Another Run in the Books

I ran Week 7 Day 2 last night. It was exhausting and I didn't want to go, but I'm glad I did.

It was just me and Lesley, and Ocee Park was totally dark again. Thankfully, there were a few small lights on in the back and it was do-able. We ran together at a pretty slow pace, but we ran non-stop for 25 minutes. It was awesome.

It's funny how I've progressed to this point. While I'm not fast, I am at least out there moving. It's more than I was doing before. At this point, I just want to finish C25K and be able to say that I did it.

I could tell that I was going slowly, but I knew I needed to maintain my strength for the long-haul. I was excited to finish and not have my knees aching, or my shins hurting. I'm good today and feel really comfortable. I didn't get get home and do my usual crash.

Don't get me wrong, I was tired, but I wasn't overwhelmingly tired. If that makes any sense.

Here's my progress so far:

While I'm not happy with the fact that my walking pace was 20:50 and my running was 18:49, I am excited that I walked the shortest distance so far. To think that I've actually put in 35 miles so far, is awesome.

We were going to try to run on Thursday, and start a Monday/Thursday schedule, but Thursday is Halloween. So we're going to try to go tomorrow. I'll finish Week 7 Day 3 and then the progression to week 8 is easy. It's just like this week, but running for an extra three minute. I can totally do that.

I'm seriously impressed with myself. I can run for 25 straight minutes. I could NOT do that seven weeks ago.

25 Minutes Straight

We met last night at Ocee to run. It was cold. Like, 54 degrees (not cold to most of my northern friends, but it's pretty chilly for Georgia). I wore pants and had my hoodie with me, but I decided to ditch it before we started running.

Since we ran the Color Run on Saturday, I wanted to give myself several days of rest before starting back on the C25K plan. By the time yesterday rolled around, I was feeling pretty good about running.

I'm on week 7 day 1. 

Can you believe that? I've been running for 7 weeks already. It's quite spectacular to look back and see how far I've come in just seven weeks. I was hardly able to run 1.5 minutes before, and now look at me!

Last night, I did the 5 minute warm up and then it was a straight 25 minute run. Yes. I ran for 25 minutes without stopping!!

I'm  not going to lie. I am quite impressed with myself. That's a LONG time to run and to not stop once. Granted, I was running slowly, but I didn't stop. When I finished and had to do my five minute cool down, my legs felt like Jell-O.

I've decided that I am going to run twice a week. My days will be Monday and Thursday. Since all the runs from here to the end of C25K are all 25+ minutes straight, I want to give myself enough time between to have the energy, determination, and motivation to complete them.

Here's my C25K progress so far:

 Last night, I walked the shortest distance and ran the furthest so far. I am really pleased with my progress and I can't believe that I'm only 8 runs away from finishing the C25K program.

Lesley and I decided that after we finish the program, we're going to do it again from scratch, and see if we can beat our pace (we should be able to). I plan on keeping up with my running into the winter and spring. Not sure how summer will go... but with the night runs, it's been much easier mentally and physically.

I still don't consider myself a runner. I'm still not losing any weight from the effort, but I feel healthier. I know that I'm exercising and I'm eating better than I have in years. I've got thyroid issues that don't help with weight loss, but I'm doing what I can and I'm moving my body.

I'm still not sure how I feel about 5k races. I would much rather run with a few people at night and do what I like, than to deal with the nonsense and stress of a race. It's not like I'm being timed... but I just felt really defeated both times that I've done a 5k. Maybe it's because I am slow and not comfortable with that? I don't know. I am excited about the Turkey Trot next month (November 28th). I'm more excited to run with Jessica, my dad and Dave, but I think it's going to be awesome. And I get a medal after this one, and I intend on wearing it all day on Thanksgiving.

I'll be back next week to post about week 7 day 2.

A Color(ful) Run

 

The 5K Crew (minus Leigh Anne)

When the 5k Crew started back on September 1st, we weren't sure when we'd run our first 5k together, but wanted to look around and find something fun. We all agreed that the "official" Color Run was too far for all of us (it was taking place about 1.5 hours from here), but we were delighted to find a local Color Run here in Suwanee. We all signed up and started preparing for our 1st 5k together.

