I am starting to get to a point where I need to do something drastic when it comes to my weight loss.
When I ran my marathon on June 2nd, I weighed 207 lbs. As of today, I weigh 226. I have more or less taken the last couple months off, only recently finding the motivation to get back on track.
Disclaimer: I am the first to admit that health isn't determined by a number on a scale. At all. But for me, I know that where I want to be fitness-wise involves lowering my number, so weight loss it is.
During this time off, I entered a Diet Bet, where the concept is pretty simple: Put some money down. Try to lose 4% of your weight in 4 weeks. If you lose, you're out the money. If you win, all the winners split the pot of money. So if you win, the worst case scenario is you get your money back. Best case scenario is others don't reach their goals and you win more money!
Sounded easy and fun.
I lost.
I lost because I didn't care.
But now, game on! I have entered 3 Diet Bets (including starting one of my own) in an attempt to make it more of a competition for me. I've been struggling to find motivation to do consistent exercise and eat well. I figure putting $70 on the line for the next month is good motivation. And the prospect of getting more than that back in return and winning money is even better motivation. So this becomes my side job for the next month- and a way for me to keep myself on track. Please check in with me and see how it's going, and help hold me accountable!
And if you'd like to join the Diet Bet I started, it's $25 to enter - click here!
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Colorado Symphony 5K
My September race was the Colorado Symphony 5K on Sept 21.
Since it was my brother's 31st birthday that day, I figured I could run 3.1 miles as a shoutout to him.
The race was held at Sloan's Lake, and amazingly in my two years I lived in Denver, I had never visited the lake. I parked on one of the side streets and walked to the registration area. I got my bib, headed over to the start area, and waited for time to pass.
At 8:45 they did the kids fun dash. I always love these - they're so adorable! I'm not getting baby fever, but I can't wait until I can bring my kids to a race and have them do the kids runs...
After that, we assembled in the start area, sang the national anthem, and it was time to go!
By the time the race started, the sun was blaring and it was starting to get a little warm - at least from what I'm used to in the mornings in Gunnison. We did a counterclockwise loop around the lake.
For me, the race was broken up into two different halves. The first half felt great! I was running strong, and happy to be at such a low elevation (I'm saying this facetiously, but I can definitely tell the difference when I go back to Denver). The second half felt pretty bad. I felt sluggish, heavy, and slow. I could literally feel all of the 20 pounds I have gained since I ran my marathon in June. Ugghhh.
All things considered, I'm happy with this run. I know that in a few weeks/months as I get back into training and the rhythm of running, weight will come down and so will the time.
It was a beautiful day around Sloan's Lake and I'm so glad I got to do this race - and as a result, I already claimed my reward by getting a free ticket to one of the Colorado Symphony shows this season. Can't wait!
Official Time: 30:10
Since it was my brother's 31st birthday that day, I figured I could run 3.1 miles as a shoutout to him.
The race was held at Sloan's Lake, and amazingly in my two years I lived in Denver, I had never visited the lake. I parked on one of the side streets and walked to the registration area. I got my bib, headed over to the start area, and waited for time to pass.
At 8:45 they did the kids fun dash. I always love these - they're so adorable! I'm not getting baby fever, but I can't wait until I can bring my kids to a race and have them do the kids runs...
After that, we assembled in the start area, sang the national anthem, and it was time to go!
By the time the race started, the sun was blaring and it was starting to get a little warm - at least from what I'm used to in the mornings in Gunnison. We did a counterclockwise loop around the lake.
For me, the race was broken up into two different halves. The first half felt great! I was running strong, and happy to be at such a low elevation (I'm saying this facetiously, but I can definitely tell the difference when I go back to Denver). The second half felt pretty bad. I felt sluggish, heavy, and slow. I could literally feel all of the 20 pounds I have gained since I ran my marathon in June. Ugghhh.
All things considered, I'm happy with this run. I know that in a few weeks/months as I get back into training and the rhythm of running, weight will come down and so will the time.
It was a beautiful day around Sloan's Lake and I'm so glad I got to do this race - and as a result, I already claimed my reward by getting a free ticket to one of the Colorado Symphony shows this season. Can't wait!
Official Time: 30:10
Monday, September 16, 2013
The Bells Hate Me
The Maroon Bells.
Colorado's most photographed and most beautiful spot.
Here's what it's "supposed to" look like:
I've been wanting to go there as soon as I moved to Colorado two years ago.
I have tried twice, and here's what happened.
The first attempt was last November. We went to Aspen for Kristen's birthday weekend and hoped to see them. As we drove down the road, we came to a closed gate. Poor planning. But we decided to get out and walk. After a couple miles of hiking the sheer-ice road, we saw somebody hiking down. He said it was still a couple miles to the lake. After a few minutes of talking, we decided not to risk it, and walked back. We almost wiped out several times, and were a little lucky to come out of that unscathed. We vowed to try again next summer.
Last weekend was that time. Kristen and I went to the Glenwood Springs for the weekend, but decided to take a day trip to Aspen with one objective: see the Bells. When we woke up, it was cloudy. We made the drive anyways, hoping it would clear up by the time we got there. We drove the same road, reminiscing about our icy adventure the fall before. This time, the road was open! We drove the road to the lake, got out, and what did we see? A wall of fog coming over the mountains blocking the view. So we decided to go for a quick hike, hoping it would clear up by the time we completed the loop. It was a beautiful hike, but as time went on, we could see less and less. By the time we finished, there was no proof the Bells even existed.
I'm starting to put the Bells into the same category as the Loch Ness Monster & Bigfoot - something out of mythical folklore designed just to get foolish tourists to come there, only to leave disappointed... yet still intrigued...
You win again, Maroon Bells!
Colorado's most photographed and most beautiful spot.
Here's what it's "supposed to" look like:
 |
| Perfection |
I've been wanting to go there as soon as I moved to Colorado two years ago.
I have tried twice, and here's what happened.
The first attempt was last November. We went to Aspen for Kristen's birthday weekend and hoped to see them. As we drove down the road, we came to a closed gate. Poor planning. But we decided to get out and walk. After a couple miles of hiking the sheer-ice road, we saw somebody hiking down. He said it was still a couple miles to the lake. After a few minutes of talking, we decided not to risk it, and walked back. We almost wiped out several times, and were a little lucky to come out of that unscathed. We vowed to try again next summer.
 |
| Icy road to the Bells |
Last weekend was that time. Kristen and I went to the Glenwood Springs for the weekend, but decided to take a day trip to Aspen with one objective: see the Bells. When we woke up, it was cloudy. We made the drive anyways, hoping it would clear up by the time we got there. We drove the same road, reminiscing about our icy adventure the fall before. This time, the road was open! We drove the road to the lake, got out, and what did we see? A wall of fog coming over the mountains blocking the view. So we decided to go for a quick hike, hoping it would clear up by the time we completed the loop. It was a beautiful hike, but as time went on, we could see less and less. By the time we finished, there was no proof the Bells even existed.
 |
| Pre Hike |
 |
| Post Hike |
I'm starting to put the Bells into the same category as the Loch Ness Monster & Bigfoot - something out of mythical folklore designed just to get foolish tourists to come there, only to leave disappointed... yet still intrigued...
You win again, Maroon Bells!
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