2013 brag about it thread

[2TxAgs]

So, here's a thread where you can BRAG BRAG BRAG about your successes in 2013. Maybe they're BIG and AMAZING, and maybe they're smaller. In either case, you've earned the right to crow about it.

C'mon ladies and gents - tell us your story, and give us inspiration and motivation as we move into 2014.

For me: last year, shortly after I turned 50, I started walking. A few months later, some easy and occasional running. I averaged 24 miles/month in 2012. This year I picked it up, set a goal of completing a half marathon before the year was up (will do that tomorrow) and walked/ran 693 miles for the year. Averaging almost 58 miles/month!

Who's next....? (Please don't be shy, cuz otherwise I'll feel like a horrible bragger and all I really want is a place to showcase everyone's victories)

 

[Rose&Mike]

Great idea!

And congrats on your great accomplishments this year. I know you are going to have a great 1/2 tomorrow!

In 2013 I set a goal of running a mile every day. After an injury in January, I could have quit, but I revised the goal to complete a mile every day (run or walk), and as of today I am at 364/365 days with one more to go! I am over 1000 miles for the year.

I also completed 1 marathon, 2 half marathons, and 2 10ks--which is a great accomplishment, but I am more proud of my mile a day!

 

[2TxAgs]

Rose, I think sticking to your mile a day commitment, day in and day out, for an entire year is AMAZING. That takes so much dedication and perseverance - very cool. Congrats!!!

 

[huckleberrykate]

Great idea!

2013 was a huge year for me
I dropped 70+ lbs
Ran 5 5k, 2 10k, 2 1/2 marathons, and my first full marathon
I took 30+ minutes off my 1/2 marathon pace from the one in March to the one I did in Nov.
I do not know my total running mileage for the year and really wish I had keep track (one of my goal for 2014).
I am down 7 dress sizes and wearing single digits and single letters for the first time since high school 20 yrs ago!

Congrats to all those that have posted and will post and thank you for letting me brag!
I am so very proud of myself and can not wait to see what 2014 has to offer!

 

[Ed J]

I started running in 2012, bought a pair of sneakers for my 47th birthday.
This was the result.



A year to the day



I did a total of 100 miles running in 2012. I hit 500 running this year with another 250+ walking (walking 6 mile loops while playing golf, I just can't walk to walk).

My kid is 15 and has me running in 5K's and my SIL does the 5's and 10's with me sometimes too. This is a before and after from early summer.



I dropped 50 and have kept it off. I wana lose 10 more but my diet has sucked as of late, that will change after the holidays. I also want to do a mud run and a 1/2 this year, good chance I'll make that happen.

I quit smoking 8 years ago and found it easy because it was something I wanted to do. Dropping the weight with diet change and exercise was also easy as I wanted it, mind over matter and all that good crap ;-).

The kid and I are doing our first Disney run in about 6 weeks, looking forward to that .

 

[Rose&Mike]

Congrats to Kate & Ed J. Both great stories and accomplishments!

 

[RangerPooh]

I told myself that 2013 was the year that I would get off the couch and sign myself up for a 5k. I mean there's more motivation to jog/walk if you have money invested so that's what I did.

In May I completed the Expedition Everest Challenge. It's 5k that turns out to be more of a 10k. But it was great!

Then in June my girlfriends and I participated in Color Me Rad 5k here in WA.

Then July was the Dirty Dash 5k and Color Mob 5k also here in WA.

Then in August was the Tase-T-Lentil 5k, a local race. And I had to sit out another local 5k due to an injury

Then in October was the highlight of my achievement, I completed the Hayden Lake 10k in Idaho

I'm hoping that 2014 shaped up to be this great if not better! I did sign up for the Tinkerbell 1/2 but had to defer for family reasons. But I'm already looking at 2014 options in my area

*Sorry about the size of the photo, just wanted to share my achievement

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Lots of little brags:
Jan 1 I weighed 190 pounds
My lowest weight for the year was 169
I'm currently at 174, damn holidays!! LOL

In January I was unfocused, had no energy, and ate Maalox every day like it was going out of style.
Today I sleep better, I have more energy, I do things with my kids more often.
I haven't had an antacid in 6 months.

I run. Not fast, and not for very long but I run.

I joined a gym!!!! And I got 3 friends to join with me! We used to go on breakfast dates on Thursdays, now we go on gym dates 4 times a week.

