Well, not really. But you know what. I did not have to come in first to win. I won because I worked hard, I trained and I finished. As I have said before, it is all about the running (literally) toward a goal… not just running away from being fat.

The whole deal was about doing it WITH other people. Other people that wanted to reach a goal. Working TOWARD a goal… not just running away from being fat. However, we did that too!!

Why does it look like I'm walking?? I DIDN'T WALK!!!!

Now- I said I won. Well, the thing is, of course I didn’t win. I just finished. But— and here is the point—- I met my goal!! It took a lot of time and effort to get to this point, but I beat my personal best half-marathon time by almost 20 minutes. And I beat my goal of 2:30 by 5 minutes. I was coming up Capitol Street from JSU an I THOUGHT about 2:20… maybe 2:22 but alas, it was not to be. But I am happy none the less!!!

Over all… a great day. A little on the cool side, but I enjoyed it. Henry got to jump in the jumpy thing (Spiderman jumpy thing) when we were done and we listened to some blues.

I think that THE KING would be proud– that is, IF he had stopped eating all those peanut butter and banana sandwiches and:

Gotten up! Gotten moving!! And had a longer, better life!!

O.K.- I know I have covered this ground before. But let me do it again…. the thing is, I hear this over and over. People that see that I have done well with the weight loss come up to me and want to know what I did…. then they want to know how to do it themselves.

This past weekend I took Henry to his first Highschool football game. Of course I was on Pom Pom patrol from the get-go. I swear, I think he hit everyone within 50 yards of us with that thing. Anyway- while I was there, I ran into this guy that I went to school with…. haven’t seen him in years. Of course, he wanted to know…. “where do I start?”

So- this is it!

1. Set a goal- it should be yours (not what someone else thinks it should be), it should be attainable

2. Include exercise to your life- just going on a diet is NOT GOING TO CUT IT!! Also, choose an exercise you like…. if you don’t like it you may not stick with it. However, that being said, I didn’t really like to run when I started. It has grown on me.

3. Don’t feel like the Lone Ranger- I have talked about this before- have some friends to help you with this…. not only the exercise portion of it, but also the eating.

4. Eating- avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup and Enriched Wheat Flower. Obviously, there are many more things to do…. but if you DON’T do these two, you will be WAY ahead of the game.

5. Act as if- Fake it till you make it as my friend Julie says! Don’t worry about how you look… don’t worry about being the goob in the gym- goodness knows I was— I still am. Just do it!

Get up! Get moving! Have a better life!!

O.K.- This one is near and dear.

Approximately 3 months ago, my mother in law was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She is the one that helped me name this blog—- so it seemed fitting that I do a post about this.

A couple of days ago, I wrote a post about the Peachtree Road Race. Well, that particular race was NOT a race for any real benefit…. except to the people that ran it. However, LOTS of them are…. and one of the best ones is for breast cancer.

I was reading an article about cancer survivors and how more and more doctors are recommending that they exercise. It seems that it is NOT just for healthy people. Apparently the unhealthy can benefit from exercise as well. Shocking!

But, according to this article (and a Doc at UAB), people that have just completed chemo may have just swapped muscle for fat equivalent to 10 years of aging. In other words, a 45 year old woman may find herself with the weaker, fatter body of a 55 year old.

Now, don’t get me wrong… I know some pretty good looking 55 year olds—– but I can promise you, this is not a swap you want to make.

Once again, the doctors have said that making a change as small as getting up off the couch and walking, can have tremendous benefits.

Well, since I got on the health bandwagon… instead of going to the parade and drinking Guinness all day (like I did when I was younger… and fatter)- I ran the 5K race.

The Team!!

A big pat on the back for Garland… he wanted to break 32 mins for a 5K time. HE SHATTERED IT!!! 31:10— good job my man!!

Joel and I

See- you can be healthy- and run- and do things other than drink beer all day! Well, I just drank beer later that day.

BTW- Beth, I know you are out of town and everything, but I did NOT hit on her… it was difficult, but I restrained myself!!