Another 5K Run…almost as unimpressive as the first!

Saturday I ran my second 5K – 3.1 miles. (Be sure to read about my first 5K run last spring if you want to feel really good about your own running abilities.) Yes, after today I'm still solidly in the embarrassing times range, but I've at least improved since spring, and besides, I still can't believe I can run at all!

Here's why I have a fakey smile in this picture: Kent was just giving me a hard time because we were 5 minutes late and he didn't want Sonia to take our picture, HOWEVER we were still plenty early, made it to the farm market before the run, AND had time to spare! HA!

Some wives nag, I run slowly

I probably only improved a little because Kent ran with me this time and I didn't want to embarrass him any more than I had to. I really didn't want to run together because I wasn't crazy about being a method of torture for him. Can you imagine trying to run at nearly half your normal pace? (Going by my time in my first 5K run anyway.)

When I wasn't gasping for air today and could form some words, I asked him, “Is it torture going this slow?” He said, “No, it's fine.” Translation: “This is unbearable, but I'm too nice a guy to say so…” We came across the finish line together, what a big sweetie he is. (He never broke a sweat, and I was dripping wet.)

MY RESULTS (including place standings – ouch!):

• Time: 32:50
• Overall Place: 882 / 1193 (total participants – I'm scared to find out, but I'm pretty sure this includes the walkers!)
• Gender Place: 387 / 572
• Division Place: 55 / 78 (women in my age-group…I've really got to speed up somehow!)
• Total Pace: 10.48 minutes/mile

ENOUGH OF THOSE PATHETIC STANDINGS, HERE'S THE FUN PART!

As I said, my times are still in the embarrassing range, but in the spring I ran 12 1/2 minute miles for a total of 39 minutes (hard to believe anyone could run that slow, I know), this time I ran 2 1/2 minutes faster per mile and took 6 1/2 minutes off my total time, so I'm still excited. 🙂

Since spring I've been rollerblading 8 miles once a week or so (love that much more than running), trying to be consistent with weight training on the Bowflex (but fail at that usually), and I've been adding sprints into my runs. The furthest I've been able to run so far is 6 miles, but that was only because Megan and her sister, Mary, took me out running when we were staying at their parent's cottage on Lake Michigan last month. I didn't know the roads and they told me we were going 4 miles. It was a mile further than I'd gone before, but I was ready to try it. When we got back and my tongue was dragging and I thought for sure I'd done something to my knee, they told me it really was 6 miles! Cute trick, girls. (But yes, it was fun knowing I could do it. I made myself do it again that next week, just to be sure.)

DID I HAVE FUN, YOU ASK?

Heck no. I detest most every minute I'm running, and I only found out after I took it up last summer that not many people love to run, they just love the feeling of accomplishment afterward. When I want to stop and walk (most of the time), I have to constantly say to myself, “Yes, you hate it, shut up and keep running…” (Although my friend, David, said he really does love to run while he's running… what a weirdo.) The only thing that helps me have a better run one day compared to others is if I've had my coffee beforehand. I had my coffee today, but still ran slow!

OK, THERE WERE A FEW NEAT PARTS

• Running with that many people was a fun change, since normally I'm running all by myself around town.
• I LOVED when the runners in the front were coming around and going like crazy – their strides are so beautiful and fun to watch.
• After we were done, our 9 year old ran a 1K with a couple buddies in his age group and had a blast.
• We know many people who run or go watch and it's fun seeing everyone down there – the atmosphere at this race is amazing…
• Mitchell's Run raises a lot of money for Muscular Dystrophy and this is their 10th year organizing the 5K. My step-Dad's twin grandsons also have MD, so knowing we were doing something for a bigger purpose was much more meaningful than just seeing what time we could get…especially when your times are in the range mine are!

pic of Mitchell

• 4 Tips for Beginning Runners
• The Complete Book of Running for Women recommended by Shauna in the comments below
• Here's my exercise story (which, by the way, was posted on the 2nd day after I began this blog)
• Read through these guest interviews and specifically the ones from Jenn and Bob. I added new questions by the time they did their guest interviews, and one was, “How do you fit exercise into your life?”
• Need some dieting advice? I think this post on low-carb or no-carb meals will help you, and there are a lot of related links at the bottom, too.
• Warning: way off topic…do you need a great band for your event in the West Michigan area? Check out David (my weirdo friend mentioned above) & his band, Water for the Thirsty – they are AWESOME! At this link you can click to see a video of them playing. (One of my favorite memories is being on the beach with our bible study friends a couple summers ago with David singing and playing his guitar for us…what a beautiful voice he has.)