Wednesday long run and a long mushy post to boot!!

Today: 17.5km
Week: 38km
Month: 115km
Year: 745km

This morning was another ealy 4:30am rise to meet the girls at Centenial Park for 17kms. It was very dark and nice and cool. Again it took me a while to warm up... especially after yesterdays massage. We just did a really big loop of the park/football stadium, about 3 laps of queens park and then into the par for the last 5km or so. It was soooo nice to mostly grass running and the legs were thankful. We maintained 5:30min/ pace for the run ( a few quicker and a few slower) and it felt really comfortable. Scary how easily you get used to the distance... yes we did just get up ridiculously early to run 17kms- are we MAD??? So the skins are on under the jeans and I tonight will be lots of stretching!! Tommorow is hills ** groans ** my legs do not really feel like doing big bertha.... maby I will take it easy with the 6ft'ers :-)

Now Wobbly asked me about my weight loss and what was the turning point. Basically I was 23years old. 110kg and could not walk up the stairs at work without gasping for air- and used food to cope with stress. I just made a decision that I either lost weight or Ray had better learn how to look after someone with diabetes, stroke, heart trouble etc! I also overheard some not so flattering comments about my size and was mortified that other people saw me as obese. So I just cut out the junk food and started to swim laps. I did not weigh myself for 2 months... just changed a few habits. Then after 8 weeks I needed to buy as size smaller... got on the scales and had lost 11kgs! I was shocked because I had not had any success previously and suddenly it seemed achievable and I WANTED it! I then joined the gym and the rest is history. It was easy to stay motivated because the weight just kept coming off which was really self motivating. I think that I had just made my own decision to loose weight and decided I was worth the effort. The other key ingredient to success was the never ending, never failing wonderful support from my awesome husband!! He just cheered me on evry step of the way. He was there when I wanted chocolate sooo badly, he was there when I felt self conscious by all the sudden focus on my body, he was there to just keep me normal and for that I am eternally grateful and will never forget the endless support he gives me. ** God that got a bit mushy** So Wobbly the answer to that question was I just decided I wanted to live and suck evry drop out of life... we only have one. As you all know my mum has LOTS of problems and I also appreciate how lucky I am to be well physically and mentally..... (depending on the day of the week, weather, mood. time of the month and how many bloody km's I have run!)
So my mantra is now "NEVER AGAIN!!!" and I just look back at that point as a time in my life where I shed my coocon and set free the butterfly! It was also the poin in my life where I started running.... and have not stopped :-) I have met sooo many wonderful people and love the support, heckling, good humor and friendships that have resulted!!