Leaving my comfort zone… one mile at a time.
Leaving my comfort zone ... one mile at a time.
No I don't have a new job to celebrate. No I didn't weigh in a day early and see awesome results. No I didn't win the lottery thus being able to run all the races, drink all the beers and collect all the medals. No I didn't become a Run Disney ambassador (but that would kick ass). None of that.
Today I am celebrating some tiny yet major victories! Yes I am keeping that oxymoron there... deal! :P
Let's Do It!
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Read MoreIn case you missed my original post about the Run It. Feel It. Spell It. challenge hosted by Newton Running and Timex Sports, you can check it out here.
But the gist of the challenge is easy:
Read MoreI love running. I love raising money and awareness for charities. I love virtual races. Therefore I am all about the Virtual 5k for 5p-.
Now when I was first asked to participate in the race I didn't know what "5p-" was. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Well blog reader and race director Stacey was happy to provide me with some more information.
Read MoreWait you mean I had a weekend without a marathon to prep for or run? No long run to be had. Whatever will I do with myself? I'll do all the things and none of the things at the same time.
Does that even make sense to anyone? It made perfect sense in my head.
Let's see what the weekend held for me:
Read MoreNow if we all look at the calendar, we can see that today is in fact Monday and not Friday. Welll I am a tad behind, mmkkay? It's not okay. I wanted to get this post out on Friday following my weigh-in, but life got in the way. I am happy to have a job and see the people I did on Friday, but I didn't have a moment of free "me" time.
Which impacted this post and future postings.
Let's rewind...
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I was really nervous that I wouldn't complete the 30 days since Day 1 took me a good 30 minutes to think up 3 good things about myself. Now it didn't get easier over the 30 days, but it did make me more thankful and was a great way to end the day.
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I decided to keep all the positives in one place so when I am having a bad day in the future - I can look back and know I am more than those emotions!
Enjoy...
Read MoreOn this episode of Dani Dishes, I attempt to put into words the thousands of thoughts running through my head post marathon!
Hey All! Unfortunately I do not have time to grace you all with one of my long-winded stream of conscious posts today. Why you may ask?
Well I had a great morning of personal coaching calls, BUT it is finally Boston Marathon weekend so I need to prep for the afternoon. The fun fun fun starts at 2pm and shockingly I have a lot to do before then including lead one final Weight Watchers meeting during lunch.
Soooo let's get right to it. Shall we? Oh and I am already doing a horrible job about NOT being long-winded. :P
I actually weighed myself at home on Thursday before leaving for work because I wasn't sure I would make it to weigh-in today. Yesterday I was up 1.8 lbs and I let it get to my head. I was angry and hurt. I wanted to see a loss or at least a gain of less than 1 lb. BUT I had committed to tracking everything through that day before taking the tracking pressure off of myself over the weekend.
As a result, I decided that no matter what I would weigh in today as well because well I was curious to see the difference a day could make.
So I had my alarm set - "You are more than a number" - and faced the scale.
Yup up 0.8 - 1 less than yesterday.
Hello fluctuation and whatever else mother nature wants to throw at us.
Now I wanted a loss, but again I was still in the negative. So a gain wasn't totally on my radar. Plus I had been losing for the past few weeks when I didn't expect it.
The -/+ represents how over I was on my points for the week. So being down 0.8 over the past 4 weeks when each was in the negative - I'll take that.
Oh hi perspective I needed you to show up.
I also needed to remind myself that I am a good 20 pounds less than last year's Boston Marathon, I didn't emotionally eat this week on the anniversary of the bombing and I am still down during the entire marathon training cycle.
Proud of my progress this marathon training cycle - Not only on the scale, but also in terms of my cross training and my core/strength work!!
12/5/14 - 159.8 1/2/15 - 160.8 4/17/15 - 151.2
I will take all of it!
Plus I rocked some pretty amazing streaks this year as well.
So overall I am accepting of the gain - not totally shocked - and ready to turn my attention to a fun weekend with friends and running. Now I am not making myself track or beating myself up if I don't, but I still will be aware. I mean once you know the Points of stuff you can't UNknow it, which leads to some subconscious tracking all the time.
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So I will walk away from the training cycle with less weight (about 8 lbs), a stronger core, some baby arm muscles and a great mental attitude!!
Thank you all for sticking with me and tuning in to my Face It Friday posts/rambles. I will be weighing in next Friday and will as always take whatever the scale gives me.
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How has your mental/emotional state about weight loss changed during your journey?
It's no secret that I love racing. I have the pleasure of traveling all over the country to take part in some of the coolest races in the country. But sometimes the best races are the local ones put on in your own backyard.
Well let me rephrase - some of the best races are in MY backyard!
Let's see what Somerville is offering this summer... shall we?
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The wife and I have done this race each year since we moved back to Somerville, which means 2015 will be our 4th year. Yes I am doing the Ragnar Relay Cape Cod that weekend, but traveling back in time for the race because I cannot miss it!
In the past 13 years, M.O.M.’s Run has raised over $106,000 benefiting the Claudia Adams Barr Program. A full 100% of the funds raised by M.O.M.'s Run benefits the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, widely recognized as one of the largest and most successful programs of its kind.
This morning is a family affair as they offer a Kids 0.1 Mile Run at 9:30 (nine years and under, $5), a 5k walk at 9:45 ($25, 30 after May 1) and a 5k run at 10:00 ($25, 30 after May 1).
Now in addition to an awesome race and atmosphere - complete with carnations given out to moms at the Finish Line - there is the post-race party!
