Just here to continue the story......

This is not a....what do they call books where you must read books 1 and 2 to understand 3...interconnected.  I guess it could be or treated as a standalone. 

Almost ten years ago, on a day (or maybe an evening) in May, I pubished this blog post Just here to tell a story....  It was short compared to those I would write later.  It was more of an introduction and "trailer" as to what this blog would be about.  It's not a fancy blog.  There are no side bar ads or fancy menus....although I'm working to upgrade it.  

I would go on to make an effort to post something almost every week, coinciding with Weight Watcher meetings.   Some of my inspiration on what to talk about came from those meetings.  Not sure how I came up with the name of the blog, other than I like sparkly things and the color pink.  I blogged about the time a group of us tried bowling and indoor rock climbing.  Or the day we all ventured out to the 288 lake to do yoga on a paddle board.   These adventures were planned by a good friend of mine in Weight Watchers.  As she put it, she was trying to find an activity (or activities) that she liked to do and would enjoy doing.  We survived kayaking.  

I also blogged about the challenges or obstacles I encountered and how I dealt with them.  More times than not, the titles were usually inspired from the weekly meetings.  The one about paddle board yoga, for instance is titled Keep Calm and Embrace the Wobble and there was one about some days call for cheese doodles. 

I realized recently that the one day that would propel me into a decade (and counting) long journey almost sneaked by.  I've called it my aha moment.  But I also think, because of my stubbornness, God gave me a sign that I couldn't do it on my own and he was there to help.  Without repeating all the details you can read about in that post in May 2015, I was scared and so were just about everyone that cared for me.   I didn't know how I was to change everything I knew.  But it had to be done.  

I tried to chronicle (or write about) every new thing I experienced for the first time in what seemed like forever.  A friend of mine once said when she read my blogs, she felt like I was sitting next to her talking.  I hope those that have read it have the same feeling.  But as often as it does, life intervened and the posts became less frequent.  I hit a plateau and, in the world of Weight Watchers, although always a lifetime member, had to get back to that happy number.  And I did.....I think twice.   And am doing it again currently.  During the "good" years, I would finish 2 half marathons, step out in the dating world (only to retreat later - not for what you think), and take stock on who was in my circle.  

When I reached goal the first time, I proclaimed it would never come back.  What they say is true - never say never.  The last tine it came back, it stuck. Or I should say she stuck around.   I was at fault for not treating the mindset at the same time I was losing weight the first time.  Mindset is IMPORTANT with ANYTHING.  I've learned that over and over, but none so than just recently.   The first round (and probably the second round), the focus was on the physical and not mental.   

The blog has gone through some changes regarding the subjects at times.  I hope to pick it back up and chronicle (or talk about) the struggles I face (may always face).  There may be newbies who read a recent post and want more.  I always say, get sone coffee or wine, pick a comfy spot and read.   This is my story and I hope you find a bit of inspiration, hope, and maybe a bit of glitter.  

More than a conqueror

  "No, in all these things we are more than conquers through Him who loved us." Romans 8:37

Before I unpack all about Saturday, these are just a few of my favorites.

   "So happy for and proud for you. This was a truly hard thing."

   "You're awesome!"

   "Awesome!"

   "Amazing comeback Christina!"

   "Over the moon excited for you!"

   "Great comeback girl!"

    "Beyond happy for you and so proud of you! Nothing can keep you down!"

    "You're going to have a beautiful day!

    "Holy Moly. Enjoy every step, every moment because they are yours and they represent your victory!"

I probably have repeated the word excited way too much lately. On some level, I was psyching myself up for something I so wanted to do. Return to doing. My training most likely did not look like anyone else's. But I gave it all I had with my last training run last weekend. I finished five miles and I thought, If I can finish 5 miles then I can finish the 10k next Saturday. Everything was ready; outfit, shoes, socks, even the nails.  

