Color Me Rad Baby

I finally ran my first 5K... it was touch and go there for a few days. But I did it and in right under 40 minutes. I am still floating on cloud nine from the excitement. And did I tell you that it was Color Me Rad? 

I had so much fun and got so colorful that I can't even describe it... so I'll show you. Are you ready? This is me before the race. The smile hides my apprehension.

Not too shabby since I can't tell you the last time I wore a white shirt.

Now this is me after...

I'm getting excited for the Disney 13.1! It doesn't seem like too many miles now that I can do 3 with ease. Oh yea... did I tell you?

Running is

A-W-E-S-O-M-E

I ran two miles! I ran two miles! I ran 2 miles!

It doesn't really matter how many times I say it!

I can't believe that I just ran two miles. Today was Week 7 Day 1 and although I am not quite there with my speed (it should have been 2.25 miles) I actually ran for 

TWO WHOLE MILES!

I did increase my speed and am now running at 4.2 miles which is 14:17 minutes per miles. Pretty darn good for a fat chick who hasn't run in forever and then only when the PE teacher was looking cuz I sure the heck wasn't running if he wasn't paying attention.

I am just 30 days away from my first 5k and I am so excited to report that I have lost almost 25 pounds and a total of 5.5 inches. I will need a new pair of workout pants before my 5k and not just to look cute but because I can not tighten them any tighter.

If you are just starting to read my blog - welcome - and for those of you who still think I am crazy for doing this I want to thank you for sticking by me. See you at the finish line.

Who ever said it would be easy?

I was so excited as I started off this week as I knew that right in the middle would be my first 20 minute consecutive run as part of my C25K program. Wouldn't you know it I have been sick since Monday evening. I started to postpone my run thinking that perhaps it wouldn't be the best thing for me to do. Then I remembered an image I had seen:

So as I laid my little one down for my nap I thought of the commitment I had made to myself and the fact that I had challenged my family and friends to make sure I keep that commitment to myself. I put on my workout clothes and as I tied my shoes I prayed that God would grant me the strength to make it through my run but that if I needed to stop that He would help me to realize that I was not giving up but simply postponing. 

I went through my warm-up and did not include any extra time as I have previously been doing. Then came the little voice "start running" from my iPhone app. Then came a voice just a little bit louder but not quite audible... "I am hear to keep you moving." And then I began to run. The first five minutes went by easily. The next three I became a little out of breath and thought about stopping. Then it came... the energy from deep down inside and the need to finish. 

Please don't get me wrong, those last twelve minutes were hard and I struggled but I didn't quit. Afterwards I felt like I had accomplished so much more than a

               20 minute run.

At that moment I knew that sick or not I was going to be participating in my scheduled runs. I have my first 5K in 5 weeks.  Color Me Rad!! I will be ready and that gives me the strength to push myself.