My first 5K.
Training. Healthy eating. A good night’s sleep. Focus. Excitement.
All of these things would have been really good to have for my very first 5K. But I didn’t have a single one of them. Quite the opposite: I probably got out to train twice the entire month before the run. I did manage to eat healthy the day before and day of the run, but the entire month before I think I spent twice my normal allowance on fast food. The night before, I surely meant to get to bed by 9, but I didn’t manage to slide under the covers until after midnight. Focus? HA! Excitement? Bah HUMBUG!
So why did I do it? I’ll tell you why. Linda Bailey and Anna Johnson. They are totally awesome and I love them. They, having claimed it was all my idea in the first place, which I will deny to the death if ever I hear such slander again, “encouraged” me until I did it. I almost backed out a thousand times. I almost turned left and headed down Academy Street to my air conditioned house. I almost got in the golf cart. I almost cut across the field.
But I didn’t. I finished it. I even exceeded my personal goal of 1) not passing out and 2) finishing in under an hour. I finished in 53 minutes and 26 seconds. God saw fit to show mercy on my fat — er, “buxom” — self and I didn’t get heat exhaustion, cramps, or pulled muscles (unless I count my feet being encased in concrete instead of cushiony shoes at the end. It was the darndest thing.). A little ice, a little Jimmy Buffet concert, and I was good to go.
So, guess what I did Monday and Wednesday? I ran. Guess what I’m going to do in 6 months? Another 5K. And when my friends tell me it was all my idea, maybe I won’t smack them upside the head for lying next time.
p.s. Major kudos to Linda for busting hump and finishing in under 50. You’ll definitely beat 40 next time 
June 11th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Okay, to clarify and confirm that this was YOUR idea………perhaps you have forgotten that it was you that told us about the “Couch to 5K” podcast (and even sent us the link)! I know that I jumped all over the idea since this is the year that I MUST get into shape again! As for Anna, I think she just may have been in the “wrong place at the wrong time” (or was it the “right place” :)) since she was standing there as we were getting (okay I was) getting excited about doing a 5K!
Whatever it was I just wanted to let everyone in blogland know how grateful I am that you got us started with this!! I am looking forward to doing our next one in maybe THREE months!! (Six is too long to wait!)
Oh, and I think that you forgot to mentioned how Anna and I had to eat your dust for most of the race!!!! You were amazing!
Kudos to you Kathy!!! You did it!! We did it!!!!
Okay, where’s the spell check on this thing?!
June 11th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Ok, yes I think I was for sure in the wrong place at the wrong time… and it turned out great! I loved it! Now I must admit that I have yet to run again (Kathy in case you didn’t notice, it’s been over 100 all week!) but there are plans in the very near future. I think I’m with Linda, 3 months. 6 is so far away.
Thanks for pushing me ladies. It was fun! Let’s keep it up!
June 12th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Man, you ladies are killing me. 3 months?!?