So, it is a bit of a contrast but I've have had moments of laziness and thanfulness lately when it comes to exercise.

Sometimes I think it would be so nice to just sit on the couch and relax. At times I really don't want to make the effort to be active and would like to go back to my old inactive self. Of course, I don't want the consequences of what goes with the lifestyle, so I keep up my exercise!:)

Yesterday, I did a 6 mile run in Central Park. It was a beautiful evening here and I was so grateful to be able to get out and run. It was one of the runs where I was extra aware of how thankful I am to have lost all weight and to be able to get out and enjoy a run on a beautiful night. So, it is this mind set that I try to keep rather than the one that would like to be lazy.

Three years ago, on July 26, 2005, I did my first race, the Corporate Challenge. It is a 3.5 mile race and I was thrilled to finish in 52 minutes (my goal was 55 minutes). Today I did the same race and finished in 36:30, which is a 10:26 pace. This is a PR for me - my fastest race to date!! I guess all the sweat and training has paid off. It really means a lot to be able to go to an event like this with my co-workers and to be able to run at a respectable pace.

Today I did the NYC 1/2 marathon. I can't believe this was my 7th half marathon. We had to be at Central Park this morning by 6:30 for a 7:00 start. The weather started out a little iffy and we had a little rain, but it cleared in time for the race and left us with a lovely humid day. The race consisted of a loop around Central Park, then down 7th Ave, across 42nd Street and down the West Side Highway to Battery Park. It was a great route! I got teary eyed going down 7th Ave into Times Square. I am still amazed to be out there running!

My time was 2:42:35 - definitely not in the top of my 1/2 marathon finishes. I had some issues along with way and needed to make several bathroom stops, I think they hurt my time. But I did get out there and finished and I got a great medal!

On Sunday I will be doing my 7th half marathon! I can't believe it. It is a little over 2 years, since my first half marathon and I am still amazed that I am a runner now. I am doing the NYC 1/2 marathon and it should be a lot of fun, the route starts in Central Park and then goes through Times Square and finishes in lower Manhattan. I hope it won't be too hot on Sunday, or raining for that matter! LOL, I don't ask for a lot considering it is July.

Flying is certainly not pleasurable these days, but it is so much better than it was before my gastric bypass surgery. I just got back from a work trip to Boulder, CO. I had to book the dreaded middle seat for the return trip. While the middle seat would never be my first choice, I was relieved that I didn't have to worry about fitting in the seat. I knew as I would as comfortable as one could possibly be in the middle seat on an airplane.

It is so wonderful not to have to worry whether or not I will fit into a seat!

I am thankful every day for the tool I received with my gastric bypass surgery. It is a very stressful time at work for me now and it would be so easy to turn to food to try and get through this time. Thankfully I cannot do the damage that I was able to do before the surgery. Even if I do turn to food to deal with the stress, I do not have the capacity to do as much damage as I would have in the past.

I'm also finding it difficult to maintain my motivation to exercise when there are so many demands on my time. This has been a problem for me in the past. Then once the routine is broken, it is that much harder to get back on track. I've found that having some structure and goals tied to my exercise help keep me motivated. I work out with a trainer 1-2 times per week, and the commitment of the appointment stops me from blowing off my exercise. The commitment of training for the marathon, knowing that I need to be ready to run the marathon on 11/2, motivates me to get out and train when I'd rather be working, sleeping or doing just about anything else.

I can't believe it is time to start seriously training for the marathon again. It was a fast year since I was getting ready to train for my first marathon last year. This year I am running with Fred's Team. Fred's Team is a charity organization that raises money for cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering here in NY.

Last night we had our kickoff meeting. So, if being able to run a marathon isn't emotional enough for me, hearing all the stories about the good being done with the money raised by Fred's Team kept in me tears for a good portion of the meeting. One of the areas that benefits the most is pediatric research. Needless to say, it is especially touching to hear about the children that have beaten the odds.

We all know somebody who has fought the battle with cancer, so it is extra motivational to run with a group that is supporting cancer research. I work for a biotech company that has a focuses on cancer, diabetes and obesity so I see first hand ever day the difference that can be made with cancer research. Running to help cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering is extra special to me because my husband works there and I know it is a tremendous organization.

I am really excited about doing the marathon this year and being able to help a tremendous cause at the same time. Here is the link to my fundraising page if you would like to make a donation to Fred's Team:

Fred's Team