Monday, April 11, 2011

My First 5k

{Justin, Me, Renee, and Ryan after our 5k}

Well, this weekend, I knocked another thing off my 101 in 1001 list (I am too lazy to link to it right now, but if you are so inclined, there's a link to it in the blog header)--we completed a 5k!

I did Couch to 5k several months ago, but never actually ran a 5k within the 30 minute time period. Since then, I've been running once or twice, but mostly we've just been doing Insanity. So, we agreed that we were just going to enter, Justin would help pace me, and we would just run when we could and walk when we could, not stressing too much about it because we haven't been training.

My goal was to finish in 45 minutes or less, which is probably pretty slow for some people, but I tend to jog a 13 minute mile pace (which I think is right about 40 minutes), and wanted some leeway for running outside since that's not something I do a lot. But, my secret goal that I didn't tell anyone (not even Justin) was under 40 minutes. Well, our final time was 42:11...so definitely hit the first goal, didn't hit the secret goal...but I'm not sure that I could have pushed it much more, honestly. I'm not sure what percentage running versus walking we did, but we definitely did some of each.

I know everyone talks about how awesome their first 5k was regardless of their time, but it was actually kind of frustrating for me because of my asthma. I took my inhaler before we started (I use both a fast-acting and a slow acting inhaler), and then left it in the car because I don't usually use it WHILE I'm working out. But between the fact that this is my bad allergy season, and the fact that the race was in the AM (cold air + higher pollen count in the AM = worse asthma), it was BAD. I was wheezing big time. My asthma is *STILL* really bad and painful three days later. The frustrating part for me was that there were several times when I wanted to keep running, and I knew that my body was capable of running, but I was having such a hard time getting air that I couldn't. And there wasn't a darn thing I could do about it, so I cried (which also didn't help the asthma). Justin was a trooper and a great motivator though. He was great about pointing out landmarks and saying "We'll walk there" or "We'll run once you reach that street". We finished the race running, so that was awesome. I'm really happy he was there with me.  He's seriously competitive, so I know it probably killed him not to be able to run as fast as he could, so I really appreciate that he ran with me {Love you babe!}!

We were talking about actually training and trying to better our times next year (though Renee was already sixth in our age division! Yeah Renee!)...but I'm kind of thinking about training after we finish Insanity and trying the 4th of July 5k. Next time, I think that using Justin's iPhone to show us our pace and progress would probably be helpful for me, as would listening to music while I'm running (WHY in the world didn't I?!).

Overall, it was probably a good experience, and I'm glad we did it, even though we didn't make my secret goal. I mean, I guess we could have just been sitting on the couch!

16 comments:

  1. Way to go! I can totally understand that doing something like this could be totally frustrating but seriously... you did it!! Congrats to you for checking one more thing off that list!

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  2. just doing it at all is a great accomplishment!! you should be proud! the best part about not meeting your secret goal, is that next time you just have one more opportunity to beat it :) hope the asthma gets better - but pat yourself on the back for a job well done!

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  3. THats great! You should be proud..You still finished it :) I ran my first on Sunday and loved every second of it :)

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  4. Good job! You finished!...that's all that matters. Sorry about the asthma. That has to be frustrating but you did it and can now cross it off your list :)

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  5. Great job! You are so inspriring. I am deathly afraid of actually signing up for a 5k. I have terrible knees and am just not a "runner", meanwhile my husband is running in the Boston Marathon. Keep up the awesome work! :-)

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  6. Great job Mere on your first 5k. I have never ran one, and you inspired me to do one. Signed up for my first one July 31st at my local fair. Gives me plunty of time to train.

    Thanks for the inspiration.

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  7. Great job on your first 5K Meredith and Justin! You finished even with your asthma being so bad! Congratulations! Not an easy feat when you could have just as easily said "Nope, it's too hard because of x, y, & z." So excited to see you setting goals for the next 5K in July! I want to start working on the C25K. I'm no runner but since I've canceled my gym membership to save me some money, I need to find new ways to stay motivated and healthy.

    You're seriously such inspiration Meredith!

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  8. You know I think you're awesome but I will say it again; YOU'RE AWESOME! Love you Sis!

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  9. Way to go! That secret goal can become your next goal. I think you are forgetting that one of your goals was to just complete a 5K. Could you imagine doing in in 42 minutes 6 months ago? Celebrating for you!

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  10. Woo hoo! You did it! That's all that matters! YOU ROCK!

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  11. Congrats on your first 5k! That's an awesome accomplishment.

    I'm asthmatic as well -- nice to meet a fellow asthma runner, lol. I take two inhalers as well...Thankfully, though I don't have really a case of exercise-induced asthma, though I can tell when I take it. My breathing is MUCH better.

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  12. So proud of you!! I think that's awesome :) I despise running, but used to run a few 5K's per year, just because. I haven't run a 5K in about 3 years, and to be honest, I have no plans of running one again. Like you, my asthma is really bad in the brisk morning air, and it just kills me each & every time!

    I think it's so amazing that you hit your goal, and that you were SO CLOSE to your secret goal!

    Woot woo!

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  13. Congrats on your first 5k lady!!! I always set "secret goals" too. That's awesome that Justin stayed with you, Matt always takes off and he makes me so mad because he never trains and still beats me-lol! Can't wait to hear how the training goes! Sorry about your asthma. :( Hope you get to feeling better soon!

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  14. Congrats Mer! So proud of you! What an amazing accomplishment.

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