First 5K race!

I have not really posted about the fact I took up running a couple of months ago. I did not know if I would actually stick to it and I could only run small distances, so I did not want to embarrass myself.

Well, I have stuck to it! I used the Couch 2 5K program, which has you gradually increasing distance until you can run a 5K. It is designed for people like me who have never run before. It starts out having you do intervals of run 60 seconds, walking 90 seconds. I figured it would be a piece of cake, after all, how hard could it be to run 60 seconds. It turns out, for me, it was really hard. I was panting and wheezing after each 60 second run!

I have never run before and hated running. It was a real struggle to find the willpower to actually do it the first several weeks. I also refused to run in 90 degree heat, so there were some weeks this summer where I was lucky to get one workout in.

But I stuck to it and started running more as the weather cooled a bit. It finally got to the point where I no longer disliked running. I still don't love it, but I also no longer dread it.

Several weeks ago I finally finished the program and could run an entire 5K without stopping, while pushing the kids! This is the first time I have ever actually completed an exercise program!

To help keep myself motivated, I signed up for a 5K race. This gave me something to work towards. My goals for the race were; 1) not to embarrass myself, 2)run the entire thing without walking, 3)Finish in under 40 minutes.

Well, the race was yesterday! I shocked myself by surpassing all my goals! This was a hard race because it was at John Bryan Park, which has a lot of huge hills, so I was thrilled with the results. I ran the entire thing, finishing with a time of 33:26. That is the fastest I have every run a 5K!! It was only 38 degrees out when I got there, but I like it on the cool side when I run.

I had Jerrod take a picture of me when I got home from the race. (He stayed home with the kids.) I am still way overweight, but I am in the best shape of my life!


I started doing this for many reasons. Mainly, I wanted to be able to keep up with my kids without being short of breath while doing it. I also was frustrated with trying to find clothes in Plus sizes.

I have reached several of my goals. I can now keep up with the kids, I fit into Misses' clothing sizes again, and I can run an entire 5K. Now I just need to work on losing more weight. I think I have lost about 20 pounds so far, but I have a lot to go yet.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would become a runner or do what I am doing. I guess it just proves that anything is possible!