The entire Davis Square restaurant scene gets involved in addition to Harpoon Brewery. Hello free food and beer. Count me in.
This is a must-do race on Mother's Day (5/10). Register here to join the wife and I for a good time.
^^Tank top to first 300 registrants!
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This race is legit AT THE END OF MY STREET on May 17th in Somerville, MA. I am less than 1/4 of a mile away. Thank YOU race gods! Thank YOU! The 19th Annual Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle is happening Sunday, May 18 at 9am.
The annual Herring Run and Paddle includes a 5K run/walk race, three paddling races (3, 9, and 12 miles), educational booths, children’s activities, and more. All events are held at the DCR Blessing of the Bay Boathouse in Somerville. The 5K course continues along the Mystic River bike path and through DCR Torbert MacDonald Park. There are no street crossings on this flat course.
You read that right. In addition to the 5k run, there are 3 paddle races (kayak or canoe) a person can take part in. You can run the 5k on its own, do any of the 3 paddle races on their own OR do the 5k and one of the paddle races as a combo. If you don’t have a canoe or kayak, you can rent on. I will only be running the 5k that morning ($25 registration fee).
As you can see all proceeds benefit the Mystic River Watershed Association.
If you want to join me for this 5k (you can register here) then join me for the Slumbrew Fun Run 5k at American Fresh that same morning at 11am!
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Amazing Race is coming back to Somerville.
Wait wait! That sounds misleading.
THE Amazing Race the show is not coming back to Somerville, but AN Amazing Race is.
The Somerville Road Runners are putting on the 3rd Annual Race To The Row 5k on August 23rd at 9:30am!
The race is a run or walk and is open to runners and families of all ages and abilities.
Additionally, there will be a Children’s Fun Run (age 9 and under) before the race with all kids getting a medal! Can I pretend to be an 8-year old? 
I love a medal.
I will say the Fun Run was adorable to watch pre-race last year.
But more about the 5k:
The Race to the Row will run through the Assembly Square District and along the Mystic River! All proceeds will benefit the East Somerville Main Streets program (funding East Somerville business visibility and bolstering the community at large) as well as Somerville TrackPAC (provides college scholarships for Somerville High School students).
After coming through the finish, runners will be guided back to the post-race party. Your post-race meal will be provided by Ernesto's Pizza. Quench your thirst with beer from Harpoon Brewery (21+ only). Other beverages will be provided as well. And dessert comes from another local favorite and one of our big sponsors, JP Licks, who is providing six different flavors of ice cream to choose from. Meanwhile enjoy the live music from The IT Band.
The first 300 registrants are guaranteed to receive a race t-shirt, and all paid registrants will get free food, drinks and dessert afterward! But all racers, volunteers and members of the cheering crowds can participate in the post-race festivities.
Want in on the fun? Register here ($25).
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So who will be signing up for this sweet Somerville hat trick of races? ;)
Motivation, Inspiration and Determination can be found everywhere you turn. So where did I find it this past week?
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We had our first She Runs Boston run of the season on Tuesday - out of Athleta on Newbury Street - and it was an awesome turnout! We had 40 amazing women join us for a 3 or 4 mile loop along the Charles River.
It was a beautiful night in Boston and it was a pleasure chatting with new friends. Some ladies had never run along the Charles before or with a group, while others were getting back into a groove after a harsh winter.
I had the pleasure of making sure both the 3-mile and 4-mile folks all made it back to Athleta. It was my honor to act as overall sweep for both runs. No lady left behind is our motto!!
I absolutely loved meeting new friends - especially some blog readers - and look forward to continued motivation from each weekly run!
Will I see you there next Tuesday? April 21 at 6:30pm at Athleta. Be there or be somewhere not as cool. ;)
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Have you heard of the Schneider Twins? Alex and Jamie Schneider are twin brothers who are both profoundly autistic.
Check out the trailer below for their book: Silent Running:Our Journey to the Finish Line with Autism
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If you are in Boston this weekend, keep an eye out for these amazing guys at the Boston Marathon Expo or race itself. I really hope to run into them and meet these inspirations!
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"So are you ready for Monday?" - the question I have been asked countless times over this past week
My response: "I sure hope so. Not much more I can do now." <<nervous laugh>>
I nervously laugh, but it is true. Any race prep that really matters has been done. If there was anything more I could've done, now is not the time to dwell on it.
The race nerves have invaded my body and will stay until well... probably until I cross the Finish Line! <<knocks on wood>> NO I am determined to cross that Finish Line baby!
Thankfully starting tomorrow (Friday) the weekend fun will begin and prove to be a necessary distraction from the race nerves. I cannot wait to hit up the Expo (Friday and Saturday), enjoy the BAA 5k with friends (Saturday), devour some pasta at the Tedy's Team pasta dinner (Saturday) and take part in a couple of free shakeout runs (Friday - ASICS, Sunday - Runner's World/Land's End).
But first it's time to work on some last minute outfit decisions... ;)
If you are still interested in tracking me Monday: text 26786 to 234567 for updates!
ALSO if you are running the BAA 5k - meet at 7:15am behind the t-shirt distribution tent for a fun low-key meet-up!!
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Where did you find motivation, inspiration or determination this week?
My name is Dani and I am blogging out of the Boston Area. I started this blog in May of 2011 after suffering a back injury and subsequent back surgery in December 2011-January 2011. This space was to serve as a way for me to release the inner feelings I was carrying around and maybe help some other people going through similar situations: eating disorders, depression, weight loss and more.
