Couch to 5K RACE DAY!

Week 1 - 5 min warm-up 60 sec run 90 sec walk for 20 minutes
Week 2 - 5 min warm-up 90 sec run 2 min walk for 20 minutes
Week 3 - 5 min warm-up 90 sec run 90 sec walk 3 min run 3 min walk repeat once
Week 4 - 5 min warm-up 3 min run 90 sec walk 5 min run 2.5 min walk repeat once
Week 5 Day 1 - 5 min warm-up 5 min run 3 min walk 5 min run 3 min walk 5 min run
Week 5 Day 2 - 5 min warm-up 8 min run 5 min walk 8 min run
Week 5 Day 3 - 5 min warm-up 20 min run
Week 6 Day 1 - 5 min warm-up 5 min run 3 min walk 8 min run 3 min walk 5 min run
Week 6 Day 2 - 5 min warm-up 10 min run 3 min walk 10 min run
Week 6 Day 3 - 5 min warm-up 25 min run 
Week 7 Day 1 - 3 - 5 min warm-up 25 min run 
     Mon - 4.4 mph 1.85 mi
     Wed - 4.3 1.79 mi/4.1 1.72 mi
     Sat - 4.7 mph 1.94 mi
Week 8 Day 1 - 3 - 5 min warm-up 28 min run
     Mon - 4.6 mph 2.14 mi/4.3 mph 2.80 mi with warm-up & cool down
Week 9 Day 1 & 2- 5 min warm-up 30 min run
     Mon - 4.6 mph 2.28 mi/ 4.3 mph 3.02 mi with warm-up & cool down
     Wed - 4.6 mph 2.30 mi/4.3 mph 2.96 mi? with warm-up & cool down

Week 9 Day 3 - 5K
     Saturday - 41:39:77 3.15 mi/5K = 13.25 mi

I woke up this morning feeling a bit ill. We had stuffed peppers for dinner last night along with jalepeno poppers. Apparently my body didn't appreciate all those peppers.I made my green smoothie for breakfast and hoped that I wouldn't have backlash when it was all said and done. I think it helped settle my stomach though b/c I didn't feel too bad afterwards.

We had an assignment to help clean the church, and though it was my intention to pick up my bib and shirt then go clean, we left late enough that I got dropped off while Matthew and the boys went to the church. I was the first one from the LDS team to be there so I got the box of shirts and bibs to open and distribute. Simple enough :) 

The time went pretty quickly before it was time to line up and start. There was a fun run (1 mi) that started at 8:30 and then the 5K began at 9:30. There were so many people and so much noise that I think they played the national anthem then started the race. I couldn't tell. It was a bit of a surprise when all of a sudden every started going. I was not prepared. I was kind of towards the front (where all the runners are) so I had to run to not get run over!! As the crowd thinned out, there were some walkers that decided to go on the grass and let the runners pace. I thought that was a brilliant idea and joined them so I could start up my podcast. I decided to start with the week 7 and then let it move on to week 9 when it was over. I love the music in it and figured it would be motivating. Timing worked out well in the end. It was a good decision.

There were water stations at .85 and 1.85 mile points and time keepers stationed at each mile marker. At the end of mile 1 my time was 13.26 - not bad :) I was surprised to see people on their way back right before I'd even made it to the first mile.  Turns out there were 3 people who finished the race in the 17 min bracket! Holy cow they are fast!!! Once I finished my 5 min warmup, I felt like I had a pretty fast pace but was surprised at how much my inner thighs were sore. I am sure it is from the workout videos. 

Week 7's podcast was for a 25 minute run. By the time I reached mile 2 I was feeling more tired and slowed down a bit. My time was 26:30 or something like that so I knew I'd done the last mile in about the same amount of time as the first one. I was able to tell myself that I can run for 13 more minutes. No big deal. I was still debating in my mind how I wanted to handle the last mile. I thought about walking for 5 minutes and then finishing off the race, but decided to try and get to the end. It was a little weird walking through the cool down and warm-up, but the music was still fun enough that it wasn't really hard to do.

As I approached the final turns that would take me around to the finish line, I decided to walk just a bit. It was no more than 30 seconds but it was probably like 10 sec. Enough to get a drink and get going again. It was warming to see people clapping and cheering for us as we passed, encouraging us to keep going. When one person mentioned I still had .25 miles, I decided to walk a little bit more so I could run to the finish line. It may have been a minute or so, but it wasn't very long. Matthew was supposed to meet me at the finish line, and though I scanned the small crowd I couldn't see them. As I made the final bend for the last stretch to the finish line, I 'punched' it and sped to the line. I could see the official clock and wanted to make it before 41:40. I crossed what I thought was the line just soon after it turned. I was surprised when I saw my final official result was 41:39:77. Guess I made my goal after all :D

Crossing the finish line

My legs didn't feel like they would collapse under me when I stopped which was nice. I started walking around the parking lot when Aaron and Jared ran up behind me shouting "Mommy!" They'd been at the finish line after all :) I had told Matthew that I expected to do it in 45 minutes, but he thought I'd come in closer to 40 so he'd been there waiting. It made me feel good that he had that kind of confidence in me :)

Me and my running buddies

 Overall I feel pretty proud of myself. I have come so far. I am really grateful for my friend JG for starting me on this path. If she hadn't bought me those running shoes I would have quit a long time ago. And I am thankful for Jared & Aaron running/scootering/biking the neighborhood with me all summer so I could continue training. In fact, today they expressed some disappointment that they could not be with me. And I am thankful for Matthew supporting me in participating today. I feel very blessed.