A Year of 5ks, from a Former Couch Potato

Subtitle: How I lost 17% of my body weight! 

Well, Huzzah! It's the 1-year anniversary of my weight loss. 38 lbs. That is supposed to be significant, in terms of joint health, but I must also point out that between the running, healthier diet, and fish pills, my cholesterol went from 242 to 130 something. (Again--Huzzah!)

I don't have pictures for every 5k I ran in. I'm still waiting for today's photos, but I think I was ... not at my best when crossing the finish line, so those may not get posted.

Before: 

Here I am in September 2011 (At a castle in Wales...Newton House?)

Above, at Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon, same time...

Drumroll.....

Here I am now! (pardon the potty shot, my only other mirror is in a dark hallway)

Here I was one year ago at the First Annual Iron Girl Half and 5k, April 2012:

Spirit of Gettysburg 5k, June 2012:

With Slick and Mini-Slick (Mr. Slick took photo) at the Catonsville Fall Into Fitness, September 2012:

(With her do-rag and shades, Mini-Slick is far cooler than I can ever hope to be)

 The Howard County Strider's Metric Marathon and 5k, Veteran's Day 2012:

 (Slick and Mr. Slick were in San Antonio running the Rock and Roll Half)

Last weekend (April 20), at the Arbutus Spring Fling 5k:

They played the Whitney Houston version of the National Anthem, and I thought it would never end!)

And ... I really don't like this photo, but right now it's all I have ... here I am this morning, at the 2nd Annual Iron Girl 5k, 28 April:

 Missing: Two Monster Dashes and one Armed Forces Week 5k, Jingle Bell, New Year's Resolution.

Next weekend is the Port-to-Fort 6k.

My first 5k was in October 2011. I walked and ran when I could, and came in at 44:14. Today's "5k" was actually 3.37 miles, according to my Garmin ... at the 5k mark, I was at 33:23. When I crossed the finish line, it was 35:54. I'm a little peeved by this, even though it's minor, because Iron Girl posted that I ran 3.1 miles in 35:54, and it was more than two minutes faster than that! I started Garmin at the start gate, and turned it off at the gate. I was talking to a watchless woman who said she felt like it was a longer run than just 3.1. It's small potatoes, sure, but again -- my best 5k time will go unacknowledged because the official time is measuring the wrong distance! Very aggravating.

Today's event was all about Boston, of course -- it was delayed slightly so it could start at the same time the Boston Marathon started. Lots of memorial shirts and signs, and a moment of silence.

I want to thank everyone who clicks 'like' and watches my incessant status updates about running. I know in the world of running I'm just a snail, but the acknowledgement helps motivate me.

I didn't want to sabotage my weight loss or running by setting a goal that I would then fret over, so I set my first goal as just "run a 5k without stopping." I've done that several times. I would like to work my way up to a 10k. We'll see how it goes!  There are 6,7,8ks ... relays ... all sorts of races to aim for.