5K Day...Day 30

As you may have read on my facebook status, I finished my first 5k! What a great experience...great friends and family cheering me on in spirit and in person. The day before I was feeling nervous that I wouldn't be able to keep up and would be the last one over that finish line. The morning of the race, I got up early to get ready and felt excited to see how I would hold up. As we got to the race, I felt inspired by all the people around me, stretching, warming up and smiling with friends. A great way to start a day...I walked over to the table with my friends and when they asked if we registered as a runner or walker, I heard myself say, "I am a runner". Wow...I can't believe it was my first step toward actually getting to a place I didn't think I could make it. I proudly pinned on my number and put my tag on my sneaker. I felt on top of the world and filled with anticipation!

Before I knew it, we were heading to the starting line. I was nervous I wouldn't be able to keep up and feel embarrassed.  But I reminded myself it was my first run and I would just have to try my best, even if I walked a little. As we started it out, I felt so amazed to be running with all these fit people..a great start! I kept up with the pack for a little and then I started to fall back as I set my own pace. Before I knew it, I had to take a short walk to catch my breath. Within a minute, I started my jog again. I could see my friends ahead of me, keeping their own pace. I tried to keep up within sight of them. As we passed the first mile mark, I was surprised to see that I had done it in 11 minutes! My fastest mile yet...I kept on the best I could, jogging a few minutes than walking a minute like I did in training. Half way through, I realized that I couldn't really see any more of my friends but tried not to loose faith in myself. I pushed myself as hard as I could. During this leg of the race, the first pack was ahead of me quite a ways and the second pack was behind me. I was in the middle, feeling a little lonely and not even part of the race since not many people were around me. I tried to find a person or two who seemed to pace like me. I started to feel like I may have made a mistake as my lungs were bursting and I was feeling pressure to catch up to my friends, at least in sight.  As I was getting ready to do the last leg, a kind woman who was also running about my pace said that as we rounded the bend, a photographer would be taking pictures so I should get my best "running pose" ready and smile! So as we rounded the corner, I put my big tired smile on and tried to soak in the moment of ending my first race. My face looked like a tomato, I was pretty sweaty but felt like I needed to find my energy to pull it out in the end. No more walking, everyone was watching now. So, I rounded the last stretch. I saw families along the side andspotted my friend's family..I felt energized as I saw them and kept running as I slapped them high five! As I searched the crowd for my clan, I saw my daughter's smiling face cheering me on as she caught my eye! Gavin ran up next to me and said, "GO Mommy! You can do it!" I was about out of steam and could have used a one minute walk but I knew I had to keep going. Next thing I knew, my friends came up and started cheering me on and ran with me my last steps of the run..it felt amazing to have so much support and encouragement around me! Wished I could hold on to the moment a little longer but I needed to spend my energy crossing that finish line! It was a wonderful moment to cross and have reached my goal! I was definately surprised to see that I had crossed in 38 minutes! My best time yet! And I was feeling like I wasn't running well throughout the race. I was so happy because my goal was that I would do the run in 45 minutes. I did it thanks to my supportive friends and family cheering me on and helping me feel like I had accomplished something great, even though I had been the slowest in my group. 

I thought that when I'd crossed that finish line, I would put this running thing behind me and do something else but now I am craving more. I want to do better and run faster and keep doing races. It was so exhilerating and challenging at the same time.
Here's to continuing to reach for better and on to my next goal..running a whole 5k without walking.
Thank God for the strength to keep getting stronger every day!

Training days 26-28...Best runs yet!

In less than a week, I will be officially running into my forties stronger than my thirties...On Sunday, I will attempt to run the best I can in my first running 5K. Since February, I have been training the best I can in my schedule. Gung ho at the beginning, I didn't want to miss a day. I started at 1 min. run, 1 min walk for 30 minutes and made it up to 3 min. run, 2 min. walk before I knew it. Then my schedule became crazier, spring sports started and state testing at work took over. My early morning workouts were replaced with late afternoon workouts every few days and I didn't beat myself up if I missed a day here and there. Surprisingly, I kept improving even though time had got the best of me inbetween training days.

