13 months later

Last year, I made something of a big deal about starting a running program and being serious about it.  I posted about my first 5k that I actually ran and subsequent events.  Exercise programs are always very exciting at the start.  The trick is figuring out how to stick with it.  

13 months later, here I am.  I would like to say that I so totally love running and it's a vital part of my every day and I'm in the best shape of my life and am ready for my next 10k.  But that would be a big ol' fib.  

After the excitement of the few races I did in the Spring, I struggled with keeping my regular, every other day schedule of running 3+ miles.  I live in Alabama.  It's freakishly hot and humid.  You cannot get up earlier than humidity.  That said, I still managed to run 2-3 times a week, most weeks--sometimes more walk than run but I got out there.  Sometimes I got out there with my daughters (who pretty much complained of the heat the whole time--even the kid in the stroller).  At the end of summer, the girls and I did a Color Run 5K together.  Pretty cool (literally--it rained the whole race).

Since then, my training has ebbed and flowed--some weeks I've managed to get in 3 or 4 runs and some only 1 or 2, some, even zero (let's don't talk about the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas).  But in the end, thirteen months later, I am still running.  Last weekend I made a fun return to racing with the Hot Chocolate 5K.  Not my best run time ever but race was gorgeous and fun (separate post to come about that) and even though my pace wasn't impressive, it was in the top 3 of my division and gender and in the top half over all.  So I am calling it a win.  

In the end, the truth is, I don't run because I love running.  I run for these primary reasons:

1-It's really good for me physically and mentally.

2-I love the way I feel about myself when I finish running, especially when my pace is good and the hills are plentiful.

3-I would rather my daughters see me running and hear me talk about running than for them to see me dieting or hear me talking about dieting.  

I'm register for more races already, including another run I'll run with E.  I'm excited.

How did I get here?

I am 41 years old and I ran my first 5k road race today.  I've participated in several road races--Susan G Komen Race for the Cure 5ks, 2 or 3 times and the Bay to Breakers Road Race (a 12k) 7 times.  But I always walked or power-walked them.  For few of the Bay to Breakers races I actually walked at an average of a 12.30 minute mile. Almost a jog, but not.
Today I ran a full 3 miles straight.  Until this year I had never done that.  Two miles, yes (over 25 years ago), three, not until this year.  In the grand scheme of runners, I don't rate, not even for my age.  And frankly, this was more of a fun run than a real race.  But in the grand scheme of me, it's a  big ding dang deal.
There were a lot of things I had to give up to get here.
I had to give up a lot of previously held ideas.

• that I wasn't made for running
• that weather forecasts are good planning tools
• that it could be too cold to run
• that running was an instant weight loss program
• that exercising is something best done solo

I had to give up some other things too.

• excuses
• sleeping past 5 am regularly
• hating running
• crashing in the afternoons due to lack of energy

But the trade-off has been pretty amazing.  I have gained so much--more than I can list completely but here are a few highlights.

• quality time with a good friend
• realization that I actually can run
• realization that running in the cold is actually exhilarating and actually easier than running in the heat
• a reminder that fitness is as important as losing weight (though weight is slowly and healthily coming off)
• a confirmation that committing to a friend you would never willingly let down is an incredible motivator (I just wouldn't get up at 5 to run in the dark for myself)
• the joy of inspiring my daughter (she got up at 6 AM one morning to run with Pam and me  and wants to run the Color Run in Birmingham)
• the knowledge that very little can get in my way when I'm motivated (we ran in the pitch dark, the rain, the snow, windchills of 19 degrees, took on fearsome hills, and even clingy children).  
• greater alertness and energy, especially on the days that I run
• a tighter bond with my dog (she runs with us when I'm home)
• inspiration and support from others

Pam and I started our Ease into 5K program on January fourth.  We've run almost every other day since--sometimes two days in a row.  We have actually been running 5K or more on our workout runs for the past month.  The Nashville Color Run was the first official 5K road race we have participated in, thus far.  However, I'm already registered for another one next weekend, a lower key event closer to home--Lead Me to the Cross 5K sponsored Mount Zion Baptist Church.  The event proceeds are donated to their neighborhood fire department.  And I've also registered myself and my 5 year old daughter for the Color Run in Birmingham (she has asked to participate and is already excited about it).  

I still feel like my real test of will and spirit will be making it through our crazy hot summer, but I have confidence that we'll do it.  Pam was already mentioning buying gear in preparation for running next winter.  We've got plans, see.