My first 5K

I have been excited for this race for the last month. A 5k is 3.1 miles, definitely not a marathon, but nothing to sneeze at either. I ran sprints in high school, open quarter, mile relay, and 200 meters. My anatomy classes in college taught me that you're muscles are either made to run sprints or long distance, not both. With those two things combined I've been telling myself (more like using the excuse) that it just isn't possible for me to run long distances. Oh sure, off and on over the last 10 years I've given a go at it, but always found some reason to give up - the weather, I'm too busy, I can't do it, etc.

However, shortly after the beginning of the year I just started running. It wasn't a New Years resolution, as I don't believe in making New Years resolutions. I think you should resolve every day to be better than the last in all aspects, so what's the point of making a resolution one time a year on a given date? I started running every other day and probably within a week I had decided that I was going to run the 5k at Cowtown Marathon. So I signed up for it, and for the last 6 weeks I have followed a training schedule without skipping a beat no matter the day, no matter the weather. I think my mom finally realized I was serious when I was up at 8 am in 29 degree weather on a Saturday morning, running 4 miles.

The week before the race I took it easy on my running on Monday and Wednesday, took 2 days rest before the big day, and stayed well hydrated and well nourished. Oh, I forgot to mention that I've almost given up sweets and alcoholic beverages entirely. Not the easiest of things since I love cheesecake, brownies, my whiskey, and craft beers.

The morning of the race I was up at 4:45, after not sleeping a wink or so it felt, and headed to Ft. Worth from my parents at 5:30. My parents, Brandon, and I sat in the car and waited as the cars flooded into the parking lots. Around 7:45 I decided it was time to get out, start stretching, and warming my muscles up. I found Michelle, Brandon's mom, and we lined up together. Below are a few pictures before the race - and yes I look crazy in the most of them, between the cold temperatures, being nervous, and adrenaline I was not focused on trying to be cute.

Michelle and I crossed the start line and finish line together! Definitely a memorable first race. My official time was 34:59. My previous best time when training was 39:02, so I bettered myself. I placed 151 out of 349 females in my age group and 2035 out of 5051 overall. Well in the top half of both categories. The winner in the female division had a winning time of 21 minutes and some change. After only a month of training, I'm definitely happy with my results. I had set my goal at 36-37 minutes and I beat that.

Running is not something I'm setting about doing to win races, I did that in high school. It is something I'm doing solely for me, for self-satisfaction, for accomplishment. Everything else in my life I do to compete or be the best. Most weeks I devote more than 40 hours a week to my work/career. I try to devote as much time to my husband and becoming a better wife (most of the time falling short) as I can. In general, everything in my life is centered around being the best. Running is something I do not have to be the best at; it is something I can do for myself, that no one can take away, and the only person I have to compete with is myself.

I once thought how does someone make the time to have a great career, a successful marriage, and still find time to devote to themselves..the answer as my husband as always told me is..."you make the time" (seems pretty simple, huh)

My closing words of wisdom, I suppose. No matter what you set out to do you can do if you put in the effort. You have to overcome the limitations you set on yourself, you have to overcome what you are told you can and cannot do, and you have to overcome the busy world. If something is important to you, you will make the time.

Future goals: I'm starting to train for a 10k, then a half marathon, and next year I will run the Cowtown Marathon with my mother-in-law.

Thank you for all the support..My husband for taking off work, making me a sign, and believing in me, my parents for always always believing in me and supporting ALL of my crazy ventures, my mother-in-law for pushing me the last quarter of the way, Ann, Jay, Rachel, and Ian for staying after Ian's 10k and cheering us on, and Zollie for always being encouraging and directing us towards the celebration beer...which I did not have.