Thanks @swimr12265 & @HelenKr & all for your kind words. I might sign up for another 10k soon as I'm sure @awood08 will agree it's a great motivator trying to beat your previous time. Might help me stay on track with food & exercise goals whilst I'm on holiday if I know I have another run booked for when we get back... hmmm, tempting lol.
So, we are almost at the end of this challenge, I've been reading through the recent posts & some are smashing their goals & others are struggling a little but the main thing is to celebrate the fact that you are still working towards your overall goals & by checking in hopefully the support this group provides has kept your spirits up, like it has mine.
I'm more than happy to start the next challenge, I will be away from 5th of March til Easter so my posts will be few & far between. I'm sure the next challenge will make great reading, banishing the holiday blues when we are back.
Here are my stats, a few days early again. Will check in once more on the 14th. Down 1lb, yay! 
Think the 10k & being more careful with my food has helped. I don't think I'll make my revised goal of 130lbs by the 14th but not to worry, I have been struggling with slow progress since Christmas but am still really happy to be moving in the direction I am.
Hope you all have good weeks! 
USW 23/3: 186
CSW 1/1: 136
PW 4/2: 133
CW: 9/2: 132
GW: 14/2: 130
UGW 5/3/16: 126
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You sound like a true runner (or at least someone who likes to do it). I am cursed with the ability to do it fairly well ("cursed" because this ability makes me push myself to do it as well as I can--better than I can--even though I do not much like it), but the ONLY joy it brings me is when I beat my previous times. Winning a race (I usually always win in my age bracket) is never enough. After doing a 1:47.00 half marathon, you probably would look forward to the next one and challenge yourself to meet your goal. I rebuked myself for not reaching my goal (1:45.0) and dread doing another one...even though I am too much a competitor to just say, "Well, I don't even like to run; I'm a swimmer! I just won't do another one." or "Why are you whining? That was a decent time; you're not even a runner!" The fact that I failed to reach my goal nags me (translation: haunts me!). If I don't run a 1:45.00, I'll feel like a failure. Sigh.
I am the same way about swimming. I have a goal of breaking a minute in the 100 freestyle. My best time since I returned to swimming after having children (I have three, ages 17, 13, and 9) has been a 1:03 (high), and I am not getting any younger (I turned 51 my last birthday). Instead of just telling myself to enjoy what I am doing and have fun (many swimmers half my age can't break a minute!), I am constantly berating myself about my poor performance. At least I AM a swimmer. I really don't mind wanting to improve my swimming. I just wish I could change this quality about myself when it comes to other things that I'm not (I'm not a runner; I'm not a bowler; I'm NOT a teenager!!). I have to push myself in everything I do, even things I don't do often or well. I know this is not wise, and it would make me infinitely less stressed in life to not constantly beat myself up over every perceived "defeat," (lol !!), but I don't. Oh well. It does manage to keep me humble. I always have something to work toward. At least I am not so driven that I injure myself (I draw the line there!). I am also glad to know that there are plenty of people who are actually happy to run that next race...good for you! And, as you pointed out, it IS a really good way to keep the pounds at bay, and it is also easy to do anywhere as long as you have a pair of running shoes with you. THAT is one thing I DO like about it! It should still be warm in Australia when you get there, so you'll likely be able to keep your weight down, too. You're double lucky!! You don't even have to wait for that next 10K...lol.
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