The other day I knew I had to train so I was really pushing myself to get to the gym. Before I got to the gym, I had stayed  late at work for an event until 5, ran to get Jayna and then raced home to make the boys a homemade soup before heading to Kumon. It wasn't easy because I knew I had to get to the gym before the kids room closed at 8. (My husband was working so it was all me!). After a stress attack of getting dinner made, feeding the kids and getting to Kumon, I made it to the gym at 7:25. Not enough time to run that 5K program on the treadmill so I was already annoyed. But I had to just take what I could. When I got on the treadmill, I warmed up for a couple of minutes. Then I started my run, a little faster than usual so I could make up more distance in a shorter time. I also decided to just run and see how far I could get and just feel my body. I started to run the stress and time pressure I felt out. When I looked down, I had been running almost 10 minutes and had almost finished a mile! WHOO! So I pushed myself to finish the mile without stopping. I ran my first leg was over 15 minutes and  I had run my first mile without stopping..never had I don't that before! I continued to run as long as I could but my second mile was definately more like I had been doing..a few minutes run then walk a minute. I left feeling proud that I had done my longest run yet and fit in what I could in the time I had.

Today was my next run around the neighborhood. After a day without rain, (shocking), I took my friend's advice to clock a run with my car and then run in the neighborhood. So after clocking 2 miles ( I only had about a half hour to run again before a lacrosse game), I began wondering if I had made a mistake in thinking I could do this. Two miles looked like a lot to run! Gavin decided to come with me and ride his bike behind me. As I started to run after my warmup, I was running at a faster pace than usual. I kept thinking I would not be able to finish in the time I had and was afraid it would be too hard. But as I ran to different marks, I was so happy that I made it to each mark in less time than I thought. Half way through the run, I was feeling strong and I felt great that only about 15 minutes pass! I felt so good that I could run more than I thought and it was faster than I had expected! I wound up hitting my block and running toward the house and it took me 26 minutes to run the two miles! That was like a 13 minute mile! (Remember when I was running an 18 minute mile!?) I felt glad to see that I could do it...little steps at a time. Only one more day until I put this girl to the test!

Training Day 22 to 25: Getting stronger! It's 5k Month!

It's been a while since I blogged but I have been running! Since the first  time I ran 5 minutes at a time, I am continuing to now run a 5K distance when I can. Whenever I go to the gym, I have tried to run at least 5 min. cycle before taking a break for a minute or two. Doing this cycle has me  running almost an hour to run a 5K. It takes me about 48 minutes running at 4 mph. During one of my runs, I decided to push myself a little faster to see if I could cross the 5k line faster and did it in about 42 minutes. It was hard but I kept on pushing myself. I have found that I am pushing myself to run a little faster and run longer if I listen to my body and not look at the clock.

 On the days I am not making it to the gym, an even better thing has happened...I have gained a running partner, my boy Logan! He is some runner! We ran up and down the block a few times and he didn't even stop running when I walked! He was a great motivator and cheered me up the big hill by my house. It felt great having him encourage me doing something that was challenging for me. He felt so proud also that he could run better than I could but I didn't mind. We found a new way to connect and spend time together! This week, I will be registering for my first 5K as a runner on May 22 so I am going to continue to train myself to do the best I can and try to finish by 45 minutes the longest. That is the goal. With good friends encouraging and inspiring me, I am hoping to do that! Little by little, I am getting there and proud I didn't give up !

Training Day 21: A real Spring BREAK

Shhh..don't tell anyone that I took a week off of training during spring break! Yes..I took a break. With the kids around and visiting family, I lost each day to busy fun and didn't run as I ate my way through the vacation. So, today when I decided that I had to get back on the wagon, I figured it was going to be a hard one. The only running I had been doing had been outside, not timing myself, running a few hills and less than flat areas, but I definately thought that I would have to head back to square one or two.

