In my last post, I told you that after finishing the half-marathon, I wondered, What next?

Well, I realized that I have several answers to that question already!

5K for a Cause.
Next weekend, I am visiting my older sister, who talked me into running a 5K. But it isn’t just any old 3.1-mile race, it’s a race sponsored by a great non-profit organization, Girls on the Run, that encourages young girls to develop healthy “physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being.” My sister has run with the organization before, so she painted me a picture of what I’m getting myself into: Dressing up in goofy outfits and running along with a huge group of happy young girls, helping encourage them along a 5K race to the finish. I will have a “buddy” to run with the whole time—I just hope I can keep up with her!

The longest relay race ever.
Well, maybe not really the longest ever—but it might possibly be! Last year, I ran the MC200 relay race, which was advertised as 200 miles long but really was more like 206 miles. This year, it’s an official Ragnar Relay race, so I’m hoping that it’s a bit more organized and they have more water along the course. There are 10 people on my team, including two of my fabulous Jockey co-workers, plus a couple friends who ran last year and are crazy enough to come back and do it again, like me! This year, I’ll be running almost 20 miles split into 4 separate legs, over the course of a day and a half. Will I make it? You’ll have to check back to find out!

Dash like a warrior.
The week after the longest relay race ever, I decided to make myself seem even more insane and signed up for the Warrior Dash with a couple friends. We plan to run the 3.28-mile long obstacle/mud/craziness-filled race as a team, so we’ll just have a lot of fun and help each other along the way. Obstacles along the course include mud pits, cargo nets, running through a river, and of course, leaping over a fire pit. Will I survive THIS race, you wonder? You’ll have to check back near the end of June (and pray) to see if I do!

It’s been over a year since I started blogging about getting in shape and enjoying a healthier lifestyle, and if you can’t tell by this post, I’ve found the best way to stay motivated is to keep both short-term and long-term goals, and to make them fun. My advice: Get your friends and family involved! Having support and supporting others is always encouraging and motivating.

What are your summer plans and goals?

Thanks for coming along with me over these past 54 weeks—they have been the best yet!

Fat Stats:
Starting weight: 166 pounds
Last week: 149 pounds
This week: 149 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds

Embrace the madness,
Amanda
@jockey_amanda

This past January, I printed off a 6-month calendar and wrote out a training schedule to prepare myself to run a half-marathon. Looking at the training plan then, it seemed almost impossible that I could build myself up from not running at all and coming back from an injury, to running 13 miles in one go. But, I also knew that with a plan in place, a goal in mind, and my stubborn motivation, I could do it.

I started with training on an elliptical, then running laps on an indoor track, until one day I decided that I was beginning to feel “in shape,” so I bundled up to run outside.

I ran through snowstorms, wind, rain, fog, fatigue, sunny days and quiet dusks. I got hurt, I got sick, but I didn’t let it derail me. I got better, and I got back on my plan. I didn’t follow my training schedule perfectly—I did what I felt like doing, when I felt like doing it, but I always did something, even if I didn’t always want to.

So, on this past Saturday, when I stood at the starting line for the “world’s cheesiest marathon,” the Wisconsin marathon, it felt surreal to me. I felt like I was just going on another one of my long training runs—only this time, with about 4,000 other people coming along.

It was supposed to be cold and rainy, but when the starting gun blasted and we began running, the clouds seemed to dissolve and the sun came out. We were off, off onto this 13-mile journey that I had waited so long for.

It took me the first few miles to get accustomed to running in a crowd. I enjoyed the sun on my face, the slight breeze, and the volunteers and community cheering on the sidelines as I passed by them. I grinned at them all. They couldn’t know it, but they were witnessing a rite of passage: I was finally running a half marathon!

About 6 miles into the race, I still felt pretty good, but I realized that I had been running faster than my anticipated pace of 10 minutes per mile. At mile 8, the fatigue started to set in, but the site of my boyfriend and friends cheering for me (and snapping a few photos) on the sideline put some energy back into my never-ceasing step. I kept moving, thinking about how I was already over halfway done with the race.

I turned the race into two goals: Finish the first ten miles, and then it’s a nice, easy 3 mile run after that. Mentally, it helped me to think of it as two goalposts, rather than just, 13 miles to go! But physically, there was no way to fool myself. By mile 10, I still felt pretty good, but I could tell I was getting tired. At mile 11, I hit the proverbial “wall” and knew the last two miles would be tough. And they were. My joints and knees ached, I felt hunched over due to the fatigue, and the sun had disappeared, leaving me to fight against a chilly, unrelenting breeze. But not once did I think, I can’t do this.

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle. My feet kept moving. Almost there.

And then I was there: I could first hear, and then see, the mass of people cheering along the pathway to the finish line. I had about half a mile to go, and from somewhere inside of me, the last reserves of energy and adrenaline were unleashed as I took off, running fast to that finish line.

