5K...DONE!

     I feel like a poster child for a “Couch to 5K” commercial!  In January I ran my first quarter mile and today I finished a 5K.  Wow…just wow.  Such a great feeling.  I have to admit, I’m already excited for the next race! 

      After I ran my first 3-mile run at the lake a couple weeks ago, Rachel started pushing to run the Race for Autism 5K.  I was hesitant at first, but after I ran the second 3-mile run, I decided to go for it.  I never looked at it as a “race”.  I just wanted to run the whole thing.  Mentally, I kept telling myself this was no different than going to the lake, as I usually do.   It was different though.  You could feel the energy from the crowds.  It kept me going and made it, dare I say it, fun.  It was a bit of a stressful run however, as shortly after I started, I looked down at my iphone arm band, which also holds my car key, and the car key was gone!  I was too far to go back and with the crowds behind me, there would have been no way to retrace my exact steps.  I just prayed that the key would be in the grass area where we started, or that someone turned it in to a lost and found.  With that on my mind, I was a bit distracted, and kept running through different scenarios if I couldn’t find the key.  In hindsight, it might have been a good thing, in a really weird way.  I was doubly motivated to cross that finish line, as I really wanted to start looking for the stupid key! 

            Crossing the 3-mile checkpoint was a definite highlight.  The Finish Line was in sight and I wasn’t as exhausted as I thought I’d be.  I picked up speed, as everyone does once the Finish Line is in sight, and as I glanced ahead, I saw Rachel waiting for me on the sidelines.  That was pretty cool.  =)  The second I crossed the Finish Line, I went back to where we started, and in God’s good providence, found the key in the grass.  It was a bit matted down, clearly being stepped on a few times, but it was there!  I don’t think it was until after I picked up the key, that I truly was able to take in the thrill of the moment.  I went from “couch to 5K” in two months time.  While I really don’t have a desire to increase my distance, I am now setting goals related to time.  It would be nice to get to a respectable enough time to be able to run with people.  I came in at exactly 12 minute miles.  I’m anxious to see how the next race goes!

(Mommy of 9 t-shirt, compliments of my father-in-law.  Side note:  he bought it for me about three years ago, but I was never able to wear it because "it was too small".  Not "I was too big", but the shirt "was too small".  Now that I can finally wear the shirt, I can say, "I couldn't wear it before, because I WAS TOO BIG!")