Wonderful Weekend. I AM AWESOME!

This weekend was really great. I had a great time. It was successful and emotional and inspiring.

Saturday morning we woke up early packed our bag and headed up to Norman for the OU game. Last one of the season and Senior day. I love senior day. It is fun to say goodbye to the players you've cheered for the last 4-5years.  You know you'll miss them, but are so happy for them. We also said goodbye to our radio anouncer who's been doing the games for over 40years, Big Bob Barry. He is an Oklahoma institution. He was on the radio or TV for longer than I was alive. The band played Boomer Sooner and stood in a formation that spelled out "Thanks Bob".  They drove him around in a golf cart all the way around the stadium so he could wave goodbye. He'll be missed and it was cool to say good bye to him in a very nice way.  We won the game against Texas Tech handily. Why can't we play that way on the road??? Anyway, it was a lot of fun.

Me drinking water at the stadium.

Saturday food was really good. I did great despite being on the road without many options.  Had a banana and coffee. We drove through McDs to get the kids breakfast as we were super late. I ate an egg McMuffin, no cheese, about half.  We got to Norman about noon. Kids had pizza. I ate a tiny piece. We went to the game. As usual we walked a little over a mile both ways to the stadium, plus at the stadium, the standing, cheering and jumping up an down. (I really get into my football).  At the stadium I got a baked potato, no toppings. Ate about 1/2. I had nothing but water to drink. I ended the day with about 130 ounces.  I peed more at this game than usual, but I didn't even mind.  That night My cousins wanted Korean, which I don't care for, but I was out voted 3 to 1. I knew there wouldn't be many choices. I got beef, no sauce. With plain steamed rice. I ate about 1/2 cup rice and 1/2 the beef. I ended the day at 1400cal, my target being 1375.

Sunday, we woke up early because, well...that's what kids do. We had scrambled eggs for breakfast. We hung out and chatted with the family. Then it was time to head out for the race.  My girls were excited, but couldn't figure out what the point of a race you know you can't win is. I told them it wasn't the kind of race you win. It was the kind you do for fun to be healthy. They were like, "Yeah, but you can win right?"  I finally agreed and told them if I finished, I will win.

I arrived at the race. My BFF was there. It was her first also. She's lost 26 pounds. She is doing great. We got our packets and shirts. I got a LARGE and it fits! I cannot believe it. I was so super happy.  I've never worn a large. Not ever.   I wore it over the shirt I arrived in even.   I have to admit there were a few moments before the race where I was nervous. I even felt a bit out of place. I didn't know how these things usually work.  The race was to benefit my High School's PTA.  There were about 200 people there. It was a great turn out for the first year. They've decided to do it every year. They took $5 of our fee and gave it to the club of your choice. The rest that is left will be given to the PTA. What a great way to help out the school and ourselves!

 The band was there playing great music. There were vendors selling drinks and food. Hamburgers and such. Of course I didn't eat anything, but I was glad they were there because the girls were hungry.  My BFF works at the school, she's a teacher. We spent a few minutes meeting various friends of hers. Even ran into a couple of our old classmates. Twenty-two years later. Wow. And they weren't running, they were volunteers. Ha ha.

 When it was time to line up for the start, my heart started to race. I stood there looking around at all the other people. There were "real" runners and really healthy fit people all around me. Self doubt was creeping in, but I pushed it away. I wasn't worried that I could finish. I didn't even care about my time. I knew I could walk 5K as I've done it many times. But, I realized I hadn't walked/ran outside that far since before my surgery.  Luckily my BFF and I were there laughing and just enjoying it. My husband took a few pics as we waited for the starting gun.

Then we were off. We decided to run the first little bit. We did about 1/4 mile. Then we were walking. Of course most of the pack was way ahead of us.  I did have some trouble with my asthma. But I was smart enough to bring my inhaler with me. It was a beautiful fall day. Sun shining through the autumn leaves. Everyone was nice. There were people cheering along the route. We were at the back with the walkers and old farts. We didn't care. We visited and talked along the way. We did a few intervals of jogging off and on.
 
The race ended at the football field and around the track to the finish line. We decided we'd run that last 1/4 of a mile, so we did.  We told the old guys that we were gonna blow their doors off and we did. We ran hard and I was tired by the end.   I could hear my daughters yelling, "Go Mommy! You can do it! Run!"  I was so super proud that I was showing them I can be healthy.  It was emotional. There were so many people at the finish line clapping and giving us high-fives.

I know I wasn't last so, yeah me. I did it in 54 minutes which is slow, but I thought good considering it's only been 5 weeks since my surgery.  We went to pick up our snack and water. People asked us how we did. We ended up chanting "We weren't last. We weren't last" while the crowd around us laughed and cheered us on.

Considering that 7 months ago this was not even a possibility I think I did extremely well. Back then it was only a dream. I had wanted to do a 5K before my 40th birthday, but I stood in my own way. Sure I had health problems and I was busy and all that. But the truth is that I just thought it was harder than it is. I made it that way. Out of fear. Out of self doubt. Out of laziness.  I just thought I didn't like to exercise.

I told myself that a million times. I'm not cut out to exercise. I'm not built that way. I don't like it. The truth is I was afraid to try and lazy. I feel like the guy in Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham. 

SAY! I like to run and work and sweat
I like to walk and run, you bet!

I will run inside and out.
I will run without a doubt.

I can run with my I-tunes.
I can run April, May or June.

Running summer, spring, or fall
Not even winter will stop me, y'all.

And I will do it on the road.
I will carry my fat load.

I will run both here and there.
I will run most anywhere.

I will do it. I'm not too old.
The more I do it, I am bold.

I would like to run up hill.
And then back down. Of course, I will..

If I can do it, so can you.
I LIKE to run. I do. I DO!

 Me before the race. Thanks Shelley again for the shirt!

I have some other pics I'll post later. These are the only ones I had in my phone and I forgot the camera at home. After the race, we went to eat BBQ at a local rib joint. I had smoked turkey, green beans and corn on the cob. I even let myself eat a few bites of the bread. I drank and drank. And the drive home was long as I was sore. But it was all worth it. And to be honest, I think I'm hooked. I can't wait to get outside and run again. I can't wait to do another 5K.  I don't care if I do it by myself, if I'm the fattest one there, if I'm the last one across the line.  I'm already looking for another one to do. Why? BECAUSE I CAN. I CAN. I CAN. I CAN!

I AM AWESOME!