Run, Forest... errr, Liz, Run!

I did my third 5k today! And yes, I had another PB! Finished in 36:07 (ok, so that's turtle slow for some... but for me that's an 11 1/2 minute mile -- down from my 12-plus!)

And I almost didn't make it as oh, I overslept. Thank god I laid out my clothes and shoes the night before. I even set my alarm early but lately have been sleeping hard and didn't hear it.

I woke out of a dead sleep at 7:52(!) The Sound to Narrows race started at 8:30 and the drive across town and parking was going to take at least 15 to 20 minutes. (Funny story: I was so out of it and in such a hurry I wore my sports bra entirely the wrong way inside out for the entire run and didn't know it until I showered later in the day. Had to laugh at my dumbass-ness on that one...)

So i ran... and ran down the hill to the starting line... making it with three minutes to start. My quads are killing me now, and I know I am going to be walking funky tomorrow but man, was it worth it. I was running with a friend, who ran into some coworkers and in typical Liz fashion, they all had to laugh at the fact that I overslept and was running late as usual....

Exercise has become a priority for me the last several weeks as i rejoined Weight Watchers after Ireland. (All that weight I worked on last year was slowly creeping up again) and I can say I've lost 10 more pounds since I rejoined. Benefits of losing a stone of weight means new clothes shopping! All my stuff is getting way to loose to stay up even with a belt and you know you need new underwear when it is falling down around your ankles as you walk...LOL...)

So needless to say... this is one area of my life I can control right now and it makes me feel better. And today's run was way smoother not carrying around that extra bowling ball of weight. (I've also been going to a chiropractor for a couple weeks to work on my hip and neck since running and sitting at a computer have been doing some damage of late... I'm already getting early arthritis in my neck -- thanks internet and technology!)

And I've found that everyone out here is into some form of biking, running, hiking, etc. so that's been an incentive. Even had my 12-year-old little commuter/mountain bike (thats oh, my size and I love it) tuned up, outfitted with a new seat and I've been taking it for a spin. So the routine of late has been eating better also since the local farmers' markets are in full swing (I hit one on Thursdays and usually walk/bike to it downtown) and the other on Saturday across town is where I pick up a veggie share that i participate in from an local, organic farm

I'm starting to finally warm up to this Pacific Northwest lifestyle. Maybe the sun will stick around more often now!

Next week: Race for the Cure 5k in seattle, and then two the following week (Sunday is another cancer 5k walk up in seattle and July 4 is a four mile race in Lakewood!)