(Or, in other words, more than you ever wanted to know about my race. This is really more of a journal entry for myself, so though anyone else may read it, I can't guarantee boredom.) So, guess what. . . I did it! I did it, I really, really did it!! (View this if you don't know where that came from - specifically at 6:58ish.Hee, hee.) I finished the 5k, on my feet, and running - very slowly, but running! I didn't walk even once. I must say that I am super proud of myself. This was something hard for me. And I did it!
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| My family support - Mom, me, Nicole, Matthew |
Of course, I had a lot of encouragement and support. I really don't think I could have done it alone. In January, I started walking about 2.8 miles most weekday mornings with 3-4 other ladies in my ward. They are super speed walkers. (And several of them are also veteran 5k, 10k, and marathon runners.) I could hardly keep up with them. Seriously. (I still can't very well!) So, I would walk, start falling behind, and then jog to catch up. Walk, start falling behind, and then jog to catch up. Repeat throughout the route. One day, I decided to just keep jogging slowly to stay with them rather than falling behind. I started jogging more and more of the route, and soon my walking buddies started saying, "Are you going to do a 5k?" I laughed it off, "No way, I am not a distance runner." But inwardly, I thought, "Maybe I should try." Hence, my goal was born. I decided that I would do a 5k sometime this year. That meant run a 5k. No stopping. No walking. I was thinking maybe summer or fall would give me enough time.
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| Feeling fresh before the race. The wind was horrible though, so we left the hats behind in the car. |
Not long after I decided I would try to do this, my neighbor, Cherie, texted me asking if I would like to run a 5k with her on St. Patrick's Day. As in March 17, 2012. Yikes!!! That was much sooner than summer or fall. I think it took me over a week to commit. And even then I felt a little sick to my stomach when I said yes. I started jogging as much of the morning route as I could. My walking buddies were such a huge source of support. One in particular, Joyce, would run along with me and keep up a steady stream of conversation so I would be distracted from my fatigue. Every now and then she would say, "I'm talking too much. I'm sure you have things to say, too!" Uhh, no. I was just trying to breathe. :) I would occasionally puff out "Wow, uh-huh, oh," type expressions as I forcefully exhaled, but that was about all I could do before gulping for more air. :) Joyce was awesome, though, and I look forward to many more jog/walks with her and the other speedies early in the morning.
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| Me and Cherie after the race. |
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| A little more red-faced, but feeling great. Mom took 3rd place in her age division! |
Cut to March 17th, 9:00 am. Cherie, my mom, Nicole, myself, and it turns out my studly brother Matthew (who had been signed up by his loving wife that very morning at 7:30 am) started moving with over 300 other green-clad jokers as the starting gun sounded. Matthew, who claims he hates running, and Nicole, quickly outpaced us. (Not all that suprising.) Cherie, my mom and I stuck together for quite a while. Then it was just me and Cherie. We stayed together for almost the entire race. Towards the last half mile or so, I moved ahead of her, just a bit. This was not because I am so amazingly fast, it just happened. However, having her just a little behind me turned out to be more motivation. I realized she would see me if I started to walk. And then I would embarrassed. So I kept running. I started feeling very tired, and thought, "I'll just walk for a second." Then I thought of my sweet daughters, who had told me over and over, "You can do this, mom!" I did not want to let them down. And I kept running. I was maybe a quarter of a mile to the finish line, and somehow knowing that made me feel even more tired. I thought of an article I had read previously that week about a woman who was training for a marathon. She was on a treadmill and her trainer had her running as fast as she could for five minutes. When she thought she could not possibly run any longer (near the last 30 seconds or so), the trainer got right in front of her and said, "Don't you dare. give. up! You can do this!" and then would count down to the finish. She made it. I was in the last "30 seconds" of the race. I kept telling myself over and over, "Don't. (explosive exhalation)(gulping inhalation) you.(explosive exhalation)(gulping inhalation) dare.(explosive exhalation)(gulping inhalation) give.(explosive exhalation)(gulping inhalation) up! You can do this! You are almost there." I nearly started crying when I crossed the finish line.
Even more amazing, I think I'll do it again.
Because I can do it!
