I Actually Ran A 5K!

It feels really good to say that - I ran a 5K! Yes I did! I'm not telling you about it just to brag about how wonderful I am {LOL}, but to tell you how good it feels to accomplish a goal *and* to tell you that if I can do it - ANYBODY can!

That's me, approaching the Finish Line. :) Tired, but happy! 3.1 miles {5K} is the farthest I have ever jogged - hadn't even gone that far in any of my training.

I mentioned in my Diligence update last month that a group of friends joined me to do the Couch-to-5K program. It's a 9-week training program that transitions you from not being a runner to running a 5K - or almost. For us slower joggers the program never took us that far on the timed runs. We continued past the 9 week program and kept up our running for an additional 4 weeks, trying to improve our pace. We picked a 5K in the area and signed up!

I was nervous since I had not actually jogged 3.1 miles in any of my training runs. My goal was to jog the whole 5K without stopping to walk *and* to come in before last place! The great thing is that this was a Fun Run - not a huge number of people, no pressure, and an evening run on a pretty shaded college campus. I did actually jog the whole thing - thanks to a friend staying right beside me and talking to me & encouraging me throughout {thank you M!!!}. And over 100 people came in behind me so I definitely wasn't last! Woo Hoo! My pace wasn't bad - not my fastest, but not my slowest either. In my age group, I came in 30 out of 45 - not bad for a 43-year old beginner, and an overweight one at that!

One would think that after jogging/walking 3 times a week for 12 weeks, one would lose a little weight. That was not the case with me. So looking at me, I think many people would assume that I couldn't jog that far without collapsing. :) But I can! And that means you can too - don't let your size keep you from trying! I might still be the same size as when I started the program, but I am firmer, stronger, healthier, and happier.

Thanks to the group of ladies who did this with me {and a whole lotta help from the Lord}, I stuck to a program and accomplished a goal of jogging a 5K!! Amazing! And we plan to continue jogging and do another 5K in a few months. Go us! :)

Do you have an exercise goal to work toward? It doesn't have to be jogging a 5K, but come up with a goal and find a friend to join you & help you with accountability and encouragement! You'll be glad you did!

What goal(s) have you recently accomplished? What goal(s) are you working toward?

Have a blessed day friends!