 

[2TxAgs]

Woooow - you guys are inspiring! I love hearing all the different ways we've gotten to where we are.

Thank you for responding, and good luck to each of you in 2014!

 

[MRS AR]

I'm so happy for everyone's life changes. I started running September 2012. My first 1/2 was January 2013. My first half finish was 3:13 and it was so emotional I teared up. I was 57 and had never been physically talented so I was overwhelmed that I could compete.

This year I completed 2 -5k, 1 -10k, 6 -1/2 marathons. I'm not sure how many miles I've logged this year but I run 4-5 days a week year round. Along the year I lost 30 pounds that I hope to keep off.

I'm looking forward to what 2014 brings.

 

[glss1/2fll]

good job everyone!

According to map my walk:

2013 WORKOUT SUMMARY

477 workouts

878.6 miles

359.1 hours

113,738 kCal burned

DH says, "la de da little miss smartie pants!" He's shocked because I do pretty much all of that while he's still asleep! But he puts me to shame in the evenings. pretend the moped is a bicycle!

 

[KatieNIU]

What a great idea for a thread!!

Five years ago after I just turned 30 I was obese and very out of shape. I was tired all the time and had no energy. I knew if I didn't change soon I would end up with serious health issues (diabetes and high blood pressure run in my family).

I started by eliminating all the bad carbs from my diet and slowly started exercising. I went to the gym 3-4 times a week and did 30 minutes on the elliptical at the lowest setting (at the time that was all I could manage to do). The weight started falling off and after a few months I was able to increase my duration and intensity of my workouts. It was then I hired a personal trainer.

Nine months after starting my new lifestyle my cousin convinced me to sign up for a 5K. Without even knowing how long a 5K really was I signed up. I trained for 2 months and felt ready for the race. I completed the race and that was when I fell in love with running.

Since that first 5K race I have completed dozens of races including 10 full marathons and 5 ultra marathons. I've even added a few triathlons to the mix and am signed up for a half ironman next summer. Next week I will be down in Disney participating in the Goofy Challenge.

I am now at a normal weight and in the best shape of my life. I am at a comfortable 123LBS and am now focusing on getting leaner and maintaining my weight. I've been overweight/obese my whole life and constantly been told I have to lose weight and get healthy. It's such an awesome feeling to now be told how great I look and my doctor telling me not to lose anymore weight. I can go into any clothing store and not worry about whether or not they have my size (I now wear a size 2 in jeans and XS/S in shirts). All my life I used my family (who are all overweight) as an excuse for my poor lifestyle and eating habits. I've worked hard to get into the shape that I am in and had proven that genetics is not an excuse. I do understand that for me to maintain my health I have to continue this routine for the rest of my life. However, I would rather do this than have to take a bunch of pills or deal with serious health issues.

I am generally not a bragger and am pretty shy. However, I do like to tell people my story about how I got healthy and got into running. My intention is not to brag but to hopefully inspire others. I am proud of the work I have put in and seeing the results have made it so worth it.

 

[2TxAgs]

I am generally not a bragger and am pretty shy. However, I do like to tell people my story about how I got healthy and got into running. My intention is not to brag but to hopefully inspire others. I am proud of the work I have put in and seeing the results have made it so worth it.

KatieNIU - CONGRATS! Your post is exactly why I started this thread!
Your motivation and your success is an inspiration to all of us. Good luck this year!

I told myself that 2013 was the year that I would get off the couch and sign myself up for a 5k. I mean there's more motivation to jog/walk if you have money invested so that's what I did.
In May I completed the Expedition Everest Challenge. It's 5k that turns out to be more of a 10k. But it was great!
Then in June my girlfriends and I participated in Color Me Rad 5k here in WA.
Then July was the Dirty Dash 5k and Color Mob 5k also here in WA.
Then in August was the Tase-T-Lentil 5k, a local race. And I had to sit out another local 5k due to an injury
Then in October was the highlight of my achievement, I completed the Hayden Lake 10k in Idaho

RangerPooh - congrats on a wonderful year! Nice job! And it sounds like you got in some traveling around your races. That's what I hope to do as well. I think my goal this year may be to find a race somewhere I've never been, just to go somewhere new!

