I Ran a 5K This Morning!

[Velocivixen]

So I took up running in the winter of 2009 and started with the Couch to 5K running program and completed it. I ran a few 5Ks and trained for and ran a 10K in 2010. I have essentially quit running because of a tight IT band that I don't regularly stretch. I do so many other things at the gym and including bicycling, that running has gone by the wayside. So my town is having a Celebration day (annual) with a parade, etc. and this year they had their first 5K & 1 mile run/walk. I wasn't sure I'd do it, then last minute I thought, "Why not?" I showed up and did it! I ran the entire way! Whoohoo. It was my slowest 5K ever, but considering my IT band was painful and I haven't run that far in more than 16 months I think I did just fine. I even was awarded a medal for finishing. It was a beautiful sunny morning and the run went along the parade route and folks were already getting their spots to watch the parade. I felt like they were there to cheer me on (even there was no cheering, except for one family with kids!). I said "good morning" to people and said "Hi" to the Police Volunteers (I'm a police volunteer, but didn't want to volunteer to stand around for 5 hours during a parade).
Anyway there was a 13 y/o boy who was walking during the last 1/4 mile or so and he looked discouraged. I ran up beside him and said to come on and we would finish together. He said he was new to running & that his dad told him that if he finished he would take him to Tom's Restaurant for waffles (they're famous for them), so I distracted him asking about what he was going to have on his waffles, etc. and before you know it we approached the finish line and I sprinted and said, "Come on, let's make a great finish". He crossed just before me to applause. Afterwards he came up and hugged me and his dad thanked me. I felt really good about encouraging him

[redrhodie]

I love that story! That kid was really lucky to meet you. I'm sure he feels really proud of himself!

[azfiddle]

That's sweet! Thanks for sharing that.

[Velocivixen]

Oh thanks. When I ran my first organized 5K run it happened to be in the park right behind my house, so I knew the course well. Early in that run I was passed by a tall man who was Power Walking (I was running my best). I met up with a woman who had been a runner, had injury and was just coming back to running. She was just a little bit faster than me so we ran together. She really encouraged me and would ask me, along the way, "How is this speed?" and "Let me know how you're doing" because we decided we would run the rest of the way together. Since she was a little faster I had to push myself, but she distracted me. I will never forget how her kindness encouraged me to finish that, my first 5K. So I will always pay it forward. It's my pleasure.

[goldfinch]

Thanks for the great story. It is amazing what encouragement will do. When I was doing a ride that was my longest yet I was pooping out with a couple of miles to go. But this big powerful guy came along and rode with me. Me, and my speed, suddenly perked up. I ended up doing not just two more miles but 9 more miles.

[Cynedra]

That is awesome. I've done the C25k but have yet to gather up the nerve to run in an event. And way to go on helping the boy/young man along.

[Velocivixen]

Thanks. My husband reminded that my 36 minute time today was NOT my slowest ever 5K. My first one took me 43 minutes! So I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought. The main thing I thought about as I ran is how I was honoring my body and my body was honoring my spirit by allowing my legs to carry me and my heart & lungs were fueling me with oxygen. I enjoyed the sky, the trees, the people. I felt thankful that I was even able to do it. For so long I lived wanting and wishing I could live life a certain way, but because of my weight I couldn't. I was more than 100 lbs. overweight and had been sedentary for years. I would see people biking and running and wished that I could do it too. Finally I made my move, took the necessary steps and did it. Now when I exercise and I feel tired or that it's hard, I actually am just so thrilled that I am able to do it. That my body will allow it. I am so thankful.

[Velocivixen]

@Cynedra, you can do it. My first 5K was a very small local one in my own neighborhood, and even at that I was intimidated. I recommend that you find a smaller one and just sign up and do it. It is so fun and if you've trained for it 3.1 miles is really not that far. It's a very reasonable distance/time to run. Don't over think it. Just do it. Or at least do one.

[jessmarimba]

I was fortunate that my sister was already running before I ran my first race. She talked me into doing an 8K and drove me to it, made me warm up, showed me the ropes, etc. And then once the race started, she planned on leaving me. Well, I finished about 20 seconds behind her (probably b/c I walked up a hill) and yelled to her as I finished, since she wasn't waiting for me yet. She jokingly accused me of cutting the course But I had a man talk me into running again and drag me with him when I was ready to walk and just give up. It can make all the difference in the world - thanks for helping that boy!

(and as a side note, that first race was the fastest pace I've ever done, and probably will do again sometimes ignorance is bliss!)

[PamNY]

Congratulations! A great story about the young man you encouraged, too.

[marni]

this was inspiring to read. I am signing up for my first ever run in any form, a 5 K early in November. At age 63- I decided it was about time. Of course for the past many years I have been using the lack of knee cartiledge and rear ACl plus weight as an excuse not to but since I have lost almost 130 pounds in the past 5 years and the trainer has been having me run basket ball court circuits for five minute intervals, I figure it's time to pull up by big girl panties and prove to myself that I can do this. It will make a nice kick in for starting to ride in for a cross country ride in May and June in 2012, plus a good way to celebrate almost six months of recovery.

Iam both scared and excited but so glad to hear that others, who are perhaps not the most seasoned runners can do it successfully. I have hope I may be able to do it as well.

marni

[channlluv]

...The main thing I thought about as I ran is how I was honoring my body and my body was honoring my spirit by allowing my legs to carry me and my heart & lungs were fueling me with oxygen. I enjoyed the sky, the trees, the people. I felt thankful that I was even able to do it.....

That is beautiful.

Roxy

[Velocivixen]

@Marni, so you've had a trainer kick your b*tt! My experience with trainers is that they will torture far more than you will torture yourself. If you have leg issues you might want to choose a run that does not have a lot of hills. Just a thought. My one and only 10K had a downhill for the first 3 miles which I walked since I had never trained on hills, and that was the beginning of my IT band issues. You can do it. Just train for it. My only advice is to pace yourself. It is common to allow the excitement to cause us to run too fast at the beginning then we can run out of steam at the end. I use my heart rate monitor to maintain my comfortable range (about 85% of my max), as I have found that I can sustain that over 3.1 miles then speed up the last 1/4 mile and finish strong. Also, make sure you are really warmed up prior to the start. Otherwise it takes a bit for the legs to "wake up" and you may feel sluggish the first mile or so. Of course, everyone's body is different, but those are observations I have experienced.
@Roxy, thanks.

[marni]

velocivixen, I agree with you completely about having a trainer. If I hadn't had one for the past 4 years I would still be weighing in at 250 pounds. I have been blessed with four very skilled and knowledgable trainers, the first two of whom were former Marines.

Fortunately the run is completely flat, and I intend to run with a HR monitor, as well as possibly one ear playing a podrunner episode at my chosen speed. Right now I am aiming for an 11 minute mile and the trainer is working on a at home program for me to build up to that.

I loved your story. I hope that I can find a running angels, or be a runners angel.

marni

[OakLeaf]

Yay Velocivixen, what a great story.