Challenge Met & Exceeded

A couple of ShamROCKers!

It has been a couple of weeks since I ran my first 5k, the Kelly St. Patrick's Day Shamrock 5k.  Hannah and I did fantastic and the atmosphere was electric.  Literally thousands of people in green were milling around the streets of Baltimore.  Once the race started, that excitement carried me through the 3.1 miles.  I’m not saying that those 3.1 miles were easy, but having my buddy with me made it much more manageable and even fun.  As I ran across the finish line I knew I had made my goal I had set back in November.  I had managed to complete a full 5k and not only that, did it in under 45 minutes.  Actually we completed it in 42.18 minutes.  Not bad for my first try in over 20 years.  

Of course, the running bug had bit. I couldn't let it just be one race that I completed.  I had to try more.  Unfortunately, Hannah went on a slight race running sabbatical, but my friend Maria was preparing for her first 5k. I figured I might as well be there with and for her, as Hannah had been for me.  Her first race was today, the Bunny Run in Havre de Grace.  

Me & my Bunny

A big thanks goes out to Maria because without her I may never have completed the Bunny Run.  As we ran through Havre de Grace there were times where she kept me moving.  I wasn't sure I was going to make it, I just didn't feel in the zone.  I was here to help her and she was the one who helped me.   I made a goal to complete the race in 40 minutes and with Maria's help I completed it in 40.07 minutes and she in 40.06 minutes.  It was a very sweet feeling to cross that line knowing I had made that goal, okay I was .07 minutes over, but I'm okay with that.

Both Maria and Hannah have helped to make my experiences with 5ks positive and I am so proud of their accomplishments as well as my own.  Only 9 months ago I was sitting on my corner of the couch slowly but steadily gaining weight and going no where fast.  With their help as well as my Sadist's I have come a long long way.  The next run will be in May but that one won't be timed. It is purely for fun, but that doesn't mean I won't still train.  I'll be back in the gym with the Sadist cursing up a storm, but it definitely has it's benefits.

7 Days and Counting

There is only 7 days until I run my first 5k in more years than I care to remember.  If you had asked me last week if I thought I was ready, my answer would have been a resounding no.  Up until now I have only gone about 3 miles walking a few times and that was more by mistake than plan.  I hadn't even attempted the running part.  With Hannah's help, we walked and ran in intervals approximately 5k.  Over the past week I have spent more time focusing on distance with a nod to pace.

Yesterday Hannah and I headed to the park to see what I could do.  This was the first time we had gotten together for a run and it was my first attempt at a 5k.  It was a pretty cool day, topping out at 41°.  What was even nicer is that since we hadn't had much rain, the mud puddles had receded some.  Just a week before there wasn't any dry space in the pictured puddle.   It was either running straight through mud and water or around it over the muddy ground. One good thing about the race next week, is that I don't think we'll have the same issue. 

Hannah provided me some good suggestions and noted that I was running faster than I thought.  Since one of my challenges with running is breathing, she provided some good advice in how to moderate it and ensure I don't hyperventilate.  We easily clicked off the first 2 miles and 3rd didn't seem all that daunting. Of course you would have to ask Hannah herself how she felt about the run, but if her post on Facebook is any indication, I think she agrees.  After our practice run, I knew I was ready to hit the pavement next week.  I even shot the Sadist a text to that affect and he agreed.  

Both Hannah and the Sadist have been my two biggest cheerleaders. Hannah was the one to start me on this particular journey when I saw her kicking butt in the Baltimore half-marathon.  I am now looking foward to not just cheering her on but also being right beside her.  As for the Sadist, although I may whine about my torture sessions, he has continued to encourage and believe in me, especially when I didn't believe in myself.  

I am looking forward to this run next week as I believe in myself and my abilities.  It has been a long time since I've challenged myself in such a way and I am ready.  Today I headed back to the park for a 5k walk to keep my momentum going.  I'll continue to move forward and when Sunday comes I'll be ready to tackle the Shamrock 5k and cross that finish line.