Running Reflections

As my long runs grow longer (I'm up to 45 minutes) I can't help but reflect back on my first run. July 1, 2012. Day 1 of Couch to 5k is a 5 minute warm up walk, 1 minute run + 1.5 minute walk (repeated 6 times) then a 5 minute cool down walk. I remember waiting for those 1.5 minutes walks... they never came soon enough! And now I am comfortable running a 5k and am almost halfway through 5k-10k training. I look forward to run days. As much as I look forward to run days, this next week is a recovery week. Tomorrow I'll run 15 minutes and my long run later in the week is a 30 minute run. (Perfect opportunity for a 5k this weekend!)

Here I am with friends last Friday at Belding's B-Foundation Glow run/walk. The theme is pink, so of course we made pink tutu's! It was fun, my first night run. Had to dodge a couple dead animals, but the rain stopped just in time for the run! Looking forward to it next year.

Running, deer, and a snake

RUNNING: I'm really excited because I only have one more run left of Couch to 5k. Today was a 30 minute run and it wasn't as easy as the last 28 minute run. I changed things up a bit this morning by eating 1/2 banana, a bite of organic brownie bar (it was in the protein bar section so must be "good for you") and a cup of coffee. I thought the caffeine from the coffee would give me energy, but I tired out sooner than normal. But I finished it!  

DEER: On my run, I spotted a deer. It was so big that at first I thought it was a small horse! Quickly scanning the area, I spotted a fawn, then another one came out of the woods... then another! A doe and 3 fawns!

"Do I have time to get out my camera?" "I don't want to stop, keep going." "Oh I wish I had my camera out."

They all cross the trail path and stop. The fawns ahead of her. She's about 12 feet away. Her eyes on me.

"I hope she doesn't attack me. Keep going." "Greenville woman attacked by deer on trail." Not today.

SNAKE: Yesterday, hubby and I were just about to go grocery shopping, when he stops at the kitchen window and says "COME HERE. HURRY." And on the sidewalk is a big ugly brown/gray snake.  He slithered his way toward the steps then down into the landscaped area right in front of the house. Hubby got close enough to get this picture.

  He looks well-fed. Then I got to thinking that I haven't seen any toads in the toad houses all summer. It think the snake has been around for a while! On the upside, I probably don't have any mice, either!

I did it!

I ran my first 5K... well, I should clarify.

I completed my first 5K, running the entire way, no walking!

And it felt great! I ran it with my aunt Dolores, whose first race ever (post high-school track) was a Marathon in Hawaii! What? Yes... It was a walker-friendly Marathon, so she was able to walk and run it. It was also a fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation. She spent almost 7-1/2 hours walking/running! Can you imagine?

Last month we entered a 5K called Moonlit Miles. It was a trail run through Klackle's Orchards. It was hard. HARD. We finished in about 52 minutes. Walking and running. At that time, I had only a couple weeks of Couch to 5K under my belt and wasn't ready to run the entire race.

As I kept going through my training, I started getting antsy for try a run. Couch to 5K is an 8-week program and I would be completing my 6th week at the time of this race, the Old Farts "Who Cut the Cheese? 5k" in Lowell, MI. It started out on paved road, then a short, narrow and tricky trail then back to the paved road, and some long grass through the cemetery.

Here comes Dolores toward the finish! It was a beautiful cool morning for a 5K!

Both of us after the race. We were exhilarated and ready to enter our next run. Dolores gives it a thumbs up!

My big prize for 46th place! A whoopie cushion.

I finished in 33:08. I now have a time that I can work on improving!

Next up... The Belding Labor Day Run.

NO MORE EXCUSES!