Sometimes on Mondays I do a post on the latest health & nutrition news, but today the news is personal and shocking…I ran my first 5K race Saturday and survived! I’ve written a little in the past about my exercise habits, but I don’t know if I’ve really explained what a wimp I was when it came to running – I was winded after about a block, literally. Which is exactly why I decided to make myself do it. It’s something I really never thought I could pull off. OK, maybe part of it was that I was approaching 40, and didn’t want to just grow old and overweight.
(Don’t look for me in this pic, these are the fast people out in front…)
I’M EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT THIS…
It was neat running my first 5K in the little town where I grew up. Hello to Deb from Fowler, who I tailed most of the run. It seems I was behind everyone except the walkers. When people took off like a shot and left me in their dust, I was moving along at my humble pace and wanted to yell, “Guys…? Guys! Don’t you want to start off a bit slower?! Maybe pace yourselves a bit?” I became self-conscious thinking, “Wow, I didn’t know I was that slow. Maybe I should’ve had another cup of coffee?” I felt a little better when I passed the elderly woman. I’m embarrassed to tell you my time. 39 minutes even – 12 1/2 minute miles…pathetic! I’m trying to go easy on myself since I only started running in July, this was my very first race, and I ran it without walking at all – a small miracle!
IT ALWAYS HURTS
Kent is training for his first 25K in a couple weeks and said he’s thankful he can often run for an hour or two and nothing will hurt. Not me. I don’t get too winded anymore (unless it’s a really hot day), but my legs still hurt and I want to stop every single time I run. It comes and goes – there will be long streaks where I feel great and my mind is wandering about something else or I’ve got my music loud and I’m loving it, but the pain always returns. I’m constantly amazed at what a mind game it is, though. I have to talk to myself and say things like, “You are not stopping until you go 3 miles, no matter how you hurt”; or each time I want to stop I’ll say, “Shut up and keep running, Kel”, then I’ll find a good AC/DC song and just make myself do it.
TIME TO STEP IT UP
So now I want to step it up somehow and get my legs stronger. I’ll take the advice from my friend, Eric: start doing short sprints in the middle of my 3 mile runs (I’ve heard that’s a good way to burn fat, too), and also getting more consistent with using weights…I’ll let you know if that helps anything by the time I run my next one. (Please comment below if you have any more tips to share.)
WHAT IS IT FOR YOU?
Is there something you’ve always wondered if you could do? Some goal you’ve always thought was out of reach? Miracles happen all the time, believe me. Be different than the typical lazy, unhealthy channel flipper or “too busy” Mom. Pick something you enjoy. Get your motivational self-talk going. Ask God for help. Don’t make excuses. Go do it.
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