Stats Week 2

Here are the new stats for week 2. I started drinking a ton of water, which I think might have made a difference. I was already drinking so much before that now I'm drinking absurd amounts. Like wake up 4 times at night to pee amounts. Anywho, here's round 2.

calf: 14"

thigh (mid): 19 1/4"

thigh (thickest): 22

Hips: 38"

Waist: 28 1/4"

Bust: 34" (yes, you are reading that right. Everyone send subliminal messages to Sam that it's okay for me to get implants)

Bicep: 10"

Weight: 131.5

So I lost about 1/4" all around (except in my bust, but we are not going to talk about that). Maybe I'm coming off the bloated, eat everything you can high that I was on. Fingers crossed!!!

There's also a new post below, so don't skip it (if you're at all interested)!

Mental Block

I have had such a hard time running lately. I feel like I just don't have it in me anymore. I'm having a hard time staying motivated. Don't get me wrong, I love running, but when I have to wake up at 4am to do it, it kinda takes the fun out of it for me.

I think I've mentioned before but running to me is about 80% mental and only 20% physical. So when I hit these little mental blocks, my running really suffers.

I've been worried this whole last week about whether or not I had stress fractures on my tibia again. After a week of resting it and taking it easy on the treadmill, I am VERY happy to say that it is officially NOT stress fractures, and just really bad shin splints. YIPEEEEEEEE!!!!!! I ran outside today for the first time in a week, and while my shins were pretty frikkin sore, by about mile 4 they were pain free. Now that's what's up!!!!!!!!

I was a little bummed starting out my run this morning because I forgot to start my tracker so I had a whole mile unrecorded, but that's okay. I'll just have to remember that I really did 8 this morning, not 7. It was also a little hard (and strange) because it's just so dark. Honestly, it's dark outside at 4:30am. And because Tucson has an awesome observatory and an amazing sky, there are no streetlamps. So you are running in pitch. black. Kinda scary. I had my phone out for the first 15 minutes shining my flashlight on the trail so I wouldn't step on a rattlesnake. I was really praying I wasn't going to be attacked. By a person or an animal. About 2 miles in I was ready to turn around and go back. But then the trail made a bend out of obscurity, and I saw the amazing Tucson sky - filled with stars shining brilliantly against the smooth midnight blue sky. I stopped. Right there in the middle of my run. I just stopped and stared. It was astounding. I said a prayer of gratitude and continued on my run. Over the next 6 miles, I was able to run through the most vibrant sunset of bright orange and shocking pink, and the strangest shade of pale lavender. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen. The way it rolled off the clouds and broke through the darkness was a thing of wonder. And it all unfurled behind the silhouette of the gorgeous peaks of Mt. Lemon. Honestly, the whole thing was just breathtaking, and I admittedly teared up a few times along the way as I watched it in wonder and amazement. The words to one of my favorite hymns popped into my head, and I turned off my iPod so I could hear the heartfelt words in my head and feel them resonate within me: "Oh Lord, my God, when I, in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder. Thy power throughout the universe displayed." It played over and over in my head as I, truly in awesome wonder, considered all the wonderful creations of my Father in Heaven. The beauty of the whole Earth, and my body - as weak as it sometimes is - that somehow is so resilient time and time again. In that moment, I realized I had overcome my mental block. I felt refreshed, rejuvenated, and immensely grateful. This is one of the reasons I love running so much. It's very spiritual for me. I have my most heartfelt talks with my Father during some of my long runs, and I feel His might and power so deeply as I allow myself to connect with the quietness and calmness of the run. It may sound strange or cheesy, but that's just the truth of it.

I feel grateful today. I feel capable. I feel strengthened.

Just under 8 miles today in just under an hour. Not too shabby.

No pain, no gain

I went running again today. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I feel like I can't run without it hurting somewhere. I solve one problem and I hurt somewhere else, so I try to fix that and something else happens. My body is putting up a good fight trying to get me to stop, but I swear I'm going to win if it kills me.

Every time my shin hurts I get terrified that I've just given myself another round of stress fractures. So far it hasn't been anything I can't run through, so I figure I'll just keep going till I can't go any further.

In a way I actually like the pain aspect of it. I feel more triumphant at the end of a run that I know wasn't easy. I enjoy testing my physical limitations and pushing myself, so tiny bits of pain that just make it tough but not impossible are enjoyable to me. Is that strange?

Today I ran 5.17 miles in 41.5 minutes. That's an 8 minute mile. Not as good as yesterday, but I was in a bit of pain today so I'm just glad I finished.

Shannon, exposed

Okay, I've been debating whether or not to post this since it's not at all where I want to be, but I figured it would be good motivation for me in getting some of the inches off. Who's with me? Anyone else willing to post theirs?

I'm doing more detailed measurements this go round because I'm realizing there are a lot of places on my body that are changing. Here we go:

Calf: 14.25"

Thigh (mid): 19.5"

Thigh (thickest part): 22"

Hips: 38.25"

Waist: 29"

Bust: 35"

Bicep: 10"

Weight: 135 lbs

So there they are. It's depressing to look back on old posts and stats and realize I'm bigger in every area now. But you've gotta start somewhere, so this is the start of my journey. I'm going to stop gaining weight today! And maybe soon I can start whittling off a bit of the extra everything I don't want.

Still going, still growing

It's been a while since I've been on here. We were without a computer for quite some time.

I have been running still, though. I haven't transferred all of my pictures over yet, so I don't have any of the race I just ran but I'll post them later.

I just finished running the half marathon I've been training for. My time was 2:06. I was pretty thrilled about that. My last half marathon took me 2:18, so I was excited about how much faster I did this year. Maybe next year I'll do it in under 2 hours! Wishful thinking, I know. But that would be awesome!!

I've been running since. 4-5 miles a day (except Friday and Sunday), and then long runs on Saturday. I did 15 last Saturday and wasn't too sore afterwards so I feel pretty good about it. I am having crazy knee pain though, and I've been icing them like crazy. But so far nothing that's going to keep me from being able to continue running. It feels good to run and push my body. I really enjoy it.

The thing that's getting me kind of depressed lately is that I'm gaining weight like crazy. I am up to 135 right now and there is just nothing I can do to drop it. I feel like my legs and arms are looking really muscular and toned, but my tummy is just flabby and gross. I never started running as a means to lose weight, but I never expected that I'd be able to gain so rapidly while training so vigorously. The worst part is, I'm eating healthier than I ever have in my life. I don't hardly eat any fats at all anymore because they were making me so nauseous when I'd run, so I've been eating mostly lean meats, fruits and vegetables, and healthy carbs. How do you gain weight when you're eating well and exercising every day?!?! I am baffled. Truly. Baffled.

Anyway, that's where I am now. Just running running running. And lifting weights when I feel so inclined. I ran today. 4.8 miles in 34 minutes. That's less than a 7 1/2 minute mile. Now that makes me feel good!!!!!!