A few months ago I signed up for my very first 5k. I had started going for walks on a regular basis last year. I slowly have been working my way through a c25k program. I can now run for 5-8 minutes at a time, with fast walking in between. I have noticed a huge difference in my energy levels. One of my biggest problems in staying healthy is that I typically forget to take time to eat enough. I put off meals and then I find myself wanting to ravenously inhale a bunch of food at the end of the day. But now that I’ve started running, its another reminder that my body needs constant water and consistent fuel. I can NOT forget to eat or skimp on water because I’ll get side cramps or run out of steam while I’m out for a run.
I’ve been running SO much that my old school headphones (pictured on the left) finally went completely dead. They’d been going for a while, but they finally died. Joe tried to fix them with no success. So for a few weeks I used his giant duct taped gaming headphones (pictured on the right). I felt so ridiculous but I was dedicated! After dog-sitting for my mom, I used some of the money I earned to buy a new pair of headphones– Yurbuds. I have always hated earbuds because they hurt my ears and immediately fall out if I breathe in too deeply, ha. But a friend (hi Stephanie!) told me about Yurbuds and they are so comfortable and you can tug on them and they don’t fall out! They have been a dream to wear, especially after carting around Joe’s dumbo ear headphones, hahaha.So I’ve been working my way up to this 5k. When I did the very first interval training podcast, I couldn’t even run for 30 seconds at a time. I was so winded and shocked at how out of breath I was. To know that I started there and worked up to running 5-8 minutes is an awesome feeling. I’m not a fast runner AT ALL. I am what they call a “slogger” (slow jogger) but I know I will improve over time. For now, I’ve been working on improving my distance! Here are stats from some of my more recent runs.The neighbors bloodhound at my parents’ place joined me for my run one morning. Also, a farmer on a tractor waved good morning to me and slowed way down so his dust cloud wouldn’t hit me. Gotta love the country. It’s a friendly place.We meet again, hill. :/This hasn’t been only a physical journey. Here’s part of an email I sent to a close friend. (Hi Tatiana!) “Running is still scary and unknown to me. I am on the verge of signing up for my first 5k but it is terrifying. Forget about making good time, what if I can’t even go that distance? I’ve had a couple of people tell me that I will probably surprise myself with how ready I am. I think they’re probably right, but at the same time I feel like I am in my own little category (don’t we always think we are special?).
I feel like there are real runners and then people who hate exercising. So I ask the “real runners” for advice but they use big terminology and I feel like they don’t get where I am coming from. On the flip side, the “non-runners” I talk to kind of discourage me with their “why waste the energy” attitude.
So what am I? Am I couch potato or a runner? Is there somewhere in between or do I just have to choose one? Why do I think I need to fit in with other people to try something new? Maybe its okay to be my own category. Maybe once I get out there I will realize there ARE others in the same category as me.
That’s been my discovery when working my way through my 43things list. I want to do it. It doesn’t matter if anyone else does it. But once I do it, I find people that I click with. I’ve always feared being friendless or offending people. I’m learning that friendships fade and some people will even dislike me for reasons I can’t control. Why let it drain my life away? It’s so much more fulfilling to go towards what I want and then discover new friends along the way. It isn’t easy, but it is fulfilling.”
I am surprised at the amount of support I have received from friends and family in this. I’ve been posting regular updates to facebook and instagram and I have seriously cried happy tears at the comments I’ve been receiving. It makes a huge difference to know that people are proud of you. This week I finally hit my distance goal. That elusive 3.1 miles! That’s the distance of the 5k I’m running in this Saturday. Yesterday was my birthday (thank you for all of the birthday greetings and wishes!) and I think its so fitting that this race falls on my birthday weekend. Tomorrow. Tomorrow? The race is tomorrow! You can read all about this awesome race here: Color Me RadI picked up my packet yesterday and tried on all of my “rad swag” haha. I wore the neon pink sunglasses while riding in the car on the way home and Joe was like “Are you serious?” hahaha. My nerves are kicking in so think happy thoughts for me on Saturday morning!
that looks like an awesome event! the color bombing reminds me of the Indian festival, Holi. i saw it in an episode of Outsourced and my coworker told me about it. i forget what it actually celebrates but people through colored powder at each other all day.
Best of luck tomorrow! you’ll do great!
That’s so awesome, and inspiring! You are doing something I’ve always wanted to do with the running. I tried the C25K thing once but I couldn’t make it past the first couple of days! I hope you will write about what the race was like!
You go baby girl!
What time do you have to be there?
It has been so cool to see your dedication to it. I’ve always tried to see the ties between spiritual and physical discipline and one of them I feel is that faithful obedience even when you don’t feel like it. So you are kind of working out both muscles. I love you, and I can’t wait to see pictures and hear your happy 5k stories!
