I did it!

So, as I mentioned in the previous blog, one of my goals for 2009 is to run a 5K race. I have been training pretty steadily since Thanksgiving (got a little off due to strep before Christmas, but getting back slowly). Anyways, tonight, I really didn't want to run on the treadmill, but I made myself. Warmed up walking for 2 minutes, then ran a mile. Walked another 2 minutes, ran another mile. Now, this second mile is most definitely harder, but I had done this run on Monday so I was like...don't be a wimp..you've done it once, do it again! The last quarter was killer but I did it. And then this crazy thought came to my mind as I was finishing (must be the oxygen depravation)...why don't you just try and do a total of running/walking of 3.1 miles = 5K? Just for kicks!


So after the second mile, I let myself walk back down to normal and ran another .76 miles (yes, .76 not .75...believe me, that hundredth of a mile is meaningful to short legs!).

I did a 5K in 37:37!!!!!

Now, yes, I was on a treadmill which is not as hard as running outside. But I have found that running outside is easier for me because there is something to keep my mind occupied. In the garage, I continually run toward this dot on the garage door but never quite get to it. Crazy. Outside, I can look at houses, cars, people, etc. The mind is definitely my weakness when running.

So yeah! You must understand that I have EXTREMELY short legs. My best friend Kristen (who is 6 foot) and I wore pedometers for a couple months at school. We would walk the same distance to the other building, but I would have taken twice as many steps as she! I always have to get my pants hemmed! It's like a built-in expense to buying the pants. So this is a big accomplishment! The other two times in my life that I have really gotten into running I lost 30 pounds one time and 20 pounds the other. (Unfortunately, gained the 30 pounds back through the first couple years of teaching and the 20 I still don't have, but was primarily Emma pregnancy/stress weight.) So I am trying to be diligent in not only running, but also what I eat and drink. so here's to being healthier!!


And here's to the hot bath that awaits my aching legs.... :)