*RECAP* Race To The Row 5k

*RECAP* Race To The Row 5k

Note: I was given a complimentary entry for the race, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Ain't nobody got time for lyin'!

How can you pass up participating in a race that is literally across the street from your neighborhood? I mean the commute alone is a huge PRO! ;)

2015 marked the third year of the Race To The Row 5k at Assembly Row in Somerville and the third different course. Haha. There has been a lot of change to the area (improvements) so the course had to adjust as well.

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That One Time I Won My Division... aka Biggest Loser Half Recap!

That One Time I Won My Division... aka Biggest Loser Half Recap!

I, Dani Holmes-Kirk, won my age division at the Biggest Loser Half in Killington, Vermont (July 26).

Say whhaa???

Yes I am stil on Cloud 9 about that. Actually I'm so excited about that part that I will just wrap up the recap early. Good to end on a positive note, right?

Oh you want more?

Wellll okay then! ;)

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Just The Weekend I Needed...

Just The Weekend I Needed...

Everybody's working for the weekend! 

When I woke up Friday I was in a bad mental place. I opted to take a No-Weigh In for my weekly weigh-in and shifted my focus to recharging over the weekend.

For the first time in awhile we weren't traveling or racing so it was the perfect chance to dial back the "go go go" pace we've been on this summer and just be. 

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Face It Friday: Disappointment & Thick To Thin Apparel Company

Face It Friday: Disappointment & Thick To Thin Apparel Company

I just can't. I'm disappointed in myself for still sounding like a broken record. No one can get my head back in the game, but ME!!

With this intro one can only assume that I gained this week.

Well you are correcto-mondo my friend. 

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Freedom Run 5k Recap: PR City Baby

Freedom Run 5k Recap: PR City Baby

Ahhhh I gave away the whole story in the headline of this post, but I just can't contain my excitement!!!! So yes yes yes - I did get a PR at the Cambridge 5k Freedom Run 5k on Sunday, June 7.

But you HAVE to continue reading to find out how it happened... :)

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That Time I Came Within 3 Seconds Of PRing... MOMs Run 5k Recap

That Time I Came Within 3 Seconds Of PRing... MOMs Run 5k Recap

Do you have one of those can't miss local races? I have a few, but one of the tops is definitely the M.O.Ms Run 5k on Mother's Day in Somerville.

The wife and I have run in this race every year since moving back to Boston from Chicago. Now I wanted to make sure 2015 would be no different. 

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Weekend Wrap-Up: Friends, #LogOffRace Virtual 10k Recap & Getting Sick

Wait you mean I had a weekend without a marathon to prep for or run? No long run to be had. Whatever will I do with myself? I'll do all the things and none of the things at the same time.

Does that even make sense to anyone? It made perfect sense in my head.

Let's see what the weekend held for me:

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Face It Friday: Fighting To Positive, Breaking Even & Losing While Marathon Training

Did you know that you can train for a marathon and still lose weight? It's true! I'm living proof! :) Since we kicked off marathon training at the beginning of December I am happy to report I am down 7.8 lbs. Wahoo!

How do I do it?

Well I don't do anything crazy or out of the norm. I keep everything balanced and in check with my Weight Watchers tracking. Hey, if it ain't broke don't fix it. I find I need to use more of my extra Points (WPs and APs) to make sure my body fuels enough to train and shed weight.

Tracking allows me to keep the RUNGRY HORRORS at bay and give me a rude wake-up call when I pull out the excuse of:

Well I ran today I can have lots of XXXXXX.

Anyone else get that way?

Well the thing about always training for long distances is my body has a HIGH baseline on the Activelink. Soooo a 3 mile run isn't what it used to be on old Activity Point barometer. You feel me?

With tracking and the Good Health Guidelines I try to keep my splurges in check. To be 100% honest (as I always am with you folks), my week starts on Friday and I tend to be in the negative by Monday morning. That means I go through DPT, WPs and any APs earned.

I then spend Monday-Thursday trying my best to earn enough APs to get back into the positive.

Is this ideal? Hellz No.

BUT I find that it allows me to indulge when I want to with friends (which tends to be on the weekend) and bring it back on track during the weekdays (when I am more boring).

NOW I always listen to my body. Fueling for the race is my highest priority so I do track everything I eat during runs/workouts.

I could cut out wine, beer and fries and be set, but that isn't what I am about. And hey! I didn't lose the 83 pounds to give those up completely. That's just not how MY plan works.

So last week I had the big shocking loss which meant I FULLY expected a huge gain this week to balance it out. I mean I was sick last week so I figured that had to be it.

Well I ended up breaking even on the scale. Weighed in again at 152.

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Still my lowest weight since 6th grade.

This past weekend was challenging as I was feeling healthier so I did more socializing. This meant I was in the hole Points-wise by Monday morning. So for accountability I posted my tracker each day to Facebook and Twitter for support. I didn't even care if anyone commented on it. I had to put it out there for me.

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And it worked!

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How about that? I even went out and splurged on St. Patrick's Day with my friend and fellow WW Leader Susan.

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And there was some estimating! I didn't bring my travel food scale to the bar so we both did the best we could to put something in!

So going back to weekly weigh-ins and sharing more with friends and social media has helped me shed about 8 lbs in 2015.

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For awhile I tried just weighing in once a month (minimum requirement as a WW Employee and Lifetime Member), but it didn't work for me. I wasn't keeping the balance and consistency I needed.

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Pro Tip: When I need a little self-confidence boost during the day, I'll randomly set an alarm with a motivating message! Perks up my mood and puts a smile on my face!!

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Have you ever had to fight out of the negative during a Weight Watchers week?

*RECAP* Cambridge 5k Craicfest 5k With Slumbrew Happy Soles

My first-ever 5k was March 20, 2005. A local St. Patrick's Day 5k in Somerville. So racing in honor of the St. Patrick's Day holiday is wicked special to me. So the Cambridge 5k Craicfest 5k on March 16 would be the closest race to my 10-year anniversary! It would now hold a special place in my heart.

How did this girl who was once a 235 lb couch potato become a 28-time half marathoner and 6-time marathoner?

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