Go…!

Posted on by glittermomruns

Yeah… it is that time of the evening when a gazillion things are running thru my brain. What am I going to eat this week as I prep for my 3rd 5k on Saturday?  How many days should I rest?  Will my knee hold up? 

Stop, stop, stop! “It is what it is” – my favorite saying, which by the way, I do well preaching, but not necessarily practicing.     I became a runner simply because I needed something on my bucket list tha had some “umph” to it.  I had tried running in grade school but I have vague memories of running off the track in the middle of a meet.  Just in case you are wondering, I didn’t return.  I recall huffing and puffing during the 1-mile timed run in high school; I don’t remember my time.  I was just thankful that there were no boys around to to witness the epic disaster.  But getting back to my 2012 bucket list, I created one over Christmas break to identify things that I, alone, individually, uno, by-myself could do for myself (don’t call me selfish) and others because over the past 7+ years I had been giving and giving to my family.  This time, I wanted a little glitter sparkle for me.  The bucket list was born!  Running “a” 5k and giving blood were my top priorities. 

My first 5K was in February; it was the FROZEN KNIGHT 5K RUN.  I stated my training in late December 2011 and I only recall running on my treadmill staring at each one-hundredth of a mile that I managed.  Some unpleasant thoughts came into play during those early training days but I was determined.  On the day of the event it was frozen to put it nicely – snow squalls, 50mph winds, and the temp was…. well, COLD!  I said to my husband, “If I finish in under 45 minutes I will be happy.”  I took my spot at the end of the pack and before it I was off and running.  I crossed the finish line in 35:05.  I remember seeing my hubby as I approached the finish line and the look of surprise on his face.  There was no camera in his frozen hands…. he wasn’t expecting me – Mission accomplished!!

For my second 5K run, I was blessed to have a running buddy (she is the cute one in pink with a smile on her face down in the picture below).  She can run ladies!  Run and run she would go; regretfully I am the one who needs to build my endurance.  The second race was called “Beat Beethoven” and literally, an orchestra played two of Beethoven’s symphonies and if your crossed the finish line before they were over.. you beat Beethoven and got a pin to show for it!  I wanted that pin and I wanted it bad.. real bad!  The course was difficult and we finished in 33:18.  Ugh… and the sad part is that my smiling friend (I shall call her SMILES…) could have gotten that pin but she stuck with me instead of going at her own pace so that we could cross the finish line together.  Gotta love a great friend like SMILES!

And so, in a few short days, Smiles and I will be running the JINGLE IN JULY 5K.  The course, we are told, is 99% flat – BINGO!!!  I am a bit nervous for this one because training has been more difficult the last few month (sick kids- on numerous occasions, health issues of my own, not to mention the heat and humidity that has been downright oppressive!).  Our goal is once again to be in under 30 minutes, we can do this, Smiles and I.  We can — pass the glitter!

That’s me in the black, gasping for air, at the end of my 2nd 5K in April.