In September 1997 I started going to Weight Watchers. I weighed in around 235 pounds. In the first month on the program I lost a total of 3 pounds. This was a sign that my weightloss would not be easy. Over the course of the three years I gradually lost weight. My doctor and I set my goal weight as 160 pounds - close to my highschool weight. In mid-October 2000 I got to my goal weight and began mainteance. During maintenance I was doing okay and then we went on vacation to Florida. I came home and screamed when I saw the scale. I quickly lost most of those vacation pounds though and achieved Lifetime Membership status at WW on November 27th. WOO HOO! Since that time I have continued to go to WW with my friends and maintain my weightloss.
In June 2001 my weightloss got kicked into gear again. My weight had crept up to 160.5 pounds in early June and I knew it was time to get serious. I journalled, was more careful and continued to train for the Smiths Falls Duathlon. I completed the race and lost weight. I had an AWESOME month. I have now hit a low weight of 154.5 pounds, a total loss of 80.5 pounds. I am THRILLED with my progress this month and overall. YEAH!
Well, it's November now and my weight has crept back to 160 pounds. Time to get serious again. I have bought a nice new journal. Now to get using it.
January 2002: I finished the month at 160.5 pounds. I have maintained my weightloss for over a year and am pleased with that. Now if only my tummy didn't feel so fat. Why I lose weight from anywhere but regain on my tummy is a mystery to me. A very frustrating mystery. SIGH!
June 2002: I started the month with a weight of 163 pounds and had to pay WW. I seriously need to get my butt in gear and get losing again. YUCK!
In the spring of 1998 Andre and I took up running in order to help me break through a weightloss plateau. I joined the Penguin list on the internet and have been getting scads of advice from lots of experienced runners around the world. We started with the beginners running program (combining running with walking breaks) and typically ran 25 minutes out of 50 minutes. In the fall of 1998 I began running with the Motionware Running Club, a free running club located here in Kanata. Then I entered the Run for the Cure 5K and finished it without walking. I was so proud! I was encouraged and entered a few more races.
In May 1999 I ran my first half marathon (that's 13.1 miles or 21 km) and that was a landmark achievement for me.
In June 1999 I went to Penguin Flight School in Boston and learned about effort based training using a Polar Heart Rate Monitor from John the Penguin Bingham and Coach Roy Benson. July 1999 I attended Penguin World Conference I in Chicago, driving there with fellow Canadian Penguin Kathryn Lye. What a hoot! We had a blast. Here are some photos from that event.
I hope to someday run a full marathon but am content to stick with half marathons and shorter for now. I am a slow runner but am gradually improving.
In Fall 1999 I taught my first beginners running class. I guided 30 ladies through their initial running steps and it was been great fun.
Winter 1999-2000 - somewhere around this time I began talking to the Clydesdale Runners on the internet. Clydesdales are runners of size. I had been told by some Penguin runners that the Clydesdales were planning to encounter in Ottawa in the spring of 2000. Since I am likely to always be a Clyde runner this seemed like a great opportunity to meet some great people.
March 2000: Drove down to Hamilton to encounter with the Toronto Penguins and John Bingham. Ran a 5K and cheered for the 30K race. Was great watching the winner finish. (I have never been so close to an elite runner before. AWESOME!)
May 2000: May is shaping up to be an important running/health month for me. First, Andre and I bought our new bikes (thanks Mom and Dad Paquette!) with our Christmas cash. Then Howard and I ran the half marathon. Next, I got to encounter with some clydes. Then my friend and running mentor Jane Armstrong has agreed to be my coach. Yeah! I'm so excited. This is just what I needed to get my butt in gear and start working on some speed. In May 2000 I joined the Penguins for another running encounter in Burlington, Vermont. At Penguin World Conference II in Vermont I participated in a marathon relay team for the first time. That was a COOL experience! I was on a team with Ward Reed, Ken Myers, Tom Lechner and Ward's friend Bruce. Our team was called Dingo Penguin and we ran the fastest time for a Penguin Team. We got these really cool awards donated by a kind penguin. Yeah! My first (and only) hardware! At PWCII I also entered a quilt draw and won a BEAUTIFUL quilt made by Kitty Cole. It is awesome. I am still trying to get it up on my wall. Once I do I'll get a photo of it to place on this webpage.
Summer 2000 went pretty well. Jane did a great job coaching me through various events and I set a number of PR's including my first sub-30 5K. It was a cool experience learning to push my limits a bit. I decided I'd like to try a duathlon and Jane put me on a program. I was now trying to bike a couple of times a week in addition to running. My schedule was getting full but I was having fun. In July I attended another Penguin Flight School in St. Catherines, Ontario. That was great fun and was a nice break. This school gave me an opportunity to really test my HR ranges and to have some of the training stuff 'gell' for me. I also got to play with my friends which was great.
