Day 82 + 83

Not to worry - I'm still alive! Here's what's been going on...

Friday started off with an emergency all-staff meeting - all I can say is that I will be buying Sunday's newspaper and then I will be dreading going to work on Monday. This "happening" shouldn't make my job any more difficult, but I'm anticipating lots of drama in the office that will just annoy me.

With the meeting first thing in the morning and our big opening night concert that night, I had little choice but to do my run during lunch. It was the third day in a row that I had to do 7 miles - once again, if it weren't for all of my running friends, I have no idea how I'd still be doing this. Alyssa ran the first three miles with me and then Sarah ran my last four with me. Thankfully running with those two helped me keep a respectable pace. I won't lie... it did not feel good. My quads felt like they wanted to rip away from my legs. But I did it. :-)

Running date!

Best parts about my run (besides finishing): When Alyssa and I were finishing our 3 miles together, we ran into Marcia, so it was nice to see her. Sarah also wore her visor, which was funny - we were a couple of Jo's! That made me laugh.Then when I finished all 7 miles, I checked my phone and had the best text from Marcia. She wrote... "When the going gets tough the tough get going. And you are one 'tough cookie.' and just think you're most of the way through training. Very inspired by your dedication and determination:) maybe next year for me?"

I'm embarrassed to say - as proud/amazed I am that I've run further than ever before, and that I'm getting faster and faster, a big part of me has felt like a complete failure over the last three months. As much as it's been a dream of mine to run a marathon over the last two years, it's been my dream much longer to get a grip with food and feel good about my body. I never thought it would be possible to not lose weight while training for a marathon. I never thought it would be possible to run a marathon feeling chubby. But... I'm learning it's possible. I've read in several places that when you wake up in the morning, you start with a full "willpower bank account" and that as you have to use willpower throughout your day, your account diminishes and it gets harder and harder to stick to your guns. I've thought about that a lot over the last few days... I think I'm using ALL of my willpower to just get out and run, that I have none left when it comes to what I eat. I'm so scared that I'm going to feel fat running this marathon, and that as thrilled as I will be at completing it (which I know I will now), I will wish I had been thinner. I want to be proud of my pictures. :-( Why is this such a struggle for me?? I know everyone has their own struggles, and there are many that are worse than mine. And I know the majority of people would tell me I'm being ridiculous. But I don't feel ridiculous. It is a very real feeling for me. ANYWAY, I say all of that to say, Marcia's text really brought a smile to my face. I need to try to focus on all that I've accomplished through this. I am tough! I'm in the worse part of the training schedule, and I'm still doing it. I won't give up.

Back to Friday's activities... once work was over I got to have a free polish change on my toes at the club. I love when they hire new spa girls! They offered me a pedicure, but I was too afraid to have them scrape off my calluses, so I went with the polish change instead. They're bright red/orange! Very fun. After that I rushed home and got ready in 15 minutes for the red carpet opening night concert.

Alyssa and Anna were my dates, and I had so much fun watching the concert together. The concert was all Beatles music - we clapped, we sang, we waved our iPhones like lighters, we even stood up and danced. Not your typical symphony orchestra concert!

From sweaty running clothes to pretty dresses - we clean up well!

After the concert we headed to the after party and met up with Lisa! She was playing in the concert.

After Party Tent

There was a band playing inside the tent, and the place was packed - but once the desserts were snatched up (record time) and people realized the drinks at the bar were not free, it cleared out. Thankfully there was a creepy mannequin that we found entertaining (I think he's supposed to look like a Beatle).

Lisa, Anna, Michael (coworker), Creepy Mannequin, Alyssa, Babs

I don't get to have many fun nights with  lady friends, but we laughed a lot and it was a great time. We should do it more often!

Saturday was unremarkable. Worked job number 2 feeling exhausted (I got a decent amount of sleep so I'm not sure why)... took a nap once I finished work... then did dishes and laundry. The end.

Tomorrow I've got to start my long run super early because I'm using a 5k race with Sarah as the end of my long run, so I need to squeeze in all of my miles before the race starts. Then it's breakfast with my adopted family!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!! I hope to spend the rest of Sunday making some plans and grocery shopping so that October can be a healthier month. Of course I want you all to send me good luck vibes on my long run, but even more importantly, send speedy wishes to Sarah - I hope she places in the top of our age division and wins some $$$!!!

Total Miles Run: 285.87
Total Weight Change: -6.6