A Very Good Day!

Those of you who know me well know that I hate running! It will most likely surprise you to learn that I ran my first 5k this past Friday. Yes, crazy I know!! It all started about mid March during a time of pondering and reflection. I decided that I needed to set a short-term goal for myself that would stretch and challenge me a little bit and that would give me a sense of accomplishment. The next day a friend from my ward posted an email on our listserve about some 5k's that would be going on here in Crystal City. At first I thought, bleh, I am not a runner, but the more I thought about it I realized it was just what I was looking for. It was a short goal that I could accomplish in a small amount of time, and it was something that I would really have to challenge myself at to achieve. I immediately wrote him back and said 'I'm in! Consider this a committment so I don't talk myself out of it!' There was a 5k every Friday at 6:30 during the month of April, I chose to do the last one so that I would have lots of time to train for it (and inevitably procrastinate). I went on a few runs over the course of a couple of weeks and I gradually began to feel more confident, that is until I showed up at the actual race! There were over 1300 runners that day and I felt like a fish out of water. I looked around me and saw all of these runners stretching and warming up. I felt like I didn't fit in there at all and that everyone could tell that I wasn't really a runner. Now I know that this wasn't the case, I was just psyching myself out. I said a prayer and asked for strength, endurance and to be able to just have a fun time and not worry about it. I wasn't there to race, I wasn't trying to beat anyone, I was just there for me and I wanted to do the best I could. I went into the race with two goals, I wanted to finish the race in under 40 minutes and I wanted to be able to run the whole thing without having to stop or walk. I am happy to report that my finishing time was 28:55 and I did run the whole thing!! And on a side note, I had a lot of fun too! My roommates Jenny and Crystal came to support me and cheer my on, I couldn't have done it without them!! It was so fun to see them at different places along the route, I am so blessed to have such great friends!!

After the race Jenny and I drove 45 minutes to Olney, MD to the newly opened Cafe Rio (the first one on the East coast!) where Jenny treated me to a sweet pork salad-my favorite!!! YUM!!! What a perfect way to end a great day!!!