Pages

Saturday, August 18, 2012

My First 5K

I have always enjoyed the "thought" of being a runner, however I hated the actual act of running.  Okay, well maybe hate is too strong of a word.  Hummm, let's see...okay I had a very strong dislike to the actual act of running.  Yea, that is better.  

But back to what I was saying, I liked the idea of running but when it came to actually "doing it" I always tried to weasel my way out of it.  I don't care what anyone says, running hurts...your calves ache, your shins burn and sometimes your feet hurt.  Yea, running looks like a whole lot of fun right????  NOT!  So for a long time, although I loved the thought of running in a race, I knew deep down that it was only going to remain that...a thought.  

That is until a few months ago.

Now as you know, I have been working out at Fit Forward and every now and again, Jake and Levi will have us run what is call "The Loop" during our workout.  "The Loop" is roughly a one mile run from one end of this subdivision to the other and back to their studio, thus making one big loop around.  Sounds easy, right?  WRONG!  The killer part of this one mile run is this big azz hill at the beginning of the loop.  The first time I attempted "The Loop" I was running with some of the others in the class, and I thought I would try and keep up with them, so I actually ran  up the hill with everyone else.  

Huge mistake!  

By the time I got to the top of that massive hill, I was huffing and puffing like a smoker trying to smoke and run at the same time.  I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest and that I was going to pass out.  It took me almost the entire loop just to catch my breath.  Needless to say, "The Loop" and I were not on good terms and I dreaded running it ever since.  That is until about two months ago.  After coming back from vacation while I was working out, we had to run "The Loop" and although I will not run that massive hill, I did notice that once I reached the top of the hill, I was able to run the entire thing.  Talk about an accomplishment.  Now don't get me wrong, I still hurt BUT I was able to make it without passing out from exhaustion.  After a couple of times running "The Loop", I tried out my new running skills on the treadmill at the gym.  Over the weeks I was able to build up to running 3 miles at 5.0 mph.  Now I know that isn't lightening speed, but coming from a woman who could barely run a block to now, well let's just say that mama was proud!

Which leads me to today, because today was the day that I officially participated in my first 5K race. Now, before you go getting all excited, I wasn't able to actually run the entire race, however I did a run/walk combination for the duration of the race.  I tried running in the beginning of the race, but after completing the first mile, my shins were on FIRE! (Yes, I know.....I need some new running shoes.)  So to help ease my burning shins, the run/walk combination did the trick.  And although I didn't come in first, I also didn't come in last.  But no matter where I placed, the most important thing is that I finished!!!!



Now, with this race under my belt, I am excited and eager to run another one...with the hope of cutting my finish time significantly.  So tomorrow, I'm off to the gym...and can you guess what I will be doing?  Running!