Choosing to make a change.

I like to eat. There, I said it. I like to eat and if I don't pay attention to what I'm putting into my mouth and I don't exercise, I gain weight. So simple yet so difficult to manage. 

This was me in the summer of 2008. I think this was at my heaviest but I've gone up and down on the scale so much through the years that it's hard to remember!

Being heavy and approaching my 50's, I choose to make a change in my lifestyle. I started running using a very conservative Couch to 5K program. This was a great program to get me moving. Run for a bit, walk for a bit, run.....etc. Even with the short runs segments, I still wouldn't say I was having fun but I stuck to it. Running and being overweight is hard on your joints but it helps the pounds come off if you're also watching what you're eating. I have found that the best part of running are the races! I love races. I love the energy, the getting ready, the nerves and racing (or at least starting with) family and friends!

This was one of the first 5K's I did with Laura and Dave (he had to be the photographer).

Our first 1/2 marathon! I was so not ready for this but I finished.

Dave, my friend Diane, Laura and I after we finished our first Disney 1/2 Marathon. 

After I had been running for a while, I got a hybrid bike. A road bike was a little intimidating and I wanted to make sure I liked biking before I made the investment. I also thought it would be good to add a different type of exercise to my routine. 

Since I'm a race junkie, a friend and I signed up for a duathlon. It's a run/bike/run race. It was lots of fun!

Choosing to be active has opened a lot of doors for me. When Kathleen was living in Tempe we climbed Camelback a couple of times. It was encouraging to feel the difference from my first climb to my second when I was lighter and in better shape :)

Fast forward to January 2010. Running was going well and I still liked the bike. I have family and friends that race in triathlons so I started thinking........why not? I knew how to not drown but I didn't know how to swim with my face in the water. I went to a local community pool and spent 2 weeks practicing breathing and swimming. I could barely make it across the pool and when I did, I had to rest for a while to catch my breath. I found a sprint triathlon I wanted to do at the end of March so at the beginning of February, I joined our local masters swim club. Chris, our coach, was very patient with me and worked with me to build some endurance. By the end of March I felt like I could at least 'get through' the swim which I think is how most people feel for their first race.

Swimming in open water was scary! I wasn't the last out of the water but it was close. I did have my own personal escort to the shore :)

I still only had my hybrid bike but it got me through the race.

Headed to the finish line and always happy to smile for the camera!

My support crew at my first tri, Dave, Stephen and Laura.

After my first tri, Dave decided to train with me. Yea! We finished our 2010 race season with an Olympic Tri at Pacific Grove with our friend Mike.

I'm a planner so when I looked at my 2011 calendar, I wanted to come up with some new challenges for myself and to help me keep losing weight. I planned more tri's and runs.

Finishing my first marathon in Napa.

Silicon Valley Olympic Tri with Molly, Mary and Dave.

Racing my first 1/2 Ironman, Vineman!

Pacific Grove again with Mike and Dave.

Done with my second 1/2 Ironman of the year, SOMA in Tempe.

It's been a great year. I love racing. I love that I've lost weight. I love that I get to train with Dave. I love that we can be active as a family. I love that my niece, Molly and my nephew, Robert started racing tri's before me so I can ask them all sorts of questions. I love surrounding myself with friends that I can go on a leisurely ride with or go hard. I love that I've met so many new people that also love to race.

Since I've chosen to make a change I've lost 55 pounds. I still want to lose about 20 more so training goes a little easier for next years big race, Ironman Arizona!