5K

Okay...so I have never really blogged about this before but I have run some 5K's this past year.  It's not a huge thing but it is something I finally did and I have to say, they are not that bad.  I have not run many, but some.  I ran in the Covenant Health 5K this past weekend.  I have not run or trained really since January so I am not sure what I was thinking. The idea behind signing up for them is to keep me motivated to get out and walk/run.  Well, for this one, I did not do that. I was lazy this winter - I blame all the snow.  We have a treadmill but that is beside the point!  I almost chickened out the night before because I did not feel prepared (and rightfully so) and not go but I decided that it doesn't matter - just get your butt up and do it!!!!  Plus, I committed to my sis-in-law Melanie to do it. She is training to to a Marathon before her 50th b-day.  So proud of her!

Anyway, running is not and will never be anything close to my favorite thing.  I do it in the name of fitness, not because I love it.  This particular race is no joke when it comes to the kinds of people that were there.  It was the "Knoxville Marathon" so it's pretty easy to look at all those people and get intimidated by the fitness that exudes from their presence.  That was a big reason that I didn't want to go but I overcame that and am glad I did.  Because in the end, nobody cares....it's about doing something for yourself, right?

My strategy for this race was to finish, jogging the downhill sections, and walking the uphills.  I did better than I thought I would do and jogged more than I thought I could/would.  And, turns out I finished this race not much faster then I would have if I would have walked the whole thing.  What does that tell you?  I don't run much faster than I can walk.  So, again...all in the name of getting up and moving.  I need to do more of it.  This year, I hope to do more 5Ks than I did last year.  Do I want to do something more than a 5K?  I have been asked that, and no, not really.  I am good with this amount for now.

Erik did this one with us.  I was so happy about that.  I think he liked it and I definitely liked doing it with him.  He ran it super fast.  He is a freak of nature, as I lovingly call him :).  He is naturally a fast runner (from all those years of playing soccer) and has good endurance.

We ran into Neyland Stadium and finished at the 50 yard line.  Very cool for a UT Alum and fan ! :)

Things to be proud of:
1) I got up and went
2) I finished
3) No one who was running the half marathon finished before me (that happened to some 5Kers)
4) Erik did it with me
5) I am healthier for it :)

Now, to keep up the moving and not get lazy like I did this summer.....

Pics.... :)

What is the foil thing? People were standing there ready to drape them around us.  So,we did but were not sure what the heck they do or mean.  I guess it keeps the cool air off your sweaty self?  When is Neyland stadium, do as the runner do, I guess.