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Introduction Text I just signed up for my first half marathon in September. I can't believe that I even had the guts to click on that register button! My training is starting to ramp up and I'm so excited. Thank you SP for making this possible! Being on Spark has changed my life in so many ways. I can't believe that I have been able to lose 3/4 of my goal weight with nothing more than my own will and the motivation from the great community that I have found here. I have begun to really care about what I put in my mouth, and what I do to my body. This site has made me a runner! I finished the Couch to 5K program and ran my first 5K in August 2009. I have never been athletic, and all my accomplishments in life have been related to my brain rather than any physical ability. I can't believe how far I have come, and I couldn't have done it without the Spark! My recommendations for those of you new to the spark are: 1. Use the nutrition tracker religiously! This was the biggest shocker to me, and seriously I think the biggest reason why I lost weight. I thought I knew what my food contained and what I should be eating - I was WRONG! I track my food everyday and I am constantly surprised. 2. Get involved in a couple of really good groups. I started the C25K last summer and quit after a few weeks, I just couldn't find the motivation. This year I joined the group and started posting in the weekly forums. I met a bunch of women who were doing th same time as I was, and we cheered each other along and commiserated at those bumps in the road, but we kept each other going. I couldn't have done it without them. 3. Read the blogs! Whenever I am feeling down, I read the newly posted blogs and see that I am not alone, everyone is going through the same challenges! Or post a blog or two - people are so caring and comments can really turn a bad day around 4. Take before, during and after pictures! This has been such a huge motivating factor for me. I didn't think that there was too much of a change in my body until I took my first monthly picture - wooooww! We don't see ourselves objectively, and a photo can really highlight how all this hard work is paying off! I do one every month and when I feel like quitting I look back at my before pictures and promise never to get there again!



I'm running 4 times a week through the summer to train for my first Half marathon. Weight training in between and yoga on Saturdays! I am also trying to track EVERYTHING that I eat using the tracker, and keeping my calories around the 1300 range.



Races 2009 - Aug 2: Defi Ste. Anne de Bellevue (32:15) - Sept 20: Army Run 5K (30:55) 2010 - May 29: Ottawa Race Weekend 10k (1:06:06) 2011 March 12: St. Patrick's Day 5k (30:11) May 28: Ottawa Race Weekend 10k Sept 19: Canada Army Run Half-Marathon

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