I Finally Did it!

Okay, this morning I finally signed up for my 5k in April.  I know I have been talking about it for a month.  I just am a little bit of a procrastinator.  (The deadline is Friday...I told you.)  Now it is official.  On Saturday, April 16th I will be in the CAPSA Run from Violence 5k.    I have to say, I am really excited to run this race because it is a fundraiser for and amazing organization.  CAPSA is a local shelter for abused women that also provides prevention education.
On their website they state:

The mission of CAPSA is to provide safe, caring, and confidential shelter, advocacy, and support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; and to reduce incidents of abuse through prevention education.

As a participant in the race, I have the opportunity to help raise the funds they need to keep going.  So today, I'm going to ask for your help.  Please sponsor me in this race, you can donate any amount and it help.  Simply go to this website and search mommytomarathon  Click on my name and then follow the instructions. Thank you so  much for your support in this.

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

5k Training: Day Twelve

Yesterday was a HUGE milestone for me.  I, for the first time ever in my life, ran 3.12 miles.  It gave me a nice little preview of what my 5k is going to be like in three weeks.  THREE WEEKS!!!!!!!  (can you tell I'm excited?)  Now, just so you know, I really only did a 2.5 mile run, the rest was my warm up and cool down.

Quick interuption, I was checking the weather for the week and I found the beauty of a typo...

Somehow I doubt that it's really 122 in Salt Lake City today, or has ever been for that matter.  I'm all for the warmer weather, but this? Not so much.

Now, back to your regular programming.  Saturday is a very busy day at our house so, once again, my run was pushed late.  Until now, I haven't had to run in the dark, but last night I started at eight so there was no avoiding it.  I have to give major kudos to those of you out there who do this daily, whether in the morning or at night.  I, personally, felt a bit weird not getting my dose of vitamin D with my exercise.  

I was very, very tempted not to run last night.  It was late, my hubby had just gotten home from work and honestly, I was tired.  Luckily I have a great husband who walked in the door and told me to go have a great run.   Well, I couldn't look at him and tell I wasn't going to, so out I went.  I felt pretty good as I started out, my shins had been giving me some trouble so I took extra care to warm them up and stretch.  I was amazed to see how far .25 miles can really be.  Thank goodness for my walking intervals or I wouldn't have made it. After the first two intervals I still was considering giving up.  Then came the song that has sort of become my anthem.  Dare You to Move by Switchfoot.  I know this song isn't about getting up and exercising exactly, but for me, it is.  For so long I have been content with where I was, even at 260 pounds I just wasn't willing to work for a change.  Then came the goal of a 5k.  Now I'm moving. My favorite lines of the song:

I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before

As I listened to these words, I felt the change that I have been making, not only for my life but for my daughters.  I am going to be healthy, and I'm going to finish what I start.  For the first time on a long run, I lost track of how far I had gone. I wasn't worried about how fast I was going, just about finishing.  I just listened to the coaching on runkeeper, running when it prompted, slowing to a walk in between.

When I arrived home, I realized that I had gone almost the exact distance I will be racing in just three short weeks.  I am so glad I went.  I have a goal to shoot for in my race and, who knows, with three more weeks I may be able to shave a few seconds off my time.

Stats:

Distance 3.13 Mi.

Duration 47.02

Avg. Pace 15:15

Avg Speed 3.93 mph

Intervals	Pace (min/mi)	Elevation (ft)
5:00 (warmup)	15:38	0
0.25 mi (fast)	13:02	4
0.25 mi (slow)	16:07	-0
0.25 mi (fast)	13:18	5
0.25 mi (slow)	16:32	1
0.25 mi (fast)	13:58	2
0.25 mi (slow)	16:33	-2
0.25 mi (fast)	12:36	-6
0.25 mi (slow)	16:33	-2
0.25 mi (fast)	13:34	-1
0.25 mi (slow)	15:57	-4
5:00 (cooldown)	18:26	2