Happy Thanksgiving 2012!
Yeah I know it's been awhile, but, Oh my Gosh! I did it. I completed my first 10k! That's news. Who would have ever thunk? It seems like such a short time ago when I was not even so certain about running 3 miles (5k) distance, and here I am today to tell you that I ran 6.2 miles, non-stop. It was the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot and I can't think of a better way to spend the morning, earning that meal.
I used the 10k101 training podcast program by Todd Lange, which is the followup to the 5k101 program I did previously, to train for this round. I'm not going to lie to you. It was hard. When I made the leap and jumped into the 5k program I was so fired up and positive and my attitude made all the difference in my success, I do believe. I never said I couldn't do it, even if I had those thoughts sometimes, I was determined never to tell anyone that and to keep the focus in the positive. This time around, I had doubts and I actually found myself saying the words, "this is so hard," and you know what? I could tell the difference. When I said it was hard, it was. My mindset followed. There came a point when I knew I had to somehow drag myself up out of that negative energy I was letting creep over me. I had already registered for my chosen 10k so I was in and wasn't getting out of it. I could either make it really, really miserable for myself. Or I could find whatever it is deep, deep down inside of me that got me this far in the first place. When I started to find it again, there was a night and day difference in my runs, and my attitude about them.
One drawback I have right now is that it's starting to turn into winter. So far I've only had to run on the treadmill twice, which is good, because honestly I don't know how people do it. I was whining to no end those 2 days over it too, but then I had to pull myself back and go, "whoa, I am so blessed. I've been running for 4 months and I only end up having to run on the treadmill 2 times because of weather in that time. If all I can do is complain, then something is seriously wrong. Check yo'self." I still hope to keep treadmill runs to the bare minimum over the winter. Luckily there is an indoor track pretty near me (I've never used it though so I'm not sure how that would work out) and I've run a couple times in pretty cold weather but if you have the right clothes it's really not that big of a deal and it's so nice to get outside. Besides, it's kind of fun to go running and have people drive past you and stare at you like they think you are crazy. Guess what? We're runners. We are all totally insane, and we like it. Winter hasn't completely hit, but I'm thinking it will be manageable.
I was at work and one of my bosses was asking how my race went because she knew I was a little bit nervous about it. See, technically, I didn't actually finish the last 2 weeks of my 10k training due to getting sick, my husband going out of town for work, weather, blah, blah, blah. It just kind of went to pot. So I hadn't actually ever run the full distance. The most I had run was 5.5 miles. I knew I could do it, it just wasn't going to be easy. Well, how did it go? Amazing! Everyone kept telling me, "well, the worst that could happen is you might have to walk a little. It's ok." Guess what? I didn't have to walk at all. I ran the whole 6.2 miles. And I beat my expected finish time. I hadn't timed myself in a long time so I didn't know if I had gotten any faster since my first 5k or not, but I have always been pretty consistent with my pace. Well, I improved my pace by a full minute, and finished in 1:09. I am so happy with that. I was kind of anticipating 1:15 so that was a nice little bonus. I know I'm not fast. I don't try to be. I just take it slow and steady, and for the most part, I'm ok with that. My boss said, "You can run for a whole hour?" and I said, "well, apparently I can." That's really something when you consider that when I started this journey I was proud of myself for running 1.5 minutes at a stretch that first week. That's how far I've come. And it wasn't even a really big deal. I felt so good that day. By the end, I wasn't dead, I could have kept going honestly.
Of course one of the big questions everyone keeps asking me is if I am going to keep going after a 10k, and what they really mean is, am I going to run a half-marathon? I've always said I'm on a wait and see basis. I wanted to see how the 10k went and if I "felt" it. I'm still not 100% sure, but....stay tuned...an announcement may be pending.
There was one moment during the race that was kind of funny, there was one corner that as I came around it, I was literally the only person running. I saw probably 15 other people and every single person was walking. And I was thinking, "um, what's going on? Is there something I don't know? Am I doing something wrong? Am I supposed to be walking too?" I was looking over my shoulders and stuff. I don't know. It was funny.
Now, the other really cool thing about the day is that this ended up being a family affair. I am so proud of my 13 year old niece Megan. She ran her first 5k also. She's the first person to take on my challenge and follow through. She had been a little nervous too because training didn't go exactly smooth for her either and she wasn't sure if she was going to make it, but I assured her that it is totally ok to walk if you need to. She ran the first half and then ran/walked the rest of the way and she was grinning from ear to ear when I saw her, so I'd call it success! She was faster than I was in my first 5k and was 9th her age division. (Ok, 13 year old vs. 35 year old, so she's a little bit faster).
They also had a 1k kids race and Megan's sisters Madison and Courtney, and my 5 year old son Cody all made their racing debut as well. Madison was very proud of herself for running the whole thing. And Cody and Courtney also ran a good portion. Everyone received medals and we all have the race bibs to prove we were there. It was just a fabulous day overall. I'm still beaming over it.
Now I want to reflect a little on my inspiration for this whole deal: My sister Nicole. Anyone remember her? Well, Nicole has been really busy lately, getting engaged, getting a new (awesome) job and moving to Park City, trying to get her life set up so that she can get down to this Snowboarding business. She has so much work to do. She just realized that she doesn't have enough PTO (paid time off) from her job to go to the competitions that she has to in order to do all the qualifying and everything. She also doesn't know how she is actually going to fund it all. It's kind of like a huge leap of faith at this point and just dive right in and hope that everything will fall into place. I haven't been able to talk to her about it, but there's something about some rule made by the paralympic committee or something about the competition rules that puts her at a huge disadvantage because she is an AK (above-the-knee), instead of BK (below-the-knee) amputee, and the weather isn't doing much right now to help them out and give them any snow to start training on. So right now, she is feeling a little down and out I think. This is why right now, as winter is about to hit and may make running a little harder or more inconvenient, I have to show my commitment and enthusiasm even more and persevere. And so in that light, I will now close with my dedicatory song for this post, Calling All Angels by Train. I won't share all of the lyrics just the first half, but I feel like this is so applicable to right now where Nicole and I are in this, whatever you want to call it. I have this song on my running playlist because I love the chorus part where it says, "I won't give up if you don't give up," and that is something that I play inside of my head all the time when I'm needing a reason to keep going. (I also kind of like the soaring eagle in the music video, inspirational, if a little cliche) So Nicole, do you hear me? I WON'T GIVE UP IF YOU DON'T GIVE UP!
I need a sign, to let me know you're here
All of these lines are being crossed over the atmosphere
I need to know, that things are gonna look up
'Cause I feel us drowning in a sea spilled from a cup
When there is no place safe and no safe place to put my head
When you can feel the world shake from the words that are said
And I'm, calling all Angels
And I'm. calling all you Angels
And I won't give up, if you don't give up
I won't give up, if you don't give up
I won't give up, if you don't give up
I won't give up, if you don't give up
I need a sign to let me know you're here
'Cause my TV set just keeps it all from being clear
I want a reason fro the way things have to be
I need a hand to help build up some kind of hope inside of me
And I'm, calling all Angels
And I'm, calling all you Angels.....
....I won't give up if you don't give up