My first 5K (and 100th post!!!)

I am super excited that of all my posts - this is my 100th!!!

Today I had my first 5K. It was the Tallmadge Memorial 5K.

I won't lie - I was not ready for this.  I was wogging once a week because my shin splints were so bad.  And then Wednesday, the week before I did a practice run outside and about 1.5/2 miles in I got so sick I had to stop. I was so dehydrated and got my BP up so high that I was terrified to even try the race after that.  I spent all Friday - Sunday chugging water.  Close to 15 servings a day.  I wasn't risking a repeat of Wednesday, especially when the temps were to peak around 90 today.

After debating, I decided to go through with the race.  I spent some time on YouTube watching videos from last year's run and watching people walk and suddenly wasn't embarrassed that I knew I would have to.  So I headed on Saturday morning to pick up my bib and goodie bag. The shirt is cute, but too short for my liking, not sure I'll ever get to wear it.

My sister happened to be in town from NY, so my parents, husband and sister were able to come to the race, which was great. I needed the support.

I met up with a coworker (the evil one who convinced me to register for this 5k) and we got ready to take off.

By 745, I'm not sure of the temp, but I will say there was ZERO shade.  It was just direct sun beating down on us.  A bit overwhelming.  So we take off and I am fumbling around with my ipod/nike +. ... I thought I had it going, found out about 5 minutes later I never started it..

There was a great crowd there. Everyone from your every day mom and her daughter to a 70-something year old woman who ran her first race (and yes, she finished before me!).  I took off from the line at the back, I didn't want to get run over. Mistake #1 -  I pushed myself a little too hard from the very beginning, ruining my pace and flow.  I couldn't keep up with my run 4, walk 2 almost instantly.

I'm not sure what I was thinking, or what possessed me to 'challenge' myself, but I had the bright idea to jog up the wicked hill, that I watched every non-seasoned runner walk up... That was mistake #2.

Mistake #3 - throwing myself a pity party at one point. Convincing myself I ruined my chances of finishing because I got so far back at one point.  There were probably ... 15 behind me, and at one point, in a loop through a neighborhood - there was no one.  No one I could see in front, and no one behind me (well I didn't look, but no one immediately behind me). There was no one cheering, it was just me.  And I wanted to quit. I wanted to quit so badly.  I convinced myself I would get to the corner and ask a volunteer to borrow their phone, call hubby and say I'm done.  But as I got closer to the corner, and the volunteers were cheering me on, I knew I couldn't.  I wouldn't forgive myself.

So I chugged along.  Shortly after, everyone kept yelling how close I was.  I was convinced they were delusional. There was no end in sight, there was no shade in sight (seriously - this is a quiet neighborhood, why are there are no shady trees on the treelawn folks?!?!).  It was just me, the sun blasting down on my head, and my, finally steady, breathing.  It took me until about 2.5 miles into it to get a good breathing pace down.  Just in time to finish. hah.

I finally saw the end... And my dad was coming over to cheer me on and give me a little pep talk.

With one more deep breath, I knew it was time to give it everything I had left. . .

Smile for the husband and family.

I don't quite remember what made me giggle.  I was not in a giggling mood, so it must have been hilarious to me at the time.

My friend Beth (who finished with an awesome time, wayyyy before me) and her mom were there on the sideline cheering me on.  Sadly - I didn't even see or hear them - all I could see was that black box finish line.


I don't know my official time.  Unfortunately with my ipod fiasco, I will have to wait until they post it.  However, I *believe* it was in the 49 minute range (and NOT last for the women!), which isn't too far off of my initial goal, which was to do it 45 min. Gives me a starting point, that's for sure!

There was a woman in front of me, and her shirt said something along the lines (I forget now) "I may not be first to the finish, but at least I have the courage to come to the starting line" and I thought about that most of the run.  I could have bailed and made excuses. But I didn't.  I showed up and I gave it what I could.  It wasn't what I hoped for, but it was all I could do at this point - and that's more than some people will ever be able to say.  So I'm OK with that.

