Lace Up With Liz - My 1st 1/2 Marathon Recap

Oh boy I can't believe how fast this day has come and gone! Last year I said I wanted to run the 1/2 marathon for the - OKC Memorial Marathon. It was a huge goal that I didn't think possible. Here is the journey as short as I can make it!! 

Jan 2014 I started couch to 5K weighing 222 pounds at 31 years old. I Hadn't run since middle school and gained a lot of weight after having two wonderful babies back to back and never really worked to get the weight off. So very out of shape! I was asked if I wanted to try to do the Memorial 1/2 with my cousin but training was to much to soon and I injured my IT Band. Took a few weeks off and then completed couch to 5K. 

I volunteered for that race for the 1st time that year which is sad because My hubby is the Volunteer Chairmen and has been involved in this race for over 10 years. I'm so proud of him. This is a huge highlight of his year! He absolutely loves it and that year I understood why! I loved meeting many of the Key people that make this race happen. I remember talking to Mark Bravo (running/wellness coach and speaker) and telling him I really wanted to run but couldn't this year just because I wasn't ready.  
There is nothing more rewarding than cheering and supporting those runners. I have out hugs, medal and encouragement to so many that day until the last one came across that line! I knew I had to run the next year. 

I continued running, training for a faster 5K pace, then 10K. I had other injures I had to work through but kept running all through 2014. 

Jan 2015, a year later, I started preparing for 1/2 marathon training. 16 weeks of that 1/2 training. Since January to April 25th I ran 265 miles in prep for the big day!  In April I also reached a weight loss goal of 72 pounds lost weighing in at 150!! 

So moving forward to race week! I was ready and there was nothing more I could do to prepare but do a little carb loading, drink tons of water and rely on my training! 

Friday was Expo day! I was looking forward to working the info booth. Met up with my hubby around 6 pm for the last two hrs of the expo. Picked up my race packet and walked around with my hubby checking out race gear! He already bought me a few fun shirts, a hat and a 13.1 car sticker.  I was thinking about getting new shoes but I decided not too but only because I WON A PAIR OF BROOKS!!! So I get to pick out a new pair that I want for free. It's going to be hard to choose! I was so excited. I love my brooks! 

My hubby told me Mark Bravo wanted to talk to me. He'd remembered I said I was going to run this. He was so proud of me for putting in the hard work to make it happen, gave me some encouraging words and a free, singed copy of his book. He's just an amazing inspirational man. I can't wait to read his book. Momentum. (I read a little bit of it friday...its a good read already, so check it out!!) We worked the booth for the last few hrs, cleaned up and headed out before the rest of the busy weekend.  

We enjoyed a dinner at Zio's downtown and then got a good nights sleep at the Hotel Friday night we knew we wouldn't get much sleep the rest of the weekend. 

Saturday we got up and ready for a full day at the Expo at 8:00. I passed out volunteer t-shirts and helped with many common race questions all day! I met a lot of other 1st time 1/2 marathoners too! 

Saturday - Expo -Info booth! Love the lime green volunteer shirt sponsored my Sonic this year!! 

While the expo closes around 6. We provide late packet pick up with isn't really something we advertise but there are usually a few delayed by flights or other things they can't control so we make it  possible just for a few more hrs for them to pick it up! We didn't finish that till around 9 pm. Again thankful for the Hotel so we actually made it to bed around 10:30. I had trouble sleeping and I knew 3:00 would come early....yes set alarm for 3:00 because hubby has to get up and do whatever needs to be done as a chairmen for the race!! I try to rest but filled with excitement get up at 3:45 make coffee! Grab a quick shower to wake me up and have a tasty bagel. Get all my race gear ready to go and do a few little exercise warmups. 

All Ready for Race day! 

I was nervous about waking downtown around 5 am alone, I prayed for safety and opened my door. Answered prayer immediately, another coordinator friend of my hubby was headed that way so we walked together and I didn't get lost. She probably doesn't know how much that meant to me. 

Texted hubby I made it and then headed to meet up with my local running group "Edmond Moms Run This Town" for a group pic at 5:45. Of course I was a little early and the sun wasn't up. My tank top wasn't warm. It was looking to be perfect race weather though and it was, so I wasn't going to complain to much. Got a group pic and chatted for a minute then made my way to 11:30 pace area in Corral D! 

