That's great news Trip. I won't be there on race day but I wish you will. In addition to pledging $, I will support you in your training.
I am a part of a weight loss thread on another site. I post my weight every Monday morning. I will do likewise here too. I started back in Oct -Nov. After a few good weeks early I started to gain over the holidays. Let's see several Thanksgiving meals, 4 birthdays in 3 months all with a couple of dinners and dessert each, endless Christmases, I don't know why I gained a few pounds in Nov-Dec.
As of the 2nd week of January I was 227 (51 yrs old and 5-9). On Monday I was 217.4. This morning I was 216.6. Last year at my max I was 235.
My ultimate goal is to get back below 200 but I do not have a time frame for it. I am happy with a pound a week. My next goal is 215. That is what I weighed 3 1/2 years ago when I needed to get my weight down for a life insurance physical. (Lower weight = better rate.)
I tried to run a few years back but I can't. I have had a bad back since I was in a car accident on my 18th birthday. Four years ago, while training for a 5 K race, I popped a rib out of place. It took 3 trips to the Chiropractor before he could get it pushed back in. Now even brisk walks give me pain.
While I still take walks I am somewhat limited in what I can do to exercise. Most of my weight loss has to come from eating more sensibly. (Sigh.)