After downing some gatorade and water - I was able to smile again ;)

I refused to go home, because I knew I'd spend the entire day sleeping, so I went with husband and family to Aurora Farms Outlets.  It was good. Now with these last few pounds lost, I had zero pants for summer, so I managed to get a few.  Good deals, but really just enjoyed spending time with my family. 

Husband asked if I'd run another one... I think I'd be willing to do another, sans that wicked hill and preferably one with some shade ;)  We'll see.. 

Power Song

Today I was running wogging around the local park in hopes of getting in another 5k time to help prepare me for my race coming up. Just like I mentioned the other day, I struggle midway... I am sure everyone has a point where they are struggling. I was really rough this morning, while I had plenty of sleep I was NOT hydrated enough. At one point I wanted to stop and cry... So I walked, and walked, and continued to walk some more.  I wasn't letting myself quit. So I turned my Nike+ on to the 5k program and it was counting down for me. I got to where it was at the 400 meter mark, and I have no idea what I was thinking, but in my head I looked at what I had left on my path, and knew that was wayyyy too long and it was starting to rain heavier, so I cut across the park, only to find myself significantly shorter than intended. Go figure...

Either way - I got 2.96 miles done in 51 minutes.  I WILL finish this 5k, but it will not be as speedy as I hoped.  I'm trying not to talk myself down about it, because I'm going to do regardless, but I just feel silly knowing I can't jog the whole thing.  I feel like I don't belong on it.

Anyways - enough pity talk.  I was halfway through the wog today and a song came on, perfectly timed. It's an odd choice, I know - but Kristtinia Debarge has a song called "Sabotage".  And while it's not about working out (clearly) the lyrics were PERFECT timing. As I was convincing myself I couldn't do it and needed to quit, this song came on and I realized, that's exactly what I was doing.

So here's the lyrics, and again - I know this song isn't a typical power song and I normally wouldn't consider this as a motivational song on my playlist, but I found it ironic that it came on when I was ready to quit. I didn't even realize I put it in that playlist.

What is your power song to keep you going?

That Darn 2.4 Mile Mark

Today I went for a wog around a local park that I know the distance on.  5 trips around is 3.3 miles, but there's a walk way through the park that if you cut through, it's just about a 3.1.  I wanted to get a time of me doing it outside without the treadmill controlling my pace, and to deal with inclines and real distractions.  I choose this park also because it's not hard pavement and my shins appreciated it!

Here was my first trip (and again, I'm not 100% on the distance, it could have been a tiny bit less, and closer to the 3.1 mark)

And that couldn't be more true.  It was a minute or so into my third lap and I died.  I wanted to quit. I wanted to walk across the park and get in the car and head home.  I didn't, but I let it get to me, and I let it slow me down. I fought with myself the entire lap.  

I registered for my first 5K and it's in 3 weeks.  So I figure I will practice outside on Wednesdays and Sundays until the big day pretty much. My next trip out this Wednesday I plan on making a few changes. The first is that I will not walk 4-5 minutes in my warmup, like I did today. I will do a little back and forth, and stretch, but I want to take off on my first 4min jog, and see how that affects my time. Because I know I'm not going to take off at the race walking, so I want to get a better feel. 

I've been doing 4 min jog with 2 min walks.  Although on lap three, I pretty much walked most of it. I did like a min jog, and then 2 min walk, then jogged until my timer beeped again and then I proceeded to walk.  But I was determined to do the distance just to know that I could.  I know it's slow, and most people reading this would be shocked I'm going to do the 5k anyhow, but frankly I need to do it and get the fear of the first one over.  Who knows, maybe I'll surprise myself! 

I also know that when I'm actually there - my walking pace will be faster.  When I was walking today, by myself I tend to go much slower than I would with others around me.  Either way - it's my race, and regardless of how long it takes - I'll be the one crossing the line and I need to be happy with how I did. So I can't compare myself to anyone else. 