     On Friday, I picked up my race packet for The Woodlands Marathon 10k.  It felt a little weird not volunteering but I told them I'd be back next year. A good friend of mine signed up for the race after I told her I was doing it as my comeback race. So I met her and stood in line with her to get her packet. Bib assignments were only a few numbers apart. There was a different air about the expo. I guess it was filled with...yes that word again...excitement.  We surveyed the expo and took a few pictures. Then it was off to prepare and be well rested for the next morning.

     I feel like I should back up a bit but if you have been following me and keeping up with the blog, it may be a bit redundant. I actually kept that I was doing the 10k a secret. And believe me, that's hard to do! My closet friends knew but I hadn't really told anyone else. Saturday morning, still feeling ready, nerves were a bit shaky.  Years past, the weather has been quite cold, rainy, but often a glorious day. Saturday was no exception. Sun came out in full force around 8:30 a.m. after a relatively cool start. The two of us started out doing good. I learned from past races, I took off running because, well everyone else did too and I wanted to be like them. But I would take off too fast then burn out early. My initial plan was to walk the first mile or so, then do some short run/walk intervals. That plan didn't happen. I psyched myself up days before thinking I could hit a goal of under two hours.  Spoiler alert: did not happen.  But the good things on the course were: my (new) hips and knees behaved and I wasn't out of breath. So, I am not sure why, after mile 3, things seemed to crater.  

     But the two of us finished! As we rounded the corner on the path to the finish line, and I don't know why they put the 10k people in the same lane as the full marathoners, and shared the 26.2 lane, we could see and hear the crowds. I knew the finish line was not that far off. I always try to save energy and run across the finish line. Today was no different. As we approached, I took off and ran across the finish line. No pain or discomfort. And did it happily....and smiling!  I am very humbled to have had the support of so many. While others trained for the half and full, I trained quietly for a 10k.  To go back a year ago, I initially deferred my half marathon to this year but realized after the second hip replacement, it wasn't conceivable (or smart) to train for a half.  

     After the finish, I felt a happiness I think has been lacking.  There were tears but they didn't leave my eyes.  It may have been the delirium. Or that I really did do a hard thing. The last race I did was in 2022, rather uncomfortably.  But Saturday, my hips and legs carried me through and finished 6.2 miles.  For the first time in a long time, I enjoyed sitting with the others and just soaking in all that was going on. Was I disappointed I didn't finish under 2 hours? Yes. Only because there was a time (and a different me) when I finished a half in under 3 hours. But as I was reminded, I finished a 10k after having two hip replacements within a year.  I took more pictures than I remember doing in years past. I even posed for one on the course, which I always shy away from.  

     I have had amazing motivation, inspiration, coaching, and education this last year.  These running friends and community have celebrated every bit of my recovery along with me, while they were out running 6-20 miles on Saturday mornings and I was giddy about completing 1, 2, and 3 miles, they still high-fived and cheered me on. They saw me at my worst and they stuck around to see me at my best. I learned that our accomplishments are not just ours.  Somehow, this last year, I have been encouraged and inspired more than any other time. By an awesome group of friends, near and far.  

     So what's next you might be thinking? One of the things I look forward to while training for a race, is the rest and recovery after. Rest and recovery, I learned, is vital after completing a race. So, I have about 3 days of rest and recovery. I'm back on the pavement later this week. I do have a plan.....or concepts of plan. Okay, my attempt at some humor. A few people know, most importantly my coach. And she is on board with it. I might as well spill the beans.  In 2026, it will be 10 years since my very first half marathon which was done in my own backyard.  I thought it was fitting to celebrate by returning to where it started. I signed up for The Woodlands Half Marathon. I am enthused (ah, thought I was going to use excited again didn't you) about it. I will tell you it will be done with glitter all the weigh!  

Christina 

1. 
   

A meet up with my younger self......

 "To your younger self....forgive her. To your current self....believe in her. To your future self....create her."

Apparently there is a trend going around where you post about meeting your younger self for coffee and having a conversation. So I got on the trend and this is how it went.  

After I finished a little over 3 miles (some of which I ran in the rain) on this early rainy Saturday, I sat down with my younger self for coffee. Well, she drank water, I had a limited edition Starbucks Brown Sugar Cinnamon coffee.  

