Feeling accomplished ... so let me celebrate!

Today was my running group's second Saturday morning meet.  Our leader planned a 4-mile run for us.  And I was nervous.  It would be the longest run I've ever attempted, and I'd be doing it in 20 degree weather (something I was very nervous about as I was concerned my clothing would not suffice).  I was hoping that I could complete the run in under an hour but even that was ambitious because I know I was going to stop running at some point and the rest becomes a run/walk.  Here's what actually happened:

I ran 4 miles in 55:15!  5 minutes under my goal.  I was so proud of myself!  There were a few things that I observed along the run that I believe allowed me to make my time limit: (1) there was someone in the running group who was running at a comparable speed to me, so I always had her in front of me and pushed myself to maintain a pace close to hers.  I think if she hadn't been in front of me and I was running alone, I likely would have stopped to walk earlier than I did.  I probably ran for ~15 or so minutes straight before taking a break.  This is something I had NEVER done before. (2) Somewhere around the 3 mile mark, I got this sudden wind that I was unstoppable.  I'm sure running down an incline may have helped that, but at that moment I started to smile as I ran -- I truly felt happy and fearless. (3) As I approached mile 4, something inside me said, "you can definitely run/walk a half marathon."  So I'm going to keep going and hope that voice doesn't get stifled.

Now -- all that aside, I do need to be more careful with my eating.  A whole lot more careful than I am today.  This evening I am headed to a girls' night, so I plan to eat pizza, drink wine, and eat desserts.  Fine -- that was planned all along.  My issue is that I don't have the willpower to hop back on the healthy eating track.  Often times, my selfishness (and wanting to celebrate lots of moments with friends) makes me eat whatever I want, because I don't want to NOT enjoy what should be a fun moment.  And I have a lot of fun moments!  This is the mindset I have to change.  And, truly, the purpose of the blog.  I think I'm starting to see how running can have a positive effect on my health (mental and physical), and now I just need to find a way to eat better in a way that is sustaintable for me.  This is the challenge.