Fall 2000: I ran the Run for the Cure with Elizabeth and was thrilled to accompany her through her first race. That was fun. I completed my first duathlon and had a great time doing it despite the flurries we had that day. Special thanks go to Dianne, Pierre, Mike, Sarah, Christopher and Diana who braved the cold to cheer. I *really* appreciated their encouragement.
Winter 2000-2001: Began training for the Around the Bay 30K and lots of cross-training. Jane has my running 3 times a week (1 hills/speed workout, one easy run and my long run), biking 2-3 times a week on my indoor trainer and swimming twice a week with the Kanata Master's Swim Club. I feel like I'm getting really fit. I am particularly enjoying the swimming.
January 2001: Ran the Richmond 10K and set a new PR for the 10K distance and broke 60 minutes for the first time. I was THRILLED as it was a very cold day.
March 2001: Ran the Around the Bay 30K, my longest run of my life to date. It was great fun. The race was in Hamilton, Ontario and so I got to encounter with the Toronto Penguins, some Clydesdales and some of my friends. Travelled the whole distance with Mary Demattia a Penguin from Detroit and had a blast.
June 2001: Raced the Smiths Falls Classic Duathlon. This was my second duathlon and I had a great time. I really worked hard and raced the whole event. I am very happy with my results and improvement, particularly on my biking speed.
July 2001: Raced the Motionware Canada Day 10K and set a new personal best time. I am happy since it was a hot humid day and I felt it was tough running. However, I kept a high heartrate (178ish for the first 5K, 188 during the final kilometer and 190 as I crossed the finishline) for the entire race and ran a pretty even pace. Raced the Graham Beasley Duathlon in Carleton Place and had a blast. I finished last but well ahead of my prediction and with a huge smile on my face. Was a challenging distance but also loads of fun.
October 2001: Raced the Canadian International Half Marathon in Toronto with my Penguin buddies and had a FABULOUS time. Also set a new PR of 2:10:10 (chip) - an improvement of over 16 minutes from last year. I am so very pleased.
I made an attempt to return to the pool this fall and once again broke out into a full body rash. SIGH! However, the people at the pool have been most helpful and we think we know what the chemical is and the names of some other pools that don't use this chemical that I can try. So... first I'm trying to get better and then I'll venture out to try another pool. Wish me luck - I need it.
I have also taken up spinning classes at the Corel YMCA and they are turning out to be quite fun. This will be a great way to get my cycling training in over the winter. I am really looking forward to it.
November 2001: Ran my first cross country race the Jim Howe Memorial. I only did the 5K (thank goodness) while most of the club did the 10K. My time of 29:15 somehow managed to win me 1st place in the 30-39 womens category. I was shocked.
December 2001: Ran the Santa Shuffle in Ottawa and then promptly hurt my knee the very next day while standing in my family room. The twist of opening a cupboard was too much for me and the pain was instantaneous. This lead to a month of recovery and not a lot of running. My final run of the year was quite appropriately a Resolution Run in London Ontario. Temps were cold and I was not speedy but I was so happy to run and chat with other runners that I had a great time. I finished the year with approximately 1171 K (127.6 hours) of running and 99 hours of crosstraining. I have been tracking my running distances for a few years now and I am running a virtual trip across Canada (44% travelled) and around the world (8% travelled).
January 2002: Ran the Richmond Road Race 5K for the first time. I was slightly disappointed with my time but my placing was great. Also enjoyed some balmy temps and great running conditions which was a nice boost as I worked at re-building my running after my knee injury. Using some Christmas money (thanks Dianne and Pierre) I bought 2 Spinervals workout tapes. They are providing a new indoor cycling challenge and are a welcome addition to the household. Oh yes... I have also been writing training journals for the Penguin World Conference RNR 1/2 marathon in May 2002 that my friend Glenn Gabriel of the Toronto Penguins has been publishing online.
June 2002: I ran 4 races between April 27th and June 16th - two
1/2 marathons, one 10K and a 5K. All four races resulted in PRs.
I am thrilled. I had a great time going to Toronto and playing with
the Penguins at PWC4. I can hardly wait for PWC5
in Chicago next year. Next up on my schedule is some duathlons and
hopefully my first triathlon (but I need to get swimming for that to happen).
Here are some photos of the quilt Julia and I
made for the Penguin Conference.