Today's 5K

This morning I participated in a 5K on the campus of Central Michigan University.

Shortly after the race started - the crowd ahead of us.

Originally, I had planned to train with the C25K program and run this particular race.  As it turned out, training got sidetracked by several factors and I was not able to run.  That means I walked the race.  I did not push myself as hard as I could have, but I am told that I helped to push my friend Deanna hard enough to make her go faster than she would have on her own.  I started the race with two friends, Deanna and Adrienne.  Adrienne set her own pace that was faster than Deanna's.  Had Deanna not been there, I would have pushed myself to keep up with Adrienne.  As it turns out, Adrienne finished about 10-15 minutes earlier than Deanna and I, and we finished the race at 54 minutes, 25 seconds (or thereabouts - the time was started before we crossed the Start line, and I didn't see the clock until we had been finished for about 20 seconds, so I subtracted for the 20 seconds but not for the distance to the Start line).  Official times will be posted on Monday.

Deanna and me shortly after crossing the Finish Line!

This particular race was a Duathlon, meaning that racers had the option to do a bicycle race after finishing the 5K.  I know myself and know that I am in no way in shape for a bike race.  Additionally, my bike is in no shape for a 20 km bike race.  Maybe next year!

Relaxing after the race - Adrienne, me, and Deanna

Not Loving This Body

I joined a healthy eating and getting fit challenge for January.  It's kicking my butt!  But I suppose that is the whole point.
The food part is hard because healthy whole foods are expensive.  I can make four meals on one package of hot dogs and four boxes of generic mac-n-cheese for less than $10.  I can't make even one meal using exclusively whole grains/produce/organic on $10.  When my grocery budget averages around $40 for two weeks - it's hard to justify those healthier choices.
I once heard someone say, "Just get produce instead of ice cream or other sweets!" - but when ice cream and those other sweets are just as rare in your house as the produce, that is not really a feasible response.

At least I'm doing well with the workout portion.  I rented a walking workout DVD and one of the Just Dance games for Wii and am having fun with those.  They aren't too hard for my out-of-shape self which is a big plus.  It is very frustrating as an obese person trying to get in shape to have a "beginner" video show only thin people and use almost exclusively high-impact activities.  Those of us who are obese need to start slow because it is harder for us to move.  We can't just jump in to a high aerobic activity and keep up.

Good Day, Sucky Night.

Today was a good day. I got up, made breakfast (eggs & bagels - yum!) and watched television while the dishwasher was running. I also found and took my photo for my 365 blog. When DH got up, he got dressed and I took him into town so he could go to a meeting, then came back home and posted an ad online for my sewing business. Within hours, I had an order!! One of my good friends wants me to make a comforter for her daughter. After picking DH up from his meeting and getting some lunch, we went to Wal-Mart so I could check out patterns and fabric. I got a pattern I liked, but none of the fabrics really jumped out at me. We came home so DH could watch the baseball game, and I went back to town in search of a zipper foot for my sewing machine and to hit another fabric store. I found the foot that I needed, and much cheaper than I expected! Also, I found a fabric for the comforter that I just LOVED. Pale yellow with cute butterflies, bees, and ladybugs. I didn't buy it yet (one of the hazards of a brand-new tiny business - sometimes I need payment before being able to even start the project) but when I came home I discovered that this same friend also wants me to make her a second blanket - this one a throw for her made out of her daughter's old baby clothes. It's a very sweet idea and I am thrilled to do it.

Tonight was a sucky night. We had decided to go to a movie tonight. DH really wants to see "Grindhouse" and I sorta want to see it, so we were going to see that since it probably won't be in the local theatre much longer. DH went outside and got into the car while I finished posting, and then I went out, shutting the door behind me. Little did I know, DH had NOT grabbed the keys when he went outside! We were completely locked out - neither of us had a set of keys on us. We walked the 3 miles to the landlord's house to ask her to let us in, only to discover that she wasn't home. So we walked another quarter-mile to McDonald's where we called my sister (an hour and a half away) and begged her to come rescue us. To her credit, she did. I have a habit of locking myself out (don't ask, I'm not even sure myself) and since she used to live in the same town, we gave her a key to our house back then so I could call her if I ever needed it; she has always had one since. She took a very long lunch at work and drove over here in the dark and rain to let us back in to our house. We thanked her profusely and gave her $20 for gas. From the walking (in terrible shoes, I might add, but in my defense I wasn't planning to walk more than a few yards, let alone three miles!) I now have a sizable blister on each foot, which makes it hurt considerably to walk even a few steps. I'm glad I have tonight off, but I have to work tomorrow!! I hope the blisters shrink down by then so that they're less painful.