In a Timely Manner...

I got up early this morning, laced up my running shoes, and fought against the temptation of procrastination! I’ve been exercising pretty diligently for about 6 months now. A friend of mine suggested we do a 5K (3.1 miles) together. When you are completely out of shape, this requires training! So, I started walking thirty minutes five days a week. (Just for the record, it was January and about 35 degrees outside.) Once that was a breeze, I started jogging and walking in intervals of 15 seconds and 45 seconds respectively. I gradually worked my way up to 30 second intervals. At this point, I was doing three miles a day, which took about an hour.

Seven weeks after I started my training, race day was upon me! Justin was my support system and drove me to the race. We left about 5 am to get there in enough time. I was excited about the race even though my friend couldn’t make it. I made a commitment to myself, and I was going to stick to it. I was excited to get my race bib. It made me feel special, a part of something! Justin helped me attach it to the front of my shirt along with my chip timer that looped around my shoe laces. We watched the marathon runners take off. I felt a little overwhelmed thinking, maybe I can do that one day.

I got in line for my race along with thousands of others. I knew there was no way I would win, but I set a goal for myself, and I was determined to meet it! I wanted to finish in 50 minutes. I felt a little insecure with all of these thin people around me in their spandex. I had two thoughts in the back of my mind, please don’t let me come in last, and shamefully, I hope I’m not the biggest person here. Until you’ve lived through it, you have no idea how being overweight can affect every thought in your mind. If you’ve ever been the biggest person in the group, you know how small it can make you feel. After all, big is not beautiful (according to the world today).

The race began, and we took off! It was exciting being a part of the race and not watching from the sideline. I knew this was the beginning of something special! I had my ear buds in place listening to some hoppin’ tunes, as I did every time I walked/jogged. I was in my own bubble. I didn’t care how fast everyone was going; it was all about me for a change. Quickly people were jogging past me one-by-one. Did I care? Not at all! I had a mission…50 minutes or less! My eyes were on the prize. Once I started my intervals, I started jogging past other people. I said What? to myself as I did a double-take. There were a lot of people that were walking the entire 5K, which is not any small feat! Completing a 5K is admirable no matter how fast you go. However, I was proud to know that I wouldn’t be last.

I continued to bob and weave as Michael Jackson told me I was bad, Will Smith told me to get jiggy wit it, and Fall Out Boy encouraged me to dance, dance. I teared up as I rounded the last corner, tired out of mind, and saw all of the spectators cheering. This motivated me to jog it on home! The time on the big clock was over 50 minutes, so I was a little disappointed; but at the moment, I just had to get across that finish line! I was thisclose to puking, my side was hurting, and my heart was about to pound out of my chest. As I crossed the line, I got lost in a sea of people. I just wanted to catch my breath and find Justin. We finally got to each other, and that’s when it hit me…the time on the clock was the gun time! The sound of the gun starts the race, but of course, not everyone can cross the starting line at the same time. It took me about four minutes to get to the starting line because I was so far back in the crowd, which meant I was going to have to wait to see what my chip time was for an accurate assessment. The chip that went on my shoe times just me according to when I cross the start line and then the finish line. It made me a little excited to think I may have met my goal, but I really just wanted some water and to sit down!

I had to wait until I got home and online to see the results. I threw my arms in the air and cheered as I read my official time…49:47. Not only did I finish a 5K, I also met my goal. That was such a proud day for me. I knew I’d do more 5Ks and this was the beginning of a healthy lifestyle for me! Since then, I have done one other 5K and blew that goal out of the water! There are not a lot of 5Ks over the summer since it is so hot. I’m still jogging and plan to continue racing in the fall!

Justin got me a sticker while I was running the race with these words written on it:
”You don’t have to go fast, you just have to go.” Words to live by…