My first 5K

I did it.  I ran my first 5K.  The one I wanted to run last month was cancelled, which was a good thing because I hurt my knee and had to take 2 weeks off to recover...and then I got a cold and couldn't breathe while I ran with boogers running down my face (pretty)...and then....just kidding, that's the end of my list of complaints.

My crazy neighbor  ran with me for most of it, even though she’s 8 months pregnant.  She had to slow down after a bit due to some pain, but she insisted I continue without her.  After ‘yelling’ at each other for a bit (and some emotional “we leave no men behind” and “go on without me” type drama), I moved on ahead and kept my promise to not walk any part of it.  I finished with a personal best of 36:54 and she finished too!  Her husband came and walked/ran with her for most of it, and I went back after I’d finished to walk with her and we ran over the finish line together.

It’s been a fun journey.  No, fun isn’t the right word.  Running isn’t FUN yet, but I like feeling healthier and it does help me feel a bit more mentally stable (which is always a good thing in this house).  There are a few more races before the year ends that I’m going to try to hit, but I’ll be doing it solo since my friend will be giving birth here shortly.  Good thing I have an iPod to keep me company.

So far I’ve lost 17 pounds and went from an XL running pant to L.  I almost cried in the dressing room when I pulled up the XLs and they fell down to my ankles!

  

This picture shows me running across the finish line, looking rather happy and peppy.  It’s a fake.  My husband didn’t get one the first time so I had to re-do it, but by then the giddiness of having FINISHED had set in so I was able to ham it up a bit.

THANK YOU MARIA!!!!

And thanks to our husbands who put up with our 3x a week running then hour-long gab fest while we “cool down”.