Bucket List

I have heard many people speak of their "bucket list".  I have never really thought about what I would have on my "bucket list", but a 5K would have to be up there.  Now, don't get me wrong, I have done several 5K's.  Several.  NEVER have I been able to jog more than I ran.  NEVER have I been able to keep up with my mom.  NEVER have I felt like I was a competitor.  Until today.  Today I participated in the Jingle Bell run for Arthritis.  It was a 5K and several WFMH people participated.  I was hoping that since starting my quest for a healthier lifestyle, I would be able to be more "athletic".  I knew I would not be running the entire thing.  I knew I would not finish in the front of the pack.  I KNEW I would finish, and I would work hard to make it competitive for myself. 
Thanks to constant encouragement from my WFMH pal, Monte, and my mom, I was able to meet my goals.  I jogged more than I walked, I landed a personal best for time, and I was able to keep up with my mom.  It felt good.  I don't know an official time, but even the unofficial time that Brady kept was still 6 minutes better than the race I did in September. 
Monday is the final weigh in a measurements for the "top 3".  I won't make the cut.  I don't even care.  I have not only gotten stronger, lost a bit of weight, and hopefully lost some inches, but I have met some great people who I have total respect for.  Friday night was our final WFMH team boot camp.  We worked hard, but it wasn't as bad as that first one, 12 weeks ago.  We were able to talk during the workout, laugh, and push each other.  Just like the race today, it was good.
I'm not terribly worried about Thanksgiving.  I am not planning to eat like I am capable of, I am planning to  get some exercise in.  It will also be good.  We have our final, final measurements on December 13th.  Those are the ones I am most excited for.  I want to know how the encouragement from my trainers combined with my desire to be healthy has contributed to my loss of inches. 
I do not think I am going to re-enlist in WFMH.  It has been a great program and really jump started my lifestyle change.  When I was looking back to decide what to do, I realized that the thing I loved the most from WFMH was boot camp, it made sense that I should just continue with that.  Twice a week at a minimum, hopefully more on occasion will be my goal.  My long term goal is to shave a bunch of time off of my 1/2 marathon time.  I am not thinking that I will run the entire thing, but with my friend Monte, we certainly will give it our best shot.  It will be good.  I would have NEVER thought that I would LIKE exercise, especially boot camp.  I love the way I feel when I have completed a class.  I love sweating my brains out and breathing hard.  It feels soooooo good.
So, weigh and measure on Monday and in the mean time, I will keep on keepin' on. . . . .