color me rad

I did it!

 

So much happened and so many emotions were wrapped into one day...

I will try to put it into a little capsule for everyone to swallow...

 

I had great plans - I was going to jog my first 5K. I wanted to run with some people. I wanted it to be a big event. I hoped for friends to run with me. I planned for family to be there for support. I hoped for someone to take pictures of me at the beginning, at the mid-point, and at the end of the race. I had hoped for a "moment".

 

However, things were much different than I had planned

 

The people that had wanted to run the race waited a day too late to register. It sold out completely. Over 9,000 people were involved with the race, and I did not know a single one of them.

So, I ran alone.

 

My husband ended up having to go on a boy scout camp out with my oldest son. I did not feel comfortable leaving my 13 year old at the starting line with my 7 year old, so they stayed at home. My mother did offer to go, but I knew that she could not walk the distance on the parking lot and all of the color powder (there was a ton) would not be good for her asthma. So, I had no family present.

 

Due to some other events during the prior week, people cancelled on being able to go with me on Saturday. Some felt badly to cancel, others had things happen that could not be helped, and to some it may not have been as important to them as it was to me, understandably... So, I asked a random lady to take my picture at the starting line and an older gentleman to take the final picture just after I crossed the finish line.

 

So, what started out as a party in my mind was looking to be a depressing day..

 

but it wasn't

 

I drove to the race alone. I cranked my music and just really got lost in my thoughts. A year ago, I could not have jogged to the mailbox without getting winded. I teach in a classroom on the second floor and took the elevator up and down almost every time last year...

 

I decided not to go to the pre-walk pep rally or to the post-walk pep rally... not really as much fun alone - however,  as I stood at the starting line, I was very overwhelmed. I started to jog... I jogged the 3.1 miles in 39:51. My.best.time.ever. As I approached the finish line, I admit to getting a little teary. I could not believe that I had done it.

No team pulled me across that line.

No one stood there hollering for me to do it.

 

I simply put one foot in front of the other over and over again.

 

As if on cue, as I crossed the finish line I received a text from a friend encouraging me to do well... I texted them that I had just done it... then she texted me this thought

"Your victory came when u were standing on the start line."

 

So, I ran my first 5K. To some, it was "only 3 miles or so". To me, it was a huge mountain that I overcame and conquered. And furthermore, I will do it again.

 

I would like to now start working towards a 10K for the spring... and then we will move on from there. I am enjoying jogging and walking and moving more in my new/old body.