EMRTT Group Pic Pre-Race - Many 1st time Marathoners!! 

Messaged a friend that I was hoping to meet up with to run and thankfully we found each other very easily. I was glad I not be alone for 13.1 miles. 

Rebekka and I ready for our 1st 1/2 marathon. I never had a chance to do any training runs with her but we enjoyed each others company encouraging each other along the way! She did great!!! 

Corral D was so far away you couldnt really hear anything so I felt like we missed out on the starting ceremonies which are a very important part of this marathon to honor those in the Bombing. This is a Run to Remember after all! That's part of what makes this race so very special! 

The start line is so far away!!! Almost there!!! 

We took a few quick pics and slowly made our way to the start line. It took about 17 minutes from the official 6:30 time before we got there. Started my watch and started running.

Miles 1-3: These were fun and slow. Sometimes that 1st mile is the hardest but it went fast. So many walkers you just have to work your way through. Didn't have to worry about getting out too fast. Start soaking it in and enjoy the crowds and people cheering you on. 

Miles 4-6: were good and got into our rhythm but with much water comes need for a quick stop, (I knew I should have used the the potty at the race before the start it had been a good 2 hrs, but so did everyone else so pass several potty stops in hopes for shorter lines else where. Consider stopping at Mcdonalds but so did everyone else....Find short line......not so short waste 5-7 minutes. Decided to leave find a quicker stop but still lose a few minutes, but feel much better. 

Miles 6-8- gorilla hill! Fun area of local people offering all sorts of food, donuts, chocolate, bacon, beer, I think we'll pass... Let's just run..... or walk up this hill because  there are lots of banana peels. Don't slip!!! I'm starting to struggle with some annoying pains but try to ignore it. 

Miles 9-11 This is usually went the run gets mental and hard and it did, my pinky toe is yelling at me..... Stop. I blistered it good on my 11 mile training run a few weeks back. It's healed but the skin was tender and oh boy today it wasn't liking this. I told my buddy to run on, I'd be fine but I don't want to hold her back. I turn up my tunes and do some intervals walk/run sorta. More walking then I prefer, but get excited realizing I'm about to go farther than ever before start to get a little choked up and can't breathe when the perfect songs on my playlist are shuffling on! Turn them up to get pumped. (You Move Me by Natalie Grant) Only God was going to get me through this. I played this song for the remainder of my race on repeat! 

Mile 12 - After to much walking I try to run more, My caves are kinda seizing so go back to walk/run. Decide to text hubby that I only have 1.1 left. I'd had my phone in airplane mode to save the battery so when I turn my phone on to text I saw a flood of messages cheering me on and asking if I was finished yet. Got more choked up, trying to just breath and smile and walk through near the end of mile 13 so I can run it in!! Text hubby again from a few blocks away. Since He's a chairmen he was allowed right at the finish line!!! 

Run in and here them say hear comes  "Liz" over the loud speaker. I'm dumbfounded and I forget hubby knows all these people so they're giving me a special moment. Mark Bravo gives me a huge high five and says I'm so glad you made it!!  Hubby has a big hug and a Great big medal for me. He was so proud I finished.

Finished my 1st, 1/2 Marathon

My goal today was to "Finish what I started and enjoy the journey" oh boy did I. while I'm not happy with my pace today that is not what this race was about so I can say with confidence I can't wait to try again because I know I can improve from here. It was a wonderful first 1/2 marathon experience! 

My Race results! My pace was much slower than I had trained at but I still finished in under 3 hrs.  I think minus waiting in line for the porter potty and my pinky toe issues it really is a great time. I used to worry I'd be last LOL! 

Map of my run from my Garmin - I forgot to turn it off at the finish line.  :)

The fun part was the mile journey back to the hotel. I was just praying I made it back with out collapsing. I was feeling very sick to my stomach, I grabbed a banana, kind bar, water and my finishers t-shirt and made my way back to the hotel slowly!! 

