5k Training: Day Thirteen

Contrary to what the calendar may say, Spring in Utah does not begin in March.  Today I woke up to snow on the ground and no end in sight.  I decided to do a few chores with the hope it would clear up before I went for my run (I'm a wimp when it comes to getting wet.)  However, the flurries kept coming all through the morning.  Finally at 11:30, my last chance the get moving before my husband had to go back to work, I looked outside and saw hardly anything coming down.  I immediately dropped the toys and clothes I had been picking up and announced, "I'm going on my run, I'll be back in thirty minutes."   A quick change and I was out the door.

Not the prettiest, but at least no snow.
You can't see because of the clouds,
but there are mountains at the end of my street.

I got moving and had a moment.  For the first time, I wasn't gasping for air.  Yes, my legs still burned, yes I was breathing heavy, but it wasn't the hard struggle just to inhale and exhale.  I felt good.  I can't believe how far I've come in such a short time.  My shins don't hurt, my breathing is evening out and I'm able to finish without extra walking breaks!  I wish I had the words to express how this feels.  It's like this healthy person has been hiding inside of me, under layers of excess food and lethargy.  Today, I caught a glimpse of who I can be.
Quick story, in high school I was on the color guard team. Basically I danced while tossing a five foot pole with a decorative flag on the end. (Here's a little peek of what I'm talking about. I'm the angle in white)

I loved it, I was able to move and flow with the music.  However, even with 5 am practices five days a week and an extra hour two to three times during school hours, I still was over 200 pounds and somewhat weak.  During one of the early morning practices, my coach asked us to run laps around the top of the gym.  I had been dancing for nearly two years yet I couldn't do it.  I could not run one lap around the gym.  I was struggling to breath, legs burning and, as a teenager, sure I was going to die.  High school days are what most people long for.  I can't count how many times I've read blogs of people being able to finally run as fast as they did in high school or wear the jeans they wore during their senior year.  I'm proud of them and I think it's great! But for me, I want to be better than I was in high school.  I'd love to be the weight I was then, and have the flexibility (did you watch the whole video, because if you did, you'll see my awesomeness at the end!) but I want to add to that. Today, I am better than I was in High school, I can run and I can breathe doing it.  Thanks for indulging my flashback.
Back to today, I felt so good to be able to run and the weather, though not exactly smiling down on me, stayed somewhat dry until I got home.  I walked in the door and before I even started to stretch I looked outside and it was dumping giant dandruff again.  Someone up there must want me to keep going :)
Stats:

Distance 2.13 Mi.

Duration 31:00

Avg. Pace 14:37

Avg Speed 4.10 mph

Intervals	Pace (min/mi)	Elevation (ft)
5:00 (warmup)	15:52	8
2:00 (fast)	12:33	0
1:00 (slow)	16:19	1
2:00 (fast)	12:20	1
1:00 (slow)	16:53	1
2:00 (fast)	13:47	2
1:00 (slow)	17:15	1
2:00 (fast)	13:22	-0
1:00 (slow)	18:28	2
2:00 (fast)	12:05	-5
1:00 (slow)	17:10	-1
2:00 (fast)	13:04	-0
1:00 (slow)	15:46	-0
2:00 (fast)	13:15	-4
1:00 (slow)	16:26	-1
5:00 (cooldown)	16:19	0