2) My husband completed his FIRST EVER 5K
3) I was able to run an entire mile without stopping to walk
4) And the big one...I've not given up!
This "challenge" began 11/7/10 and my first official run/walk was 11/8/10. We are at December 12/21/10 - we are seven weeks (and how many runs Nelly?) in. I feel pretty great about the fact that we're still going strong, though it is still a chore somedays to get the work-outs in. I NEVER would have guessed that I would agree to two 5K's in two weeks, nor did I ever imagine that Shawn would be joining me for so many of my morning or evening runs OR agree himself to the participate in last Saturday's race.
This past weekend's race was not what I would call fun, but another accomplishment for us. Janelle a.k.a Drill Sargeant, a.k.a coach, met us around 8:30 AM and we made our way to the race site. We had plenty of time to kill as this race was much smaller in size than the last and we had again pre-registered. Janelle decided that rather than wait in the warmth of the car that she would go ahead a run the course before the race started, Shawn and I walked a lap to warm up. The course itself was laid out nicely and I think we'll have to spend some more time there in the Spring. Shawn took off ahead of Janelle and I once the race began. It wasn't very long until we were again lapped by the race leaders.
I felt pretty good though, starting out, Janelle acredited that to the fact that I hadn't ran the Thursday evening prior - again, I am a fair weather runner, and there was snow covering Old Farm that evening. About half way through the first mile I began to feel as if I could run the entire mile without slowing to walk. Once I mentioned that to Nelly - it was on. Her sole job became encouraging me to keep it up until we reached that neon "1 Mile" sign. And I did. It felt great. I walked for a while and began to shed layers like an onion - I still dress to warmly for these races, but it's cold out there! Janelle, being the awesome sister that she is, would hold my gloves, ear warmer, extra long sleeve shirt as I undressed on the course and was determined to keep us on track to beat our previous time, which we did!
We finished right around 42 minutes Saturday, and along the way, I even encouraged another runner to stay with us and run to the finish...she almost made it. As we rounded the corner to the finish line I saw my adorable husband waiting for us. He'd finished about 6 minutes ahead of us - I told you he was a closet running machine. And as I huffed and puffed, getting myself calmed - he hugged and kissed me and once again professed his pride in my accomplishments. Yeah, I'm a lucky gal.
After the race we headed to the shiny diner as the loot at this inagural race didn't compare to the prior weeks. I was thankful for this time with my husband and sister, though I wasn't on board with her New Year's Day 5K in Baltimore plan. I was again thankful too, that I was off the hook for at least another few days until I was running again.
That brings us to tonight. I was a reluctant runner tonight, I just feel so rushed and fatigued this time of year. Parties, shopping, wrapping, baking, it's all catching up to me it seems. But we got out there for a run on our street. I was feeling pretty good the first half mile or so. It wasn't terribly cold tonight, and Sean Kingston's "Fire Burning" blared in my ears. After the song ended, so did the music for the rest of the work-out. I finished the mile, though. I probably walked for a 1/4 of it. I walked another 1/2 mile afterwards before meeting up with Shawn and heading in to make dinner. My time - 13:47.
I'm again off for a day, and am thinking a return to the track might be in order for Thursday morning. We'll see about a Christmas run....I won't beat myself up about it too bad if we don't get out there as I know the track will be right there waiting for us on Tuesday.
The best way to eat an elephant? One bite at a time. 13.1 might seem like a lifetime away, but as recent history has proven, there's ho ho hope for me yet!
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