I really wanted to go back and pass out medals again like last year but my body said "no way your going to walk back again today."  So I cleaned up, stretched, snacked and rested for a bit and decided I better keep moving or I'd fall asleep at the hotel and not be able to move when I woke up. Lol. 

It's been a long, emotional, eventful, wonderful weekend! I think it still hasn't quite sunk in! I don't have my race pics yet and I know I smiled for several official cameras along the way so I hope they got some good ones. I know I'll have a finish line shot. I'll post those asap! Oh and I might have a 2nd 1/2 marathon lined up in about 3 week because once you do one....you get marathon crazy :) LOL! 

Thanks again for all the support! There are so many I could thank but they know who they are. Thanks for making this a special day. I couldn't not have done this without so many people that helped encourage along the way. I'm also so glad I've inspired many to get into shape, run and take better care of themselves. You are precious and you worth it!!! Thank you! I think I just might do this again next year! :)

Lace up with Liz - Calories and Crochet

 If you've followed with me some this year you'll know I started a journey to get fit! I took up running and eating healthier! I'm so excited that I've lost 65 pounds and that even with the holiday season upon us I'm managing to maintain. It can be a hard time of year! 

This month I'm determined to get 10K steps a day with my Fitbit! They've added Challenge groups so now I have competition with other friends! I want to win but I got work to do!!  

So, I've heard it said you can burn 100 calories in an hr while crocheting - (Crochet Spot.) I don't know how accurate that is but today I thought I'd try something new! I was walking with a running buddy the other day and she mentioned seeing a guy once crocheting/knitting while running a marathon. I thought that would be so cool but I need a friend to run with that would hold my yarn LOL!  

My good friend recently gave me her old treadmill so today I thought that spot for my water would hold a crochet skien nicely. Why not crochet while I walk? It was a run rest day but I still wanted to get in those steps! 

(don't worry I stopped the treadmill to take the picture!) 

I walked for 60 minutes, not super fast but did increase my pace as I got comfortable. I would say you need to work on something you don't have to look at closely. I've been wanting to make my favorite hat (Key Tab Slouch -free pattern) in a new color. 

In that hr. I waked 2.6 miles and got the brim of the hat done. It flew by really fast actually! I was doing two things I really enjoy doing!! 

If you do it just be careful that your yarn is secure and not hanging down! I did pull the safety key out once when I wasn't paying attention to the walking lol! 

So maybe I burned an extra 100 calories since I was multitasking! Who knows! 

Here is my new Before and After pic too! 

They have these huge ornament decorations downtown and we like to do family pics down there! 

I just like to joke that the hanger looks like a giant crochet hook! 

So what ways do you like to exercise? 

Do you do anything special while you crochet to keep moving? 

Whatever Wednesday - Lace Up With Liz Update

 This is more of a personal post but I like to share my health and fitness journey from time to time!

 If you want to read the full story of the past year you can visit this previous blog post

  LACE UP WITH LIZ

In September I reached a huge Goal of losing 62 pounds! I still have 10 to hit my personal goal and this past month I've kind of been at a stand still. I was training for a 1/2 marathon and I think after a 8 mile training run I got a stress fracture in my foot! Not much I could do but to stop and rest for a few weeks!

 I ran almost 80 miles in September and well I've only done 1.8 miles in October. Yikes! I feel so off! I'm not going to run the Route 66 1/2 in November because I just don't have a funds right now so I think I will go back and do my 10K training again just incase I need to build my base up more. I will run the OKC Memorial 1/2 marathon in April! I'm so excited about it and I think that race will mean so much more to me for so many reasons! 

I've been up and down a couple pounds the past 30 days but I'm kind surprised I haven't gained more! It's like when I hurt my foot I let it all go, eating good and other exercise included! I need a kick in the booty and to get myself back in gear. The kids are on Fall break so I'm going to enjoy some extra time with them and then I'm getting back to it next Tuesday! 

Anyhoo, Got a much needed hair cut and color yesterday so I thought it would be good to get some current before/after pics! What a difference a day makes. 

Lace up with With Liz Update

It's been awhile since I've updated the blog! I took a break for summer to spend time with the kids and on me. August is an exciting month with the both my babies off to school and it being my birthday month. It sure will be awful quiet around the house all day. The good news is more time for crochet. I have lots planned for the coming months. New paid and free patterns, contests, giveaways and so much more! 