2:11:52, the clock read as I crossed the line. Not too shabby.

I had done it: After 13.1 miles, I’d finished my first half marathon.

I told my mom later that now the half-marathon is over, I’m left thinking, What next? She asked if I would run a full marathon. I told her, “I’m not crazy—only crazy people would want to run 26 miles in one go!”

To which she replied, “I don’t know—I think running 13 miles at once is kind of crazy.”

You might be right, mom.

But then, you always knew I was a little crazy, didn’t you?

Fat Stats:
Starting weight: 166 pounds
Last week: 149 pounds
This week: 149 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds

Stay cheesey,
Amanda
@jockey_amanda
P.S. A big thanks to Jockey for paying my entry fee (and the fees for all my co-workers) and encouraging us to be healthy!

Last week, I was on vacation in Florida. When I got back to work on Tuesday, I felt like I needed a vacation after my vacation just to recuperate. You see, we had great reason to celebrate…every day.

My thought process went something like this:

Day 1: Hoorah! We’re on vacation! At the beach! It’s warm and sunny! Now, let’s go to the beach-side bar.

Day 2: YAY! It’s only the second day of vacation! Let’s go to the beach! Boogie boarding! Dang, salt water up the nose hurts. Well, time for some fruity beach drinks!

And so on. You see the trend…

Ultimately, the vacation ended with my older sister and her fiancé’s wedding—the reason our families were all gathered in the first place. It could not have been more perfect and I don’t think anyone could have been happier. I do believe it was the best vacation I have ever been on!

If only I could have been a stow-away in the newlyweds’ luggage and continued on to St. Martin for the honeymoon with them. I just don’t think they would have enjoyed me as a third wheel. Might have been a little bit awkward, really…

So, here I am, back in Wisconsin and 45 degree temperatures instead.

However, I have bigger and better things (okay, not really, but still exciting) to be looking forward to: This weekend is the half marathon, the one that I have been training for over the past six months—it’s my first one EVER.

While in Florida, I still tried to squeeze in some training runs so I’d be ready for the half marathon. With such perfect weather and warm temperatures, I was itching to get outside in shorts and a tank and run around in the sun. Trotting past palm trees, extravagant beach houses, and along the beach definitely kept me entertained and raring to go. Before vacation, my longest run was 11 miles long (wow!) and during vacation I did a couple 3- to 4-mile jogs to keep my legs loose.

So, all in all, I think I’m ready.

But, I am nervous. And sore. And excited. Kind of wondering why I thought it a good idea to party my entire vacation…and hoping the stinky forecast for Saturday changes (50 degrees and rainy—boo). Yet, I’m still excited. I can’t wait to recap the race for you next week to let you know how it goes. Stay tuned!

Fat Stats:
Starting weight: 166 pounds
Last week: 147.5 pounds
This week: 149 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds

Wish me luck!
Amanda
@jockey_amanda

I’ve been MIA. I’m sure you’re wondering what’s up.

Well…

I have been busy the last several weeks doing lots of fun things: older sister’s bachelorette party, going to the city with friends, shopping, and being reunited with a bunch of sorority sisters. I also re-injured my ankle slightly. (Wah.) Then went on a mini vacation. Now I’m less injured. And as always, it seems, I’m swamped with work.

Don’t fret, though: I got my workouts in through it all.

I’m happy to notice that no matter how hectic my life becomes, no matter where I am, no matter how darn tired I am, I still managed to get my workouts in. Why? Because, at the end of a run, or biking session, or even an easy elliptical stint, I feel re-energized, happy and like I am actually doing something with my life.

I used to come home from work and flop onto the couch, pick up the remote, and lose myself in silly, pointless, mind-numbing TV shows all night. Then I’d wonder why I couldn’t fall asleep at 10, 11, 12 at night. Duh. It was because I had been laying around ALL night, boring my body to death.

Sound familiar to you?

Now, even on my “rest” days when I don’t have to work out, I still find myself coming home and thinking, What can I do instead of being a TV-zombie-couch-blob?

Sometimes this means I clean, run the errands I’ve been putting off, make a big complicated dinner, or go shopping. Other days, I might watch a good movie and then crack open a good book, or meet some friends out for dinner and catch up.

I feel like I have really taken control of my life. Every day I feel proud and happy of what I’ve done, and I can’t wait for what I might do the next day. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of coming home and shutting down, but life should not be like that. Life is meant to be lived. And I’m happy that I’m really starting to live mine to the fullest.

Tell me: What do you do (or not do) to feel like you’re really LIVING?

Fat Stats:
Starting weight: 166 pounds
Last week: 149 pounds
This week: 147.5 pounds (almost there!)
Goal weight: 145 pounds

Make the most of your day!
Amanda
@jockey_amanda