@SarahakaHungry - Thanks! That festival sounds so interesting!!
@BohemianLotus - Whenever I found a day that I couldn’t complete, I just repeated that one as many days as needed until I felt comfortable with it before moving on to the next one! I took much longer than you’re supposed to to finish the program. Besides its like a quote I saw somewhere “No matter how slow you go you’re still lapping everyone on the couch!” ;) @WildWomanOfTheWest - First wave of runners goes at 9am. We already picked up my bib so we don’t have to wait in line tomorrow. We’re trying to leave the house by 7am to beat traffic lines too. It’s at the Fairgrounds, not too far away.
@bethyherself - It’s definitely tied in with the spiritual too! I had reached a place where I was asking God to make things happen with my body and mind (health, fertility, happiness etc.) that I hadn’t been willing to invest in myself. I wanted him to fix me in all these areas but I hadn’t put in any of the work in caring for my body. When we started talking about the possibilities of medications for some of my issues I wanted to give my body a fair chance to fight for itself before heading that direction, and I am learning that my body has more fight than I thought it did. haha. How many times do I pray to God for a solution but what I’m really asking for is a magic wand? This has been life changing!
I’m sure you’ll do good. I could never do a marathon of any sort. I am not a runner, so good for you and I wish you a safe and fun run!
Also, Happy birfday!
@StrawberrySunrises - Thank you! I don’t feel like I’m a real runner either. I picked this as a first 5k because it looks so fun and carefree. They don’t even keep anyone’s time/pace and some people even walk the entire thing. I like that there’s no pressure!
You are going to do great! Especially wearing the pink glasses and the awesome t-shirt!
I too am doing the c25k. Before we left on vacation a month ago, my next run was the 20 minute run. Since I didn’t keep up on running while on vacation I’m gonna step it back a week, and see how I do. I love the c25k program. My husband is in the army and I figured if he is gonna stay in shape, I probably should too. I love the energy working out gives me. But I hate working out. So I find it hard to stay motivated.
1. Happy Birthday!! I AM SO Sorry I missed it. Also, I have a card I wrote out for you on my bedside table but I once again misplaced your address :S facebook me!
2. The second paragraph of your email to T reminded me of a few of my favourite running quotes:
” No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping everyone on the couch”
” Dead last finish is greater than did not finish which trumps did not start”
and the one that is most fitting, I think:
” If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run” John Bingham
3. GOOD LUCK! I am so so so so so so proud of you. <3
wow you killed your headphones from running so much, that’s nuts! running is very good for you though and good luck to you with the running thing, keep it up!! i wish i could run and stuff.. i do sometimes with my husband..
love your blog, subscribed to you!
I’m so proud of you I’m sitting here crying into my smoothie. I’m just so very proud of you. I’m always so intimidated my the runners here. With their sweat wicking reflective gsp enabled running garb. Because there’s me in my roller derby shirt and probably should have stayed in the closet running leggings hoping I don’t die running a hill because I was raised on the flat prairie. But I do it. Because I don’t want to give up. Giving up sucks.
To answer “so what am I?” I would say you’re a girl who wasn’t sure she could but did it anyway.
@murisopsis - Aren’t those glasses awesome? I’ve been wearing them everywhere!
@HisLadyofVirtue - That 20 minute run is daunting! I ran out of time before my 5k was here (because I kept repeating weeks as needed) so I haven’t ever run 20 minutes all at once either. The most I can do is 8 minutes at a time! Its definitely hard to stay motivated sometimes. I love the feeling I get after I complete a run though. It’s enough most days to keep me doing it. What helps me the most though is documenting my runs through pictures. My sneakers, the sunset, etc. Everything’s more fun when you can take a picture of it and remember the happiest parts.
@CanadianReflection - Oh, don’t worry, dear. I secretly like late birthday greetings. It spreads everything out. Thank you for being proud, and for your inspiring words. They helped me so much on race day!! I really really like Anne Marie mail so I will get you my address ASAP!
@temptedflirt - Thank you!! Running isn’t the most fun thing I can think of to do with my time, but it has been interesting to challenge myself and be surprised when I actually succeed. I didn’t think my body was capable of running at all. I was absolutely wrong, I just had to stop messing with my own head and saying I couldn’t do it. It’s definitely still very hard, but because that makes it all the more rewarding.
@Luv_Monkee - Giving up does suck. And I like that answer to my question!
Comments (15)
that looks like an awesome event! the color bombing reminds me of the Indian festival, Holi. i saw it in an episode of Outsourced and my coworker told me about it. i forget what it actually celebrates but people through colored powder at each other all day.
Best of luck tomorrow! you’ll do great!
That’s so awesome, and inspiring! You are doing something I’ve always wanted to do with the running. I tried the C25K thing once but I couldn’t make it past the first couple of days! I hope you will write about what the race was like!
