Post Race Wrap Up!

So I DID IT! I ran (and yes I ran the ENTIRE WAY!) my first 5K race last Thursday! 37:07 was my final time and my pace was a 12 minute mile (I actually ended up cutting about a minute off my mile training time.) I started out at the back of the pack on purpose as to not get caught up in the crowd and run faster than I knew I could. I checked my time at 1 mile and I was running too fast to keep the pace the entire time, so I made and adjustment and at mile 2 I was back on pace to what I knew I could finish. I wish there were words to describe how I felt around mile 2.5 and when I was done. They call it runner’s high but I felt so much more than that! The journey that I have been on the last 12 weeks (and 16 weeks if you could my health journey too) has taught me so much about myself. There’s nothing I can’t do, which means there’s nothing YOU can’t do! Although I always knew I was a pretty kick ass person, I wasn’t always a very happy kick ass person and now I feel like the pieces are all falling together. But I didn’t do it on my own; I had an awesome support system along the way, so without further adieu I will now turn this into my very own Oscar Thank You speech! (What? It’s MY blog!)
Thank you to the most awesome health coach there is. You helped me start on this journey and I seriously do not know where I would be if I wouldn’t have made the call to you. I’m thankful everyday for your health wisdom and your no excuses attitude! I’m such a Rockstar!
My friend Kennedy has been my running inspiration from the beginning. She was the original Rockstar and I’m so proud of her! She just ran a ½ marathon and rocked it out! Anyone who can run for 2 ½ hours is awesome! I can’t wait to watch her cross the line at the Boston Marathon next year! I was so happy to see Karen at the finish line, she stood in the mostly cold and wet for ½ hour to watch me for 60 seconds! Thank you! And thanks for the pink champagne!

Kelly drove all the way from Southie just to have dinner and drinks with little old me! Ok so I guess I’ll thank Dave for Kelly (since I usually do that anyway!). So glad you’re my HLP!
I would have never made it to the finish line without Melissa, who is constantly pushing me to the limit of running. She’s knows I have it in me and I’m glad she’s there to make sure I don’t slack off. She’d be proud to know I went for a 3 mile run Sunday and I’m going to keep going, because there are more roads to run!
In the beginning I didn’t run fast (hell I still don’t!) or very far for that matter, but Matthew ran next to me and kept telling me I could do it. There were times he ran in front of me and I cursed his name because I didn’t think I’d get there. Well I am now and I’m waiting for the run when he gets to follow ME! All those times I yelled I hate you at that, know it was quite the opposite, mostly because you didn’t let me quit!

And to anyone who has ever said they are proud of me, good job, way to go and all those others nice statements, THANK YOU! Words are a very powerful thing and I’m glad to know I surround myself with pretty awesome positive people. Oh and thanks to DMB, David Cook, Black Eyed Peas, Darius Rucker and Jack Johnson, who got me from one end of the race to the other!

Next up Warrior Dash. Billed as the craziest fricken day of your life, it’s a 3.02 mile obstacle course in Amesbury, MA on Saturday, June 25th. Kelly, Deanna and I are going to run it (ok well run at times!) complete with costumes. If it’s going to be a crazy day might as well do it up right! This weekend we’re working on them and really I can’t wait to wear them which is probably the funniest part of the whole thing!
Such a busy summer! Work, school, running, living life! More surprises coming soon!

Daily Mantra: “Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve.”