<------That girl...right there on the left used to weigh over 300 pounds and loved to sit in the house, on the couch and and watch other people live their lives on TV. I had TV shows every night of the week that I watched..sometimes I had to tape some and watch them after the one I was currently watching was over. Pretty sad the amount of hours of my life I wasted on the TV watching reality shows and who knows what else.

I have lost 100 pounds and am not going back to being that morbidly obese unhappy woman. I am loving the new me that is trying new things that I never thought I would do in my lifetime. Life is so much better now that it ever has been.

I was the girl in high school that dreaded the mile for the fitness assessment. I cringed when I knew that was coming up. I hated running, wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. Hand me a chocolate bar and a bag of chips instead is what I used to say.

I started to run with the Couch to 5k program just to see if I could do it. 30 seconds seemed impossible for me but I stuck with it and a year ago I did my first 5k. I loved the feeling of crossing that finish line and knowing I had accomplished what I thought was impossible. It wasn't..I did it..I proved I could. I went on to run several other 5ks that summer, a 10 k and then after rehabbing a stress fracture I did a 5 mile Turkey Trot with my son. I was enjoying running..a lot.

So a week before Christmas I was on the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon site and thought why not try a half marathon. I sat at my computer terrified to press the submit button. Who did I think I was to think I could accomplish such a goal. Was I crazy?? Yes..I guess I was..I hit the submit button and was committed to at least to try and do a half marathon!! 13.1 miles!! OMG!! I printed off the training plan and received wonderful support from the gym I belong to and I was off.

I joined the Saturday morning training runs and went for it. I struggled at times and wanted to quit..it was hard and it sucked sometimes but it was fun more than it sucked!! I remember the first time I went into the double digits. I cried when I did it. Here was this 43 year old woman running double digits for the first time in her life. I was so proud of myself. I took a picture of my Garmin and put it on Facebook!! I was so proud.

I continued with my training, struggling and rejoicing..pushing through the rough spots and reveling in the good stuff. I asked for lots of advice and people took me under their wings. I am so fortunate to have had such an amazing support system. So many people helped me through the training. Telling me to take it easy when my shins hurt..to keep my eyes on the big prize.

The day came and that morning as I was stretching I was so emotional..I looked back to all of the miles I had logged, all of the sweat, the times I wanted to quit, the times I was so proud of myself..everything that I poured into this one day. This one event of 13.1 miles and couldn't believe it was here already.

The race was amazing!! Other than the birth of my two wonderful children I cannot think of anything that can top the feeling I had when I crossed the finish line. I was emotionally wrecked when I saw that finish line. I was a sobbing mess. I was so proud of myself.

Those 13.1 miles proved a lot to me. I changed when I crossed that finish line...I understood everything I have accomplished. I understood why losing 100 pounds and running a half marathon was amazing to people. I got it for the first time. I grasped it in my hands when I held that beautiful medal!! I let go of the old me and really embraced the new me for the first time in my life.

So now I am preparing for my very first triathlon this coming Sunday!! I am beyond excited to try something new. I will admit I am not as prepared as I would like to be but my goal is to finish this first one and go from there!!

I needed something to wear and lucked into a trisuit at TJ Maxx for $20 on a clearance rack!! What a deal. I call it my sausage suit as it fits like a glove and shows every single lump I still need to get rid of!! My husband loves it though...Men!!! For $20 this girl isn't going to complain though. If I enjoy this tri as much as I think I am going to I will get some other gear down the road. But this is good for now.

So we will see how my first tri goes!! Never would have thought I would ever in my lifetime be doing a triathlon. :-)