In January I was unfocused, had no energy, and ate Maalox every day like it was going out of style.
Today I sleep better, I have more energy, I do things with my kids more often.
I haven't had an antacid in 6 months.
I run. Not fast, and not for very long but I run.
I joined a gym!!!!

BernardandMissBianca - that's awesome! You can tell that your choices have had a positive outcome in your sleep and energy level - that's what it's all about!

Ed J - the pictures tell the story, don't they? Congrats on your hard work, and good luck at your Disney race with your daughter!

huckleberrykate - 7 dress sizes??? kowabunga, girl, you rocked it last year! Keep on keepin' on

Linda, "la de da", well good for you!!! Congrats on a great year!

MRS AR, I need to find me a good race in MS. That's not too far away if I hop on a Southwest flight....Maybe next fall? Got anything special you really like to run?

 

[MRS AR]

2TxAgs I ran the Mississippi Blues last January and loved it. Most of the races I've done have been away from here. I've done one at Pensacola Beach that was fun. They had Jimmy Buffett music with guys in hula skirts handing out fruit for fuel and water. I'm doing the New Orleans R&R in February and I've heard it is a great race. I'll let you know.

 

[disneymom1980]

Although I'm currently injured and frustrated, I'd like to share too .

In 2013 I went from barely being able to run 1 minute to being able to run 8.6 miles without stopping. Running was just something I never thought I'd be able to do, and I wanted to prove to myself that I could. Prior to the injury, I was averaging 20 miles/week.

I ran my first 5k, the Jingle Jungle 5k, and I can't definitely understand the addiction to runDisney races. About a week after that race, DD and I also ran the Castaway Cay 5k.

Right now, I'm just hoping I get healed up so that my doctor will release me when I see her on January 14. My goal is a Disney half, and, hopefully someday, a coast to coast!

 

[bumbershoot]

2013 started with 2012.

Back then I'd had enough. Joined Weight Watchers that February. Walked a 5K in early June. Started a couch to 5K program. Finished it. Did it again. Then did again for distance instead of time. Kept on running.

Early 2013 I signed up for the TOT 10 miler. Also signed up for the 2014 Half Marathon (and 5K with my son).

Did the Castaway Cay in February 2013.

Did the same 5K in June as I had done in 2012, and walk/ran it. My picture from that one is MUCH better than the first.

In September I did a 10K locally just in time to submit proof of time for the TOT. I didn't do horribly.

In October I ran the TOT. Didn't do horribly. Just before the race I called myself at goal so I could eat a bit more for training.

Went on a second Disney cruise, did the CC5K again. Improved my time despite it being a warmer part of the year.

In November I had gone through the 6 weeks at goal and am now considered a Lifetime WW member (4th time through WW, 1st time hitting goal let alone making Lifetime!). Over that period of time I lost 85 pounds.

Double digits with a W at the end in Feb 2012, and I just went down yet another size in pants, to a number I have NEVER been before, not even in the 80s before "vanity sizing" really got going. (I'm sure my pattern size would still make me sigh, though)

Back in May I started strength training and I have been very happy with the results that has given me!


Pretty awesome nearly 2 years for my physical (and mental and emotional) self, all in all!


I would post the race pictures, but my photobucket is full and I can't decide if I'm going to pay for more storage or if it's morally OK in my head to create a second account. So...no pictures at this time.

 

[emilyindisney]

In 2013 I ran 3 more half marathons, overcame my knee injury with physical therapy and improved my pace down to 9:30/mile on my long runs!

Here's to making 2014 even better!

 

[kappyfamily]

I was told I didn't have the body for running.... In 2013 I did 25 races, 11 of them were half marathons!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Another woohoo 2013 brag!
I just downloaded our pics from Santa this year, I look pretty good! And I'm not hiding behind a kid like I was last time we did a pic with all 6 of us, I usually just do the kids.

 

[FireDancer]

Congratulations on a great 2013 for you guys.

I did more cycling events this year then I ever have before. It didn't hurt that my girlfriend got a new road bike and along with some friends we started doing biking events as a group.

I also did 6 half marathons this year which is the most I've done in a single year. I'm already signed up for 5 in 2014 and 3 of them are 5k/half marathon back to backs. I will be adding at least 2 more states to my half 2 run list too. I'll be doing my first duathlon and team triathlon in 2014 and will be aiming for a sub 3-hour full (but will be happy with any BQ time).