Outdoor Adventure 9 for 2010 - My First 5K

I did it, I can't believe it!! On Saturday I ran in my very first 5K! Okay, maybe not ran - but I jogged! I woke up at 5:30 to get ready. I was going to wear a hat, but I look like a boy with it because of my short hair. :D So I got ready, and left the house by 6:10 to pick Liana up. I was so nervous (why, I don't really know!) that I didn't know what to eat. I knew I needed something, but didn't want it to be heavy. Mike suggested a banana and peanut butter, so I just grabbed them and went on my way. When I got to Liana's, she said to just eat the banana, which I think was good advise. While she got finished getting ready, I rolled out my IT Band. I'll put pictures up of what that means. It KILLS!!!! Seriously, it's like legalized torture! Anyway, she finished and we were off!

We had about 45 minutes before the race started, so we did some stretching, hit the bathrooms one more time, and then just stood around a while. Around 7:25 we lined up at the start line. I was looking around and noticed a lot of moms with their little kids getting ready to run together. Both Ana and I have struggled in getting pregnant, so we understand how difficult that is together. Anyway, I turned to her to tell her something and got totally choked up. I wanted to make a pack with her that someday we will do these kinds of things with our children. This brought up alot of different emotions. Sadness that we haven't been able to have kids, but joy that we are on an awesome path to being healthier. In some ways, I'm almost grateful that I haven't had children yet. I think about the life I've lived up to now, and it's not really one that I would want my children to live. Unhealthy eating, self medicating with food, self sabotaging, and extreme laziness. I'm DELIGHTED that I will be able to bring them into a home where we eat healthy foods, we acknowledge food for what it is - nutrition, and where we are very active and have a ton of fun!!

Get ready, get set, go! We were off! Liana was trying to beat her last time, so she took off and I cheered her on. I set off at a slow but steady pace, and held it for what I felt was an applaudable amount of time (not really sure how long, but MUCH longer than I have ever run before). There was a girl in front of me plugging along and I did my best to pace myself to her. Eventually, I had to stop and walk though. I followed her for probably the first 1/4 of the race. Then then next quarter I did on my own. Then I had a nice surprise. The girl in the black in that middle picture below came up beside me. She told me she had been pacing behind me. I was really flattered that I could pace someone. Her name is Heidi and this was her 2nd time doing this race. We stayed together the rest of the time. She was having a little trouble with her breathing, and she was kind and let me coach her a little. That was helpful because it took my thoughts off of myself. We talked all about weight loss, eating plans, blogs (I think I talked her into doing one!), and life. It was great! Plus it made me feel good knowing I had helped someone and made a friend. We got to the end and sprinted the last 50 feet! Heidi did awesome and I was really excited for her (and myself of course!)! I was really thrilled about the fact that there was never a point where I thought "I can't do this" or "Am I almost done?". I was comfortable and just kept going!

After I came off the finish line, Liana made me walk around to cool down. Then we found some shade to sit and stretch. That felt SOOO good to do!! Both the lay down part and stretching! She was so supportive and helpful through the whole thing! I just love this girl. We've been friends for 22 years, and yet I feel like this year we've really been able to strengthen and enrich our friendship. I've learned a lot about how strong she is and what a great leader she is. Thanks Liana!!! I hope I give her the same support and love!

For these pages I decided to go with the Independence Day theme. Yes, the fact that the 4th of July is around the corner is convenient, but that's not why I chose them. I chose them because it was a day of independence for ME! It was the one of what I hope will be many times when I do something healthy, and real, and hard, and challenging for myself. It was a day that I didn't allow my insecurities and inhibitions stop me from trying. I did my best, and I succeeded! When you become fat, it's like your enslaved. Your enslaved to food, to the emotions tied around them, to the ugly clothes that you buy - not because you like them - but because their the only ones that fit. You are enslaved to the fat on your body and you let it restrict you. And most of all you are enslaved by awful thoughts. Thouthts of hate and self loathing, pain on so many levels that it's hard to describe. It's like each one of these different things are a chain. And those chains are ensalving and dibilitating. On Saturday I broke free from some of those chains! I felt free, I felt light, I felt healthy, I felt whole. I walked away from that race liking who I was and how I looked - sweat and all! And that my friends, was worth EVERY step!!! This could get addicting!