Move it Memphis 10K

Hey!

This blog has "runner" in the title!  Why haven't there been running posts in a while?

Good question.

I don't know.  I started off the year with a resolution to run a 10K a day 5 days a week.  I did really well for the first month, then I got off track after getting that awful stomach virus that's going around.  Then, I got sick again with flu like symptoms.  Then, I just got really really busy.  I'm still trying to get a few in a week, but it's definitely not happening daily.

Almost finished!!  (Thanks for the photo Davis!)

I did participate in the Move it Memphis 10K last Saturday.  It was VERY cold, but it was a lot of fun.

I have done 5k (3.1 miles) races and a half-marathon (13.1 miles), but I've never actually done a 10k (6.2 miles) race.  My only goal was to finish with a pace that was below 10 minutes per mile.

Was I excited to cross the line at 52 minutes!  That's an 8:23 mile pace!!!  I was ecstatic.  I ended up being 5th in my gender/age bracket.

My friend Patty crossed the finish line around 46 minutes and got first place in our age group.  My cousin Becca beat her goal of running in less than 65 minutes!  I'm so proud of both of these ladies.  My uncle did the 5k and finished in 33 minutes.

It was a fun day with a lot of smiles.  Stella and Michael even came out to cheer me on!

Tossing my jacket before I even hit mile 1!

Stella is an awesome cheerleader!

The Joy of Running and Prenatal Vitamins

Tonight I ran.  I ran and ran and ran.

Okay, really, it was only 6 miles.

But, man, it felt great.

I haven't had a true "Corrie Workout" in a while.

I've been doing 30 minutes on the elliptical here, a little walking there, and maybe a mile of running occasionally.

Tonight, while watching the Pats slaughter the Texans, I ran for a full hour.  It was actually 59 minutes.  I got a killer side crap at that point.

After that, I came home, took a shower, and took a prenatal vitamin.

The prenatal vitamin is significant.

Since that awful day two weeks ago, every time I go to the bathroom, I find myself staring at the stack of samples the doctor gave me.  I haven't taken any since that day.

For the past 14 days, all I could think was, "What's the point?"

For some reason, tonight, I felt like there was a point.  I felt like there was hope.  I felt like maybe, just maybe, the third time could be the charm.

Could this feeling of hope be connected to the awesome run I had?

Who knows.

Could I be delusional thanks to the endorphins that come from exercising?  Probably.

But, all I know is that somewhere deep within me, I felt like it was time to get my body ready to start trying again.

First, I have to have a followup doctor's appointment.  There's no trying until I get the all clear.  Hopefully, that will come next week.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for supporting me.

Also, to the person I never met, who sent me the sweet card, thank you.

-Corrie

Run Keeper

When I first used this app, I got a similar feeling I had when I ran with an iPod for the first time.

Run Keeper is a free app.

The way it works:

Download the app.

Log onto the Run Keeper website and set up your account info.  This is important, because the app can better calculate your calories burned during your run.

After you've done that, you are ready to go.

The app will sync with your music you have stored on your iPhone.

Start the app, then start running!

(One negative:  There are times when I have to restart the app, because it seems to have some sort of malfunction with the GPS.  I usually start the app, walk for 30 seconds so the GPS can locate me, then restart my run.  This is not a big deal!)

As you run, the app calculates your distance and pace.  It also calculates your calories burned.  Also, it keeps up with your elevation.  It's freaking awesome!  Every five minutes, a nice lady comes on and tells you your time, pace, and distance.

This is your home screen.  As you can see, you can select the type of activity you are completing.  You can choose between a bunch of different exercises.  Your playlist might be one you've created, or you can choose your entire iTunes library.  I honestly don't know what the coaching thing does.  The lady still tells you your time, distance, and pace even with this off. 

This is the screen I keep up during my run.  That way, I can see my current pace and average pace.  This lets me know if I need to speed up.

There are many times when I have no clue where I am during my run.  I sometimes have to stop and use my Google Maps to figure out where I am!  This is cool, because at the end of my run, I figure out exactly where I ran.  You can also access this screen during your run.

All of your saved runs are kept on this screen.  This is great, especially if you're training for a marathon.

Happy running!!!

How I've Lost 18 Pounds

Me today at 144 pounds.

I've had a few people ask about my recent weight loss.  First, I have to give credit where credit is due.

In January of this year, my friend Nikki invited me to be a part of a weight loss competition.  After struggling for two years to lose weight, and getting nowhere fast, I was eager to shake things up a bit.  So, I joined in on the competition.

This wasn't just a competition that rewarded the actual weight that was lost, it also encouraged people to make healthy decisions by giving points for doing things like drinking 8 glasses of water, keeping a food diary, or not eating sweets.  If you did these things, you got points.  There would be a points winner and a weight loss winner.

So, reluctantly, I started keeping an online food journal.  Once again, I've got to thank Nikki, because I was planning on just upping my workouts to win.  She told me I needed to keep the journal to get points.  So, I did.

Most of us started using MyFitnessPal.  It's a website and an app.  The app allows you to set a goal and pick the type of lifestyle you lead.  At that point, it gives you a calorie goal to say under.  If you exercise, you get more calories to eat.

The iPhone app was exactly what I needed, because I always have it with me.  It's incredibly easy to plug in what I eat and how much I've exercised.

*I also have to say that the EXCELLENT instructors at Germantown Athletic Club should take some credit as well.  They make the classes fun and work my butt off!

I still have 12 more pounds to go before I reach my goal, but I'm feeling good!

The pictures below are from our honeymoon in October.  Here, I'm around 155.  

 October 2011

 October 2011

October 2011

These pictures are from around Christmas 2011.  In this picture, I'm around 160.

 December 31, 2011

Christmas 2011

Here's another one from back in 2009.  

October 2009

Now, the fun pictures!  I am currently at 144.  Some of these pictures were taken along the way to my goal.  I feel like a million bucks in all of them!

With Nikki in March 2012

March 2012

April 2012

April 2012

May 2012

June 2012

Many of you know that I have struggled with my weight my whole life.  About 5 years ago, I weighed 185 pounds.  I was incredibly miserable.  I decided that make a change.  It took about a year, but I lost about 40 pounds.  It was after maintaining that weight for a couple of years that I gained 15 pounds.  That put me back at 160.  (I blamed falling in love and wanting to hang out with my new boyfriend all the time for that weight gain.  Who wants to exercise when you can cuddle?!)

Here are a few of those fat pictures from my first time around.  I don't know dates.

Freshman Year of High School

Sophomore Year of High School

 Junior Year of High School


I didn't win the competition, but I am soooo happy with the results.  If you're struggling with weight loss, get the app!  Try it for a week.  You'll be amazed.

Love,

Corrie