I did it!!!! Run from Violence 5k

I made it!  I ran my first 5k today, and it felt amazing!  

Last night, at 9:00 p.m.  I finally sat down to create my playlist.  Music is a big deal for me when I run, sometime just for the beat sometimes for the words.  I decided to time certain songs with my planned running times.  "Dare You to Move" by Switchfoot for 20 minutes in when I know I would be losing speed and need a kicker to get going and the final countdown for the end {hopefully}  when I would want to sprint to the finish.  Music was done, now time to decide how I wanted to run this thing.

I had been debating between my weekday pattern of 2:30 running and 1:00 walking or my weekend of .25 miles each.  I usually go faster over all with the time pattern, but I really wanted to try to run quarter miles pieces.  In the end, I programed my coaching with the distance pattern so I would know far I had gone and how far to go.

Sleep pretty much eluded me last night, it reminded me of the night before competition in my color guard days.  I kept going over things in my mind playing different scenarios of how it would go.  All too soon the sun was up and it was time to get ready.  The race was to start at 10 which was both good and bad. Good because the family got to come with me, bad because it gave my nerves more time to build up.  I got to the race early, picked up my registration and was ready to go.  My girls were another story.  S was ready for a nap and M just wanted to run.  I decided to let my hubby go home because it would be 45 minutes before the race would start and I planned on another 45 before I would cross the finish line.  He took off and I felt a bit alone.  Now would have been a good time for a running partner.  It wasn't too long before I met some other really nice ladies (two doing their first 5k as well) who let me visit with them while we waited.  Talking with them really calmed my nerves and it was nice to meet new people.  

Finally they had us all line up at the starting line so I got out my phone to start the runkeeper.  Looked to make sure my gps was working and....no signal!  They were just about ready to start I wouldn't be able to track anything *GASP* what was I going to do?  I quickly tried to change to my timed plan so I would at least know how long I had run.  In the middle of doing that my signal popped up, so I switched back and by that time we were off.  Then, my music shut off, I can't run without my music.  I decided to take a little bit of time to figure out what was happening.  I don't really know what was wrong, but I got everything working again and took off.  Not the way I wanted to start things out.

The first mile went by and I finally settled into a rhythm, running and walking.  Then the second mile was a trail.  I'm so used to running on my sidewalk that the little ups and downs of the second mile kind of threw me for a loop.  I was walking much more than I had planned.  When the coaching came on and told me I was going at a 13:40 pace I was convinced it was wrong.  I had walked so much, there was no way.  I kept going, just trying to finish.  The third mile came up along with "Dare You to Move."  I knew I needed to try to run again.  I had walked nearly 1/2 mile and I needed to pick up the pace if I was going to get anywhere near my goal.

Looks like walking, feels like running :)

I started running, still convinced that something was wrong with runkeeper and that it was going to take me more than 45 minutes.  Finally, just as the finish line came into view "The final countdown" beat in my ears and I knew I could do it.  One foot in front of the other, I committed to running to the end.  As I moved along, my little family came into view.  A wonderful husband who supported my goal, watched the kids for me and just loved me.  Two beautiful girls, so anxious to see there mommy and for whom I want to be the best example of health.  Suddenly I was overcome with emotions.  I can do this.   I can finish for them and for me. Then I saw the time board.  42:37! I did it!  I made my goal of under 45 minutes and my runkeeper had been working.  I must have pushed myself so much harder than I thought during the running intervals and did some major speed walking.  I've heard people talk about the high they get from a race, how it pushes them faster than they had gone during their training.   That's what happened to me!  Afterward, I couldn't stop grinning.  And remember those ladies I mentioned earlier?  One of them was waiting at the end too, congratulating me for finishing.  People are truly amazing.

My girls watching me cross the finish line

There aren't enough words to describe how I feel.  In two short months I went from barely being able to run/walk for ten minutes to finishing 3.1 miles in 42 minutes.  From a 15:51 pace to 13:57!  Then there are the other benefits: more energy, better stamina, increase in overall happiness, and all my new friends in the running world.  I can't wait to see what the next four months will bring as I prepare for my 10k.  Thanks for all of your support and interest as I've begun my journey from Mommy to Marathon.  

Stats from runkeeper (I'll post my place/official time as soon as I get it.):

Distance 3.1 Mi.

Duration 42:24

Avg. Pace 13:57

Avg Speed 4.30 mph

Intervals	Pace (min/mi)	Elevation (ft)
0.25 mi (fast)	11:36	4
0.25 mi (steady)	13:07	-5
0.25 mi (steady)	14:49	-0
0.25 mi (slow)	12:51	5
0.25 mi (fast)	14:23	-1
0.25 mi (steady)	13:52	-2
0.25 mi (steady)	13:10	2
0.25 mi (slow)	14:12	0
0.25 mi (fast)	12:42	-5
0.25 mi (steady)	13:20	-1
0.25 mi (steady)	16:44	2
0.25 mi (slow)	14:31	2