Husband was there to cheer me on, give me support, and of course, snap pictures.

And since I forgot to talk about the trail we went on the other day (which by the way was AMAZING, and intense) - here's some pictures.

This was at the Ledges trail, in Peninsula.  There are so many little side trails and connections that I couldn't remember them all or where which pics came from where.

I do NOT envy that dude running up. I died walking up the steps!

Screw you too, Universe.

Ever have the feeling the world is sided against you? I'm there.  These next two weeks of the school year are the most stressful two weeks I have all year because of events that happen right now.  It's just a rough time of year.

Rewinding, 9 months ago - I had zero anticipation of having to experience it this year.  May 7th was it.  My due date. But life happens.   So now we just have a huge awards ceremony, prom, finals, graduation, and somewhere in the middle, another surgery (as a follow up from my RE appointment), AND maybe, if I can manage, a 5k (even if it is at a turtle pace!) and all should be well?

I'll be here, there and everywhere, but my check-ins will be slightly scarce. At least for the next two weeks. I will be keeping up with my google reader though :-) I can always squeeze that in on lunch!

Failure?

"Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely."~ Henry Ford

This is the weekly breakdown for my Weight Watchers Walk It Challenge:


Week 2
             Run   Walk  Repeat
Day 1:  3 min 3 min  4 x
Day 2             Rest      
Day 3   3        3         4 x
Day 4             Rest      
Day 5   5        3         3 x
Day 6   5        3         2 x
Day 7             Rest      

So I got my ipod together, got my new shoes on and was all ready to go and begin week 2.  I went outside because it's freaking beautiful out all warm and sunny and was super excited. I started down the street to another neighborhood that I know is pretty flat.

I started out great.  Did my 5 min warm up, then I did my first 3x3.  Geared up for my second 3x3 and was excited, I was halfway done already.  Then the third 3x3 came along.  I had a small hill to go up (nothing obnoxious or anything) and the sun was pounding down.  My head started pounding and I knew it was a bad sign.  I could feel that my BP was starting to go up.

I made it up the hill and done with that 3 min.  I was beat.  I had to walk 3 more, then just one more 3x3 and 5 min cool down. I could do it... I knew I could do it... But could I? No.  When it came time to run again, I started, and instantly my head felt as though it was going to explode.  So I kept walking. I walked back towards my house so now I've walked 6 minutes and I thought I for sure I could get another 3 out... So I tried.. I'm on my street, just going to go up and down it, and it's flat. I start out and my head is pounding (if you've had a blood pressure headache, you know the feeling) and I got a minute in and I knew that's all I could do... So I semi-completed W2D1.  I don't plan on repeating it. I will just go ahead and do w2d3.

So in my head, I failed. I couldn't do it. But, because my husband is wonderful - he reminded me this is the first time I've actually done this outside, I am very much a treadmill-loving girl.  And secondly - I did this one a lot faster than I've done the ones in the past.  The pace was much faster, so if I had been going my normal treadmill, controlled pace - maybe I could have finished...

5k Progress

If you recall, just under a month ago I talked about my first 5K attempt on the treadmill to get a baseline.  And here I am, a month later, still going at it.  And day after day, mile after mile, I don't notice the changes and the success (though yesterday, with my longest 'running' time, I did notice that) but sometimes  I need to stop and look at the hard facts.

Just under a month ago, I walked 3.10 miles in 61:18.  That's not bad, but I knew I could do better, and if my goal is to do it in 45 minutes or less in September, I have a lot of work ahead of me.  So I did just that. I worked really hard once March started to try and make sure every day I do at least a mile worth of work, whether it's my bike or my treadmill.

So this is a reminder of last time:

Feb 22, 2011

And today:

March 21, 2011

And, because I wanted to see how far I've come, I continued my walk, until I hit 61:18 (though I will admit, I slowed down by that point):