You go baby girl!
What time do you have to be there?
It has been so cool to see your dedication to it. I’ve always tried to see the ties between spiritual and physical discipline and one of them I feel is that faithful obedience even when you don’t feel like it. So you are kind of working out both muscles.
I love you, and I can’t wait to see pictures and hear your happy 5k stories!
@SarahakaHungry - Thanks! That festival sounds so interesting!!
@BohemianLotus - Whenever I found a day that I couldn’t complete, I just repeated that one as many days as needed until I felt comfortable with it before moving on to the next one! I took much longer than you’re supposed to to finish the program. Besides its like a quote I saw somewhere “No matter how slow you go you’re still lapping everyone on the couch!” ;)
@WildWomanOfTheWest - First wave of runners goes at 9am. We already picked up my bib so we don’t have to wait in line tomorrow. We’re trying to leave the house by 7am to beat traffic lines too. It’s at the Fairgrounds, not too far away.
@bethyherself - It’s definitely tied in with the spiritual too! I had reached a place where I was asking God to make things happen with my body and mind (health, fertility, happiness etc.) that I hadn’t been willing to invest in myself. I wanted him to fix me in all these areas but I hadn’t put in any of the work in caring for my body. When we started talking about the possibilities of medications for some of my issues I wanted to give my body a fair chance to fight for itself before heading that direction, and I am learning that my body has more fight than I thought it did. haha. How many times do I pray to God for a solution but what I’m really asking for is a magic wand? This has been life changing!
I’m sure you’ll do good.
I could never do a marathon of any sort. I am not a runner, so good for you and I wish you a safe and fun run!
Also, Happy birfday!
@StrawberrySunrises - Thank you! I don’t feel like I’m a real runner either. I picked this as a first 5k because it looks so fun and carefree. They don’t even keep anyone’s time/pace and some people even walk the entire thing. I like that there’s no pressure!
@Mdd16436 - Have fun tomorrow and just be you!
You are going to do great! Especially wearing the pink glasses and the awesome t-shirt!
I too am doing the c25k. Before we left on vacation a month ago, my next run was the 20 minute run. Since I didn’t keep up on running while on vacation I’m gonna step it back a week, and see how I do. I love the c25k program. My husband is in the army and I figured if he is gonna stay in shape, I probably should too. I love the energy working out gives me. But I hate working out. So I find it hard to stay motivated.
1. Happy Birthday!! I AM SO Sorry I missed it. Also, I have a card I wrote out for you on my bedside table but I once again misplaced your address :S facebook me!
2. The second paragraph of your email to T reminded me of a few of my favourite running quotes:
” No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping everyone on the couch”
” Dead last finish is greater than did not finish which trumps did not start”
and the one that is most fitting, I think:
” If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run” John Bingham
3. GOOD LUCK! I am so so so so so so proud of you. <3
wow you killed your headphones from running so much, that’s nuts! running is very good for you though and good luck to you with the running thing, keep it up!! i wish i could run and stuff.. i do sometimes with my husband..
love your blog, subscribed to you!
I’m so proud of you I’m sitting here crying into my smoothie. I’m just so very proud of you. I’m always so intimidated my the runners here. With their sweat wicking reflective gsp enabled running garb. Because there’s me in my roller derby shirt and probably should have stayed in the closet running leggings hoping I don’t die running a hill because I was raised on the flat prairie. But I do it. Because I don’t want to give up. Giving up sucks.
To answer “so what am I?” I would say you’re a girl who wasn’t sure she could but did it anyway.
@murisopsis - Aren’t those glasses awesome? I’ve been wearing them everywhere!
@HisLadyofVirtue - That 20 minute run is daunting! I ran out of time before my 5k was here (because I kept repeating weeks as needed) so I haven’t ever run 20 minutes all at once either. The most I can do is 8 minutes at a time! Its definitely hard to stay motivated sometimes. I love the feeling I get after I complete a run though. It’s enough most days to keep me doing it. What helps me the most though is documenting my runs through pictures. My sneakers, the sunset, etc. Everything’s more fun when you can take a picture of it and remember the happiest parts.
@CanadianReflection - Oh, don’t worry, dear. I secretly like late birthday greetings. It spreads everything out. Thank you for being proud, and for your inspiring words. They helped me so much on race day!! I really really like Anne Marie mail so I will get you my address ASAP!
@temptedflirt - Thank you!! Running isn’t the most fun thing I can think of to do with my time, but it has been interesting to challenge myself and be surprised when I actually succeed. I didn’t think my body was capable of running at all. I was absolutely wrong, I just had to stop messing with my own head and saying I couldn’t do it. It’s definitely still very hard, but because that makes it all the more rewarding.
@Luv_Monkee - Giving up does suck. And I like that answer to my question!