3 more 5K's

This year (although I didn't put it in my "looking forward to 2010" post) I wanted to run 2-3 5K's.  Those of you that have been keeping up for a long time know that I started running them in 2009.  Pretty much on a whim.  I hated running as a teenager, particularly in conjunction with gymnastics conditioning.  So deciding to run in 2009 was kinda crazy.

After I finished my first one, I felt a number of things.  The first was sick!  My bowls were gurgly (all day) and while cooling down I kept wondering if I was going to have to make a run for the bathroom.  The bathroom I wasn't sure existed at that location.  The second thing I felt was awesome! (Can you feel these things simultaneously?) I felt like this amzing healthy person.  Also, I was hungry all day.

I have to say I haven't felt these things in quite the same way on any of my other runs.  My bowls no longer freak out.  I don't get hungry all day (I do get hungry an hour later).  I still feel really good about what I've done - but nothing to quite compare to that first run. 

The other day I ran with a co-worker at the gym (my co-worker who happens to be training for a marthon) and I ran for 50 minutes, intervals, since we both have bum knees.  I'm quite sure this is the most I've run ever, in my entire life.  And I've kicked around the idea of running farther.

You see, these 5K's I did this fall, they were supposed to be my last runs.  Training for my first 5K of the year, supporting Dan Berschinski, my left knee starting having issues.  I took a summer break from running.  Until (again on a whim) I decided to do a 5K called the Goblin Gallop (really a 6K) and interval run.  My knee does better, but still has issues occasionally.  On Thanksgiving Day I ran the second annual Huffin for Stuffin.  Earlier this month, I ran one called the Jingle Jog with Bill and Miriam.

That was supposed to be it right?

Then we ran for 50 minutes at the gym.

So, now I'm not quite sure what my plan is.  My doctor said, physical ailments are pretty much the way of life as a runner.  Or as an athelete for that matter. I've been thinking about my years as a gymnast recently.  I pulled back muscles every year.  And I can't tell you how many afternoons I sat in an ice water whirlpool with the 3-4 of us that suffered from shin splints.
 
Anyway, I'm undecided.  But I met my goal!  I'm pretty happy with that.

What would you do?  Preserve your physical ability by moving on to something new?  Or push forward (in a smart controlled way) while you still can?

5K the Third

Well this Saturday was the All-American 5K for Lt Dan Berschinski

I loved being a part of it and I took Stefanie for her first 5K (we'll see if she loves me or hates me for that ;)

It was really awesome, starting out our race with the National Anthem, then finishing off by being handed an American flag. After munching my banana at the end I spotted Lt Dan and went over to shake his hand and tell him THANK YOU for his service. It was just a reminder to me that all our men and women in the service really do write our government a blank check up to and including their lives. They deserve to be remembered.

I came it at 32:58 this time. A new personal best! Barely :) As I ran up to the finish I thought, if you can just come in under 33 minutes you'll beat your own record....

Then it was off to the Renaissance Fair, where we watched these people (www.barelybalanced.com)

And took pictures with Pirates :)

After all this was done I went off to get a deluxe spa facial - which was awesome. Then I took Miriam to an indoor play place complete with those big balloon jumping things and balloon slides. (Not pictures of that sadly) WHAT a busy day - but it was great!

And I'd like a facial or massage every week for the rest of my life please. So worth it after running/walking all over the place...

5K and Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, I was supposed to do a 5K on Oct 26, Nov 6th and today. I had to skip out on the previous 2 - but I did make it today. So that is *multiple* 5K's under my belt!
Bill and Miriam froze and manned the Weight Watchers table while Toni and I ran.


This was the Weight Watchers group before the race began. Maybe about half of us. At least I hope the other 30 were there!

I wasn't able to train for this one AT ALL, seeing as I've been sick most of the month. And there is less light, and I can't drag myselft out of bed early in the morning. It was a good run though.

Final time: 35min 42second

1200 people at this one! A different experiance from my first!

The 5K I never thought I could run

Do I look like I just jogged 3.1 miles?
Trust me, I felt that way. I felt flushed and wet and out of breath. Shortly after I had noodle legs. But I felt really good. Like, really good. Like, this whole "healthy living" thing might be totally worth it, good.

I've never been a runner. Never. Not even as a gymnast (although I was probably in fabulous shape then). But I was able to jog most of the 5K. The last mile was hard. I probably walked 1/4-1/2 mile. I kept starting and stopping at landmarks. Until the last time when I saw my finish-line person 1/4 mile away and I was able to focus on them instead of my burning legs.

I wish I could point you to some good couch-5K running program. But I didn't start from the couch and it's not like I've been out practicing 3+ times a week. I've been walking 3 miles on Saturdys for the last month, which was all I could do. Last week was the first time I ran AT ALL. And it was a mile, broken into two segments.

I'm not sure I would have even done it at all if the ladies from my ward hadn't started the race off jogging. I wasn't in the mindset of "hey, I'm going to go run this whole thing" But we started off jogging and I felt dang good and suddenly I realized "It's been a mile! Okay so I'll push through to the turn around point! (At approximately 1.5miles) Yeah, I can do that." But then I just kept jogging and had gone over 2 miles before I hit the wall (you know, I think I am going to um...throw up or faint) and had to break it up with some walking.

Final time: 33min. 12seconds.

I'm fairly pleased. 8th out of 30 people.

And look at what Weight Watchers gave me:



The number tags were kinda neat too.

And I might actually do this again!