior) that I could just up and run 3 miles no sweat. I was an athlete and I could do anything I put my mind to. While this does hold true, it also requires the proper amount of training! So, I got out there and kept up with the others for, you guessed it, right at one mile! Of course I could run one, I did it everyday (yes everyday) for 6 years in middle and high school for basketball and softball. But long distance running is not the same as sprinting. I found out the hard way...I jogged/walked the rest of the 5K (which was a Heart Walk by the way, so I did not feel as bad about walking) and finished in a time I did not even commit to memory.
At this point in my life I weighed roughly 180lbs and wore a size 11/12. My measurements were 35 1/2 bust; 35 waist; 38 lower abs; and 44 hips.
This experience did it, I decided that I was going to learn how to run longer distances and my goal was to run the full 5K next year. (Little did I know that I would not be participating in it the next year because I was pregnant in fall 2009.) I trained and ran 2-4 times a week. My first practice 5K was at Homecoming in November 2008. I ran the whole thing in 31:24. I did it! I ran a 5K! This made me ambitious and I decided that why not go further and train for a 10K?! I chose the 2009 Crescent City Classic on April 11, 2009 as my goal. I had 5 months to train. Did I know what I was doing, NO! I did what I thought worked for me and found myself running 3 miles, then 4, then 5, then one day I did it...I ran the whole 6.2 miles on campus! I was so proud of myself because I ran the whole thing in 1:00:29! WOW! I was beside myself. I thought, "I can do this no sweat"! What I had been told though is that before a race you never actually run the distance of the race when you start getting up there in miles. This means I should not have ran that far yet. I thought, "Whatever, I did it once, I can do it again". Oh how wrong I was. I got a sinus infection from my trip just a few weeks before the race and could not train properly right before. When it came to race day I was not prepared for all of the participants. It took me 1:29 just to get to the start line! Then I found myself struggling to breathe, struggling to run! What was wrong with me?! I did this once, why do I feel like I have to walk now? And, I did. I walked several time during the race and finished in 1:13:??. I don't remember the seconds but I do recall being upset because I did not do very good!
After this race I decided to continue to run to stay in shape. What I found was that every few months I was gaining weight! I did not want that to happen. Then the ultimate happened...I found out I was pregnant! Well there goes working out! Or so I thought. I had a pretty good pregnancy and had Khloe in April 2010. I also weighed 219 when I had her...a total of 44 pounds heavier than I started! I lost 34 of it pretty quickly and got back to 185 at my 6 week check-up (just 10 pounds off of my pre-pregnancy weight). I waited the appropriate time (until mid-June) and then hit it hard on working out. I had to remember how to use my muscles again! I spent the rest of the year getting back in the swing of life, especially with a new baby. I decided to run a 5K again in February 2011, my first race since Khloe was born. I actually found myself running almost the whole thing! I finished in about 34 minutes. From here it was all uphill for me! I got ambitious and ran the Azalea Trail Run 10K in March 2011, but did not do so good finishing in 1:25:07. I then decided to do my first Triathlon in October 2011.
Before Khloe I weighed 175lbs and wore an 11/12 sometimes a 10. I measured 35 1/2 bust; 34 waist; 36 lower abs; and 42 hips. After having Khloe (by the beginning of 2011) and beginning to workout again I weighed on average 165 and began to wear a 9/10! I measured 35 1/2 bust; 33 1/2 waist; 35 lower abs; and 42 hips (these seemed to be going nowhere!).
I trained hard for the Mighty Magnolia Triathlon in 2011 (2:23:29) and after recovering I began to incorporated some Body Rock into my workouts to get stronger at the beginning of 2012. This helped me so much! I lost many inches on my body from Body Rock and even bought my first and second pair of skinny jeans within a month of each other, the first being a 10 and then the second an 8! I have found each year that I am getting leaner especially after my Triathlon. I competed in the Mighty Magnolia Triathlon again in 2012 finishing way faster than the year before (1:56:48) as well as the Ride Yellow, 37 mile bike ride in June (2:36:00), the Spartan Race in November, and a 5K Turkey Trot in November (30:30).
I also started out 2013 with a 5K in Mobile February 9th and made a personal best of (29:47) for the 3.16 miles I ran! I have also continued to train for my half marathon scheduled for April 6, 2013.
So, where does this put me now...well I weigh 161.5 on the average and wear a 7/8! And, I just bought another pair of skinny jeans and they are a 6! I measure 34 bust; 29 waist; 34 lower abs; and 41 hips!
I have nothing but persistence and time to thank for my accomplishments. Did I try to get to where I am? Not exactly. If I were in shape and healthy and still weighed 170, that would be ok. If I still wore a 9/10 or 11/12, that would be ok. However, I am smaller and I do weigh less and it is all because I stayed with it and made sure to keep going. This transformation took me from September 2008 until now, February 2013 (4 years and 5 months)! This did not happen over night! Here are some pictures to show you where I was at each phase...
The above pictures are as follows: April 2008, August 2009, I was pregnant until April 2010, May 2011, January and March 2012, July 2012, November 2012, and the last 2 are February 2013.
Why did I post this? I felt I needed to. I needed to show others that it is ok to be where you are. It is ok to look back. Just as long as it is just for a moment in time to assess where you have come from. Remember how hard you have worked. Remember how hard you pushed to get where you are. The road is long and full of hills but with each summit comes the down hill breeze! Keep working out and stay healthy! I would love to hear from you about how you are doing in your training. Blog about it...it certainly helped me!
Here's to the next workout. Until then...
April :)
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