Day One - Training begins.

Well, I hummed and hahhed, and delayed working out for more than a year. One thing I'm sure of is that exercise helped bring about the remission that I've been in for several years. Yet, somehow, I've let it lapse and lately, I'm feeling some uncomfortable symptoms again. Staying well with Crohn's requires discipline, and I haven't had much. This race is about so much - and one of the big things for me, is getting back to being the me that I really like.

So, day one is in the books. I went to the brand new gym on campus, set up my locker and went swimming. I wasn't even detoured when my goggles broke. I got in 1250 meters. I did some freestyle and some backstoke, along with some kicking. It felt amazing. FINALLY, my procrastinating is over.

I stepped on the scale afterward.....OUCH!!!! Let me just say that the last time I weighed this much I was nine months pregnant... I knew my pants were tight and that I didn't look how I liked, but this was an eye-opener. I'll drop the actual number later, but for now, suffice it to say that I'll be addressing this issue straightaway! I'll need to drop 25 lbs to be comfortable again, and I'm sure I can do it.

I mentioned my brother being sick and I want to take a second here in post one to tell you a little about him. He is a year older than me (37) and has been horribly sick for well over a year now. Recently the VA flew him to Denver to see about doing some surgery but they decided he was too ill. He's home now getting full TPN, nothing through the mouth and trying to heal some and put on a little weight before they try to do a resection and fix some fistulas that are connecting from his bowel to his bladder. His life has been turned upside down. He has two beautiful little girls, aged 10 and 12, who need their daddy back on his feet. He needs to get healthy so he can get his confidence back. He needs hope that it WILL get better. This race, for me, came about because of him. I was in a very similar place several years back and with everything in my being I want to help him get through this thing. The best I can do is to love him and support him and try to speed up the next great treatment and heck, maybe even cure.

This is the best way I could think of to try and help Kody, and everyone else out there who is in the throws of this beast. There is a better day ahead.

Because he is in a quest to GAIN weight, and I in a quest to LOSE some, here's my plan. As soon as I (at 5'10) weigh LESS than he (at 6'7) weighs, I'll let you know! Hopefully this is really SOON!