Note: This is more of a personal post update. So if you want to know more about me and current life events read on! This is also an introduction for those that know nothing about me. :) 

I'm a wife (7 years), mother of two  (5 & 6), I'm a christian, I love playing piano and I've been running my crochet business for almost 5 years come January. 

I've struggled with weight all my life. It's kinda of a roller coaster! After college I weighed about 160 pounds and mom and I did weight watchers together! I got down to a tiny 124! I remember people asking if I was sick! LOL I was so tiny! It felt great but I got comfy in life and pounds started to creep back in. Around the time frame I got married and we had our babies very close together and I let the pounds creep on! I made a few attempts to loose weight but every time I did I seemed to gain more! Was I really trying, not really. I just blamed it on baby weight! You can only blame baby weight so long. um since my baby is now 5 and starting kindergarten in less than two weeks.  I hated being over 200 pounds. I said I never would but guess what I did. I remember looking at 222 and thinking somethings got to change! 

In January I started making goals for the business and it hit me. I have no personal goals, no family goals, my life is business. It had over taken everything!!! I knew I had to change big time. So prayed about it and said it was time to make new priorities because my family has got to come 1st and my health too! Was that easy! No, we kinda depend on my income, but I was going to trust God to take care of us and you know what so far it's working. It's been a little scary but God provides in mysterious ways. 

I decided to try couch to 5K. It was brutal! I couldn't even run a minute. It made me angry but in a good way. I used to run in middle school (haha!) surely I can run now! It took a lot of work, determination and surviving a few injuries but you know what I haven't given up since. Who would have thought 6 months ago I could now run for 90 minutes and more! It's crazy to me how far I've come! 

It's been six months since I officially started a huge life change and weight loss journey. I've officially lost 40 pounds and 32 inches in those 6 months! 50 pounds total from last spring (but wasn't doing much about it then). I'm 18 pounds from my 1st major goal I set in January. According to my plan I should reach it in September but honestly I'm so excited where I am and I'm just taking it a pound or inch at a time.

 I exercise almost every day and have embraced running! I'm even planning on training for my 1st 1/2 marathon. Can I do it ?? We'll see. If I don't do the Route 66 in November. I'm going to do the OKC Memorial Marathon in April 2015. It terrifies me but I'm determined to do it!!! I've only done one run and it was a Color Run just for fun. I think I may need to run some smaller races 1st just for the experience. 

  I've completed Couch to 5K, Couch to 10K and currently working on a faster 5K. Since I'm kinda slow! 

Here are some of my new before and after pics! I'm going to try to get some current pics by September since these are from the beginning of July. 

Last week I started a page to encourage others like me and follow along the journey!  It's easy to sit and crochet all day! Now, that is hard for me, but I'm going to make it work because I still love to crochet and I love my job! 

I've encouraged and been encouraged by many of my crochet friends to stay fit and eat healthy! There is nothing better than accountability! Anywhoo, if you'd like to follow the new page I'd love to have you! It's called Lace up with Liz. You'll see daily posts about my workouts, even challenges you can do with me! I would love to keep you accountable. I'm just a normal girl who has struggled with weight my entire life. I'm not striving to be skinny! I just want to be healthy and active! 

Currently I'm doing a Squat Challenge and August Melt Off - You are more than welcome to do this with me. Even if you're just starting! I want to motivate you to move it, move it!! 

I hope you enjoyed this long read! I don't claim to be a good writer. English wasn't my favorite subject LOL! I just want to encourage you and be encouraged! THANKS!!! 

Join me on FB

  Lace Up With Liz 

I've lost 25 Skeins of Yarn

If you haven't noticed I went from blogging daily (I was in a challenge) to not blogging at all! I learned a lot through the blog challenge and it was great but as I was setting all those amazing goals I realized I needed to set personal goals too. Those personal goals have become my number one priority and crochet has taken a bit of a back seat for the moment. Don't worry I'm not going anywhere I just need to change things up a bit to get life back moving in the right direction. 

