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

My Oh My - It's been a week

It was a rough week with a really bad training day right in the middle. I was so excited to be able to run outside for the first time since I started training eight weeks ago. I worked hard to lay out my route and get a sitter and even find an outfit that wouldn't make any passerby shudder when they saw me running. I got through my first mile like a breeze... literally. It was over in about 10 minutes. Way faster than I have ever run and it made me grin from ear to ear. Then it hit - a cramp and with that cramp I had nothing else to give. I had to walk the remainder of my route. I felt defeated and a little disappointed in myself. And I won't even begin to tell you about the pain in my back. Literally!!!

Disclaimer: This is not my back... but one day soon my waist will be that small.

So today is Saturday and I dreaded getting on the treadmill today knowing that it was the official beginning of Week 8. That meant that I would be running for 28 minutes straight. That meant that I needed to give it my all. That meant that I had to prove to myself that there was no reason to be disappointed.

I did it... not only did I do the entire 28 minutes I did at a pretty decent pace (14 min/mile) and I didn't stop... nor hold on... nor slow down. The first 20 minuets were tough. I won't lie. But the last 8 minutes proved the theory that so many other runners have mentioned. After the first 20 minutes... it gets easier. :)

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. 

*** 2.25 miles ***   *** 2.25 miles ***   *** 2.25 miles ***   *** 2.25 miles ***

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I know that it's been several days since I updated the world on how the wannabe princess is doing. My apologies since I know you all are waiting with baited breath. LOL 

Today I am here to tell you that I have completed Week 4 of the C25K training and I surpassed the 2 mile mark. I cannot begin to tell you how great it felt when I saw the treadmill pass the 2 mile mark. I really wanted to keep going until I reached 2.5 miles but I didn't want to push it.

I am getting more and more excited about the upcoming Color Me Rad.I haven't worn white in forever so I'm thankful that I will quickly be covered in a variety of colors. 

BTW - If anyone wants to join me at the Equestrian Center on Sept 29 I think there is still more room to register. 

I just couldn't help it! I wasn't supposed to start my C25K program until Monday but I signed up for the Color Me Rad 5K along with some really cool friends and I was so pumped I had to get started right away. It was so exhilarating. I can't believe that I just used the word "exhilarating" as it pertains to running. I thought that I would be all winded and ready to quit by the half way point but the way the program works made it easy to get through the entire workout without feeling too much pain. 

Oh there was pain and my legs felt like jello when I was done but it gave me such a great sense of accomplishment. I can't wait until Monday when I am able to do Week 1 Day 2.

Be sure to come and check out how I'm doing... root me on... make fun of me!

I don't care because I am doing this for me and everyone likes it when I'm happy!