But, Surprise! I went the gym this morning because I needed to run without having to take care of my daughter. So as she headed to the kids room happily, I nervously approached the treadmills. I really wished I was going to be running outside.  As I climbed on and warmed up for a few minutes, I started my jog. Although I usually run for 3 minutes (which is hard for me) so wasn't I pleasantly surprised when I looked down at the clock and it was 4 minutes already! I felt full of energy so I decided to try and reach the 5 min. mark (which has been my goal for a while). I was psyched and feeling strong when I finished that first set so I only walked a min or two and then tried again! And I did it again! It felt amazing to be able to do this! Felt so strong in that moment! As I continued to run for 5 min. intervals between the min or two walk, I realized that I was almost up to the 3 mile mark when the 45 minutes came around. I was close to finishing my 5K goal setting on the treadmill, so I decided to run two more 5 minute sets. In a little under an hour, I made it to my first 5K distance and ran 5 minutes interals! YEAH! Guess running outside really did make me stronger and those hills helped.

I just want to keep on doing that until my first official 5K in May so now I have found new motivation to keep going....here's to not giving up!

Training Day 20: Taking it outside!

I have been starting to run outside a little more. Being on Long Island for a few days for spring break, I had a quiet, sunny morning to myself. So, I threw on my running shoes and headed down a beautiful, cool country lane. Not knowing how far I would be going, I decided to just run and clock it later. Also, I decided to put away the timer and listen to my body. As I started to run, I made targets for myself to run to. Then I would push myself to make it to that goal (like a fire hydrant or another street sign). Whenever I walked, I would try to just walk to catch my breath and then start jogging again. It felt so good to feel the wind on my face just as I was getting overheated. It was like God was cooling me off and keeping me going. You can't get that in a gym. After running/walking for about 40 minutes, it felt good to cool down. Running outside on a spring morning after a rain storm was so refreshing. Later when I clocked it with my car, it turned out to be about 2.5 miles. Yeah! I will continue to keep on running outside when I can. My ankle seems to prefer it to the treadmill and I can get a moment alone with my thoughts and connect to nature, breathing in some fresh air and filling my body with energy for the day ahead.

Training Day 19: Making progress

Time is my enemy lately. Never seem to have enough of it. This week was parent teacher conferences at night, getting ready for them, sports almost every night-either a game or a practice. Then there is the early morning program I have been teaching. All this has really crimped my sleep/free time schedule. So I have to grap my moment when I can.

One of the boys had baseball practice at the field across the street and my husband was working so I knew no gym today. So I put on my running clothes and shoes, again took the two little kids with their bikes across the way and then headed to the field. With little expectations, I decided to follow them as they rode their bikes and run when I could. After making it up the first hill pushing my daugher on her bike, I started to jog without a clock in my hand. G-man would give me a point to run to and then give me some positive comments (how cute it he). I wound up running so much of the field and the kids actually kept up! We are all growing and making progress! So, I wound up jogging/walking for about 35 minutes and was feeling good. It wasn't a run at the gym where I know I am making progress, but I am getting out there in the real world to run and feel what my body can handle.  My ankle is feeling much better outside also. Maybe that treadmill is not so great for me after all! Back on track next week during spring break when I can recoup my schedule and carve out some more time to run and stay on track.

Training Day 18: Third time is a charm!

That track across the street seems to be laughing at me since I haven't had very successful runs there. I hate that I was letting it get to me so nature gave me a beautiful day to try it again. This time I left the kids home with my husband, hooked up my Ipod and grabbed my phone. I did my stretches and nervously walked over to the field. As I got onto the track, I glanced down at my phone clock and started to jog slowly. As I started to jog, I gave myself little targets to jog to. When I got to the target, I would glance down at my clock to see how much time has passed. I was able to jog the first 3 minutes! YEAH! I continued to jog around following this target, time pattern. When I started to have to jog up a hill, I used a friend's mantra that I could do it.... just go slow. I was up and down hills, keeping to my 3 minutes (sometimes very challenging). My ankle was happy and didn't give me any trouble. When I started to loose my perservance, I would glance at my shadow in front of me and realize I was jogging! Sometimes I would look backwards at how much I covered in 3 min. jog and be amazed at myself. I made sure I had a good song on when I started my 3 min. jogs and kept looking up to the sky and enjoying the gorgeous day! It was amazing to feel the cool breeze when I was getting so hot and checking out the rest of the people at the park definately distracted me. I wound up jogging for 30 minutes and did 3 min jog/2 min walk. Way better than the other 2 times I jogged here. As I thanked God for the strength to do this and for the gorgeous weather! I am feeling inspired again and motivated to keep going...slow but steady!