I'm working on being a better Wife and Mother and I'm also working on my health! I posted a few weeks back I was going to start working out and I have. I have more confidence, I feel better and I'm so excited about what the rest of this year holds. 

So far I've lost 11 pounds. That over 25 skeins of I Love this yarn LOL! (Had to work crochet in the post some how!) 

I can't hardly sit still anymore. I get all jittery and feel the need to move it, move it! 

I've started training for a 5K I just finished up week two of couch to 5K. I also workout at home with my x box kinect. I have a crazy fun zubma workout (i'm a terrible dancer by the way) and another work out with Jillian Michael's. I try to change it up and work on different things each day so I don't get board. 

I learned that I love to run again. I should have already known that because I used to run all the time. I could barely run for seconds a few weeks ago let alone what I'm doing now. I'm getting stronger and feeling so much better. I've changed up my diet a lot and my body went through detox. I don't need coffee to wake up. I exercise and stretch! 

I just wanted to say all that to encourage you! Turn off that TV, put down that hook and get up and turn on some music and move! You can do! I look forward to sharing my progress! I have a lot to lose still but so much greatness to gain.  With encouragement, determination, and God I know I can do this! 

Crocheting and Calories

This is more of a personal post, just thought I'd warn you up front and don't worry. I won't post a ton of weight-loss and fitness stuff. Just wanted to share my heart a little. 

I'd talked the other day about crochet goals, business goals, and family goals. 

Monday I decided I needed to make some healthy goals for myself. It seems so obvious to make a weight loss challenge in January but see I've not tried in years. Really basically since I had my kids and gained too much weight. Life got busy, business was good and I didn't really make time to really focusing on me, but I think that is okay for that season in my life. There comes a time when you have to dig down and work on yourself too! 

Hubby is pretty active and working to get fit, so it's my time to get off that couch! 

Goal one. Turn that TV off! 

- Netflix is a time suck seriously! I mean we all want to bing watch our favorite shows and it's easy to do when you have to crochet!

 I'm turning to music or just enjoying the quite, thinking & praying instead. 

Goal two. Eat & Drink healthy. 

I HATE to cook and bake. I don't enjoy it and everyone in my house is so picky. So trying new things isn't something we enjoy, but I think we can make it work. I'm going to do a lot more shopping on those outer isles of the grocery store and avoid the many isles of food that don't need to be eaten. 

My mom does a lot of smoothies so I'm going to try more smoothies too! I made some green ones today. Calleigh and I both enjoyed our yummy healthy breakfast! 

I tend to really only drink coffee and water so that's not really hard to change. I've not really been drinking pop for about a year. Just one occasionally and its usually diet. I'm finding I've lost my taste for pop! Flavored water is what gets me through! 

Goal Three: Activity and Exercise

I'm trying to get at least 30 minutes a day of activity! I'm very very out of shape! You know what I do because I HATE Gyms and I'm a homebody! I use my X-Box Kinect! I love the Adventure game! It gets me moving. It's silly I know but I have to enjoy what I'm doing. Calleigh likes to join in with me too! If it's not exercise then I don't know why my legs feel like noodles today! LOL. It's a start to get me moving!! 

I have some other work out games I'm going to wash the dust off and try again too! 

We didn't have a lot of space for this before but I do now so no excuses with this new house! 

What's making this easier for me?

Hubby got us both Bracelets called FitBit. I thought it was silly at first but I really think it's a tool that will help keep me in check and I always have a reminder on my arm! 

The bracelet keeps track of your steps. You can set up reminders and alarms and it vibrates. 

With the App I track all my food, water, & activities. So now I have a plan to count calories, know what I've burned and see how many I have left. I also set up a plan just for me. 

I have goals and it helps me track them from the app on my phone or online. 

It's social too because I can add friends, like my hubby. I even found a group with crocheters who also do fitbit! 

Just incase your wondering you do burn calories while you crochet! I couldn't find the exact number but it ranges from 100-200 per hour. I'm sure that just depends on what you are making. 

Well that's my goals! So far I've lost 2bls. but it's only the beginning of a long journey! I'll keep you posted when I hit some major goals! I need cheerleaders!! 

So feel free to leave motivational comments, encouragement's or share your story! I'd love to hear about it!