She wrinkled her nose and asked me when I started drinking coffee. I smiled and remember the day I took a sip. I met a dear British friend for coffee at a local cafe. I didn't know what I would drink if I didn't have coffee. I told my younger self I decided it was time to grow up so I had a cup and have never looked back.  

As we sat, tears welled up in her eyes. She cried and told me she was tired of being overweight and feeling alone, isolated. She had yet to really date and go out and do things. I told her she has an aha moment and she loses over 200 pounds. She meets some really awesome people who become her closest friends.  Shaking her head as she doesn't believe me, she asks if her dream of being skinny came true. I smiled and said yes, but not without hard work and tough choices. I left out the hospital visit and the diabetes.  

I'm dressed in my yoga/running pants, hair up in a ponytail, Brooks and a short sleeve shirt.  She asked if I really enjoyed being active. I told her I did and I realized how capable I am of so many things. I told her she gets addicted to races, running, and yoga. Even joins a run club.  And so much more.  

I tell her she changes the way she eats, gives up diet drinks, ice cream and fast food. She commits herself to Weight Watchers for the last time and succeeds. She asks if it was hard. I tell her it was challenging at times, but it was something she had to do. I am honest and tell her there are some bumps and detours but she conquers them. She sits and listens. Listens to the stories I tell of finishing a half marathon, not once, but 3 times. Stories of letting go of how she thinks things should go and enjoy. Enjoy the organic development of it all.  

Before we get up and leave, I ask her for a favor. I tell her I'm doing something sort of big in a couple of weeks and could she be at the finish line. She might see some awesome people. She smiles and says she will. She then asks me what I thought about starting a blog. I suggest the name be something sparkly. She'll inspire many others.  

Did I mention the conversation was filled with Glitter all the weigh? 

You will.... again

 "You will be in the moment again. You will find yourself again. You will get into a routine again. You will believe in something bigger than yourself again. You will return because you're not going backwards, but softening inwards. You are bringing into expression the person who has always lived inside. You have not lost the hope within you, for it is the home that will always be your final destination."

Do we really want to talk about 2024? If we must, okay. It was a weird year but the situation(s) gave me time to take care of myself. I think I posted about my left hip surgery. After I recovered I thought things would get back to how they were. I was wrong. I just looked at the last time I blogged. August of 2024. Wow. There are many holes. It was decided that my right hip needed replacing as well. So, in September, I geared up for another surgery. This time, I knew what to expect with recovery.  I could extend the cliffs notes version, but there's not much excitement for the rest of the year.  

Well, except that recovery went well and by Thanksgiving I was walking again. No pain, no limping, no braces. My awesome coach increased my mileage by .25 miles every two weeks. By December I was walking 3 miles during the week and 4 on Saturday.  

I am finally headed toward the moment again. The one where I am doing what I enjoy. Have I found myself again? Not quite. But I am slowly returning to a routine again. And if I can toot my own horn, it feels fantastical.  

I told myself that I would start running again in January. Well, I followed through. I am still in a coral very far in the back, but I am in a much better place than I was the last time I crossed a start line. I am almost forced to enjoy this journey and the progression. I do not mind. I run and there is no pain. Even the arthritic knee holds off until I finish. I adore the friends who have encouraged me along the way. Watched me as I crawled out of a hole only to walk normal again.  They are almost as excited as I am or more watching my progress.  

I still giggle as I put on my socks and lace up my shoes. And I certainly giggle when I cross my legs. I hate to burst the bubble, but.....I still have those thoughts from time to time. I had one earlier this week. You would think after all this time I’d be an expert at how to handle them.

I am on the cusp of something big and I need to make these weeks count. I have no time for bumps. You’ll remind me that everyone has them. While this is true they have mastered the art of letting them roll off the back.

I almost want to chant “today is not that day.” I am excited about returning to my routines. I am excited about being active again. There’ll be a day when I wake up and those thoughts are kept at bay.

And I will run with glitter all the weigh…again.