Mission: Possible

Did these... didn't quite look this good,
but I'm getting there!

Day 1 Weight:  252 lbs.
Day 184 Weight:  220 lbs.
Personal Trainer Sessions Complete:  24
Weight Difference:  -32 lbs.


So, tonight is a big night for me.  First, I got to spend thirty minutes or so with a super hot guy who made me sweat and repeatedly told me what a good job I was doing.  Whew... I was exhausted afterwards.  Okay, okay, it was my trainer.  Innuendo totally intended....  Sorry... I got sidetracked while envisioning that.  I'll stop.  As enjoyable as the concept is.

We worked on my back muscles, which was awesome but super exhausting.  I never think of the muscles in my back being there and needing exercise.  But while Michael was sharing his expertise about the importance of working out one's back muscles (and sharing the reason why super body builders' stomachs poke out.  Do you know why?  According to my ridiculously astute, insanely in shape trainer, human growth hormone makes your internal organs increase in size, forcing themselves against your rib cage and then down and out, creating an overweight looking stomach.  Yuck, right?), I shared with him a critical piece of information:  I want to run a 5K.

I'm sure that Michael has gotten to the point where he can list off my random, changing daily goals, but this one is serious.  At the beginning of 2011, I made a resolution and promise to myself that I was going to run a 5K.  At the time, this coach potato didn't think it was even remotely close to being a reality.  But, I talked it up and carried it with me for eleven months.  And now, with a little over a month left on the calendar, there is a slight glimpse of hope that I might not physically die crossing the finish line.  After three months of training with Michael and making the stairclimber my bitch, I think I might be able to do it.

After we worked out my back (hee hee), I decided to feel what a 5K felt like on a treadmill.  I set that program to a 5K loop and watched as it set itself to 3.1 miles.  I started walking and decided that I would take it in increments.  After a mile and a half, I sped up the treadmill to a pretty good jog for a quarter of a mile.  I did that at each half mile mark. Each time I surprised myself with my stamina and my ability to focus on my breathing (instead of what used to be labored heaving) and my form.  And I kind of looked forward to each jogging increment.  Until I finished.  I did it.  I walked/jogged a 5K.  Granted it took me 57 minutes, but I did it.

And it felt good.  I had this weird drifting feeling in my legs, kind of like I was floating as I took each step after I got off the treadmill.  But, the best part was that I knew I could finish it without dying.

So, while I was accomplishing this monumental feat, I came up with a plan:  go to the gym every day that I can and increase the jogging period by a quarter mile every week until they all just blend together and I'm jogging the entire time.   For three point one miles.  Holy... cow.  And, at that rate, I'll be race ready in one month.

Good thing because I came home and registered for the Jingle Jog in Atlanta on December 10. (Bugs eyes and gasps in fear!)  I couldn't resist this combination of my love of Christmas and my new love of working out.   I'll be adorning my running shoes with jingle bells and accomplishing this lifetime goal and 2011 resolution in less than one month.  And keeping you posted during every quick paced step along the way!  Wish me luck!