When I got up Saturday morning, it was not only cold, but raining. YAY!! I got in the shower and put extra conditioner in my hair (as suggested by another Color Runner's blog) so that it'd be easier to get any color out after. We left here at 6:55 and arrived at Peachtree Ridge High School at 7:15.

I met Ann and Lesley in the parking lot and then we connected with Stacey and her family. We all walked to the field together and checked in.

We stood there for about 45 minutes and tried to figure our what the plan was. There had not been ay route posted online, and we were praying that we wouldn't be running the whole thing on the track. It was the 1st time that PRHS was hosting this, and of course, there were snafus to be expected.

Jo and Jackie arrived and the group was all there. We took a few "before" shots and then it was time for the warm up exercises.

They had us walk to the track and immediately people were wondering what was going on. To say it was unorganized is an understatement. We were all just standing on the track waiting for directions.

 
All of a sudden, someone comes on the speaker and tells us that we're going to run two laps and then start the route. Instantly, people started running. This goes against how I've been training. I'm used to walking for 5 to warm up and then run. I'm on week 6 day 3 of C25K and I was going to use Saturday as another training day.

As people started to run and pass us, I said I wanted to do my 5 minute warm up. We got around the track and then about to head onto the course and Ann and I had to use the bathroom (BAD timing). We hurried into the porta potties and then quickly tried to get caught up, but by that point, we were waaaaaaaaay behind the crowd.

There were some areas that were uphill and it made it more tiring to complete... but I did it. As we continued through the course, I kept thinking, "WHERE'S THE COLOR?!?!?"

When we got to the first color station, it had started to rain.

I was tired at the first mile. I told Lesley, "Maybe I'm not cut out for 5ks..." I just wanted to stop, but I knew we had to keep going. My knee had been hurting a few days before the race, and it was really throbbing as I was running. We ended up walking a lot.

We made it around the course one time and I saw my dad, Steve, and Gus and then Lesley saw Jason and Logan. It was hard to know that we still had so far to go, but it was a great feeling to know that we were over 1/2 way done.

In fact, they had us run the track for a 1/2 mile for nothing. When the whole thing was over, instead of being 3.1 miles, it was 3.44. The lap around the track could have been eliminated.

Anyway... they had a lot of water stations which was nice, and it was fun to go through the color stations. Being hit with color while running was more enjoyable than I had expected. It was fun to see everyone else running with their bodies covered in various colors.

 They gave everyone sunglasses... good thing! They helped protect the eyes from the color!

My dad captured the color explosion at the finish line!!

Jo, Jackie, and Stacey

Coming out of the first lap

I can't say enough about Lesley. She stuck by me through the entire thing and every time I was discouraged or complaining, she helped get me refocused and positive. She totally could have left me in the dust, but she didn't. :-)

We met back up with Ann and she ran the last lap with us and we all crossed the finish line together. We didn't come in 1st, but we didn't come in last either. 

When we finally did finish, it was an amazing feeling to be DONE!!!

Stacey, Jackie, and Jo coming into the finish

Crossing the finish line and getting their color

Us coming into the finish

Ready for an explosion

YAHOO!!!

We did it!!

We finished under an hour! I had wanted to finish faster than the 5k on the 5th and I did. My official finish time was 57 minutes!

I am so happy to have made the friends that I've made. I don't LOVE running (yet) and I still don't consider myself a runner. I'd like to build up enough endurance to actually RUN an entire 5k and not run/walk like I've had to do. I just don't have it yet, but I'm doing better than I ever have. 

I'm so happy that Steve and the boys came to watch me finish, and it was even more awesome to have my dad there. He's been such a big supporter since I started running last year. I am glad that he was able to come to see me actually run a 5k and he took a ton of pictures. I hope I made him proud.

I was not emotional at all when finishing. I'm glad I ran the Emory 5k and had that first experience to draw upon. I think I was so emotional with that one because it was the first, and I did something that I didn't think I'd ever do. While I didn't run the entire thing, I did run a lot of it, and I finished and didn't give up.

I had a great time running the Color Run and look forward to running the Turkey Trot with my cousin, my older brother, and my dad. Should be very memorable and even more awesome because I'm running with family.

For everyone that's been reading and supporting me, I can't thank you enough. There are plenty of times when I feel like giving up and I feel like a failure, but your words of encouragement keep me going and help get me back to a good place.