It's Fun to Run at the YMCA

I ran in my second 5k race on Saturday, and it took place at the local YMCA. I was really excited the night before the race and took great care in selecting a playlist that had the perfect blend of uptempo songs to carry me through. I wasn't too worried about the race itself but was anxious to beat my previous 5k time of 34:19. I felt that my chances of this were fairly good, since I am a more experienced runner now, and the weather was predicted to be cloud and cool--great running conditions.

We got to the race site around 8:30 a.m., 30 minutes before start time. After checking in and getting my free stuff, including a long-sleeved shirt (score!), we hung out for a while, I went to the bathroom twice (just to be sure!), and I realized that it was quite chilly outside. I had a debate in my head about whether or not to wear my jacket on the run, but I finally decided to go without it and hope for the best. Around 5 minutes before the race, someone called for all the runners to head to the starting line, which was at the base of a small hill by the Y. As we were walking down there, I heard a woman talking about how she was sure the men were just going to breeze past her as she "trudged" across the finish line in 27 minutes. I turned around and said, "I"m a lot slower than that, so you'll be fine." I know that for experienced runners, 27 minutes isn't a great 5k time, but it would be a DREAM time for me, so it kind of annoys me when people talk like that's a turtle pace or something.

Anyway, there were only about 50 people at this race, so we just kind of assembled in a random bunch, and then we were off. Just like last time, I started too fast, but I tried to then slow up a bit so as not to wear myself out. I definitely felt the chill in the air as I ran (I think it was about 50 degrees), and the wind blowing didn't help matters, but I just hoped I would warm up (and I did--fairly quickly). When the second song started playing, I realized I had forgotten to take my iPod off shuffle, so none of my carefully selected songs played in the order I had intended. Oh well!

It wasn't too long before I realized that something odd had happened: I was practically running by myself. There was a group of runners ahead of me, barely within sight, and then there was a group of runners behind me, and then I was all by myself, apparently running at some bizarre, in-between pace! It was like that for the first 15 or 20 minutes, and while it was a little weird to me, I didn't mind it too much. The first mile came and went, and when I realized I had completed it in 10:30, I was elated. I was sure to beat my previous time if I could keep up this pace.

Then the hills came.

I thought the last 5k I ran had some bad hills, but this course had even steeper ones. There weren't as many as in the last course, but the ones there were were long and steep. I started out trying to jog up them, but had to stop to walk a bit, and then I would try and run really quickly down them. As I was going down a particularly steep hill, I saw the first of the runners coming back up, and I groaned inwardly, realizing that I too would have to go back up the hill. I hit mile 2 at exactly 22 minutes in, and I realized I was losing ground, but I knew I had to deal with more hills, so I just focused on my breathing and tried not to be discouraged. Mile 3, just like my last race, seemed to last the longest, and technically it did because it was my slowest mile. The hills just took it out of me, I once again choked on the water offered at the water station, and my chest started burning from the cold. I took several walking breaks and began to wonder if I would even finish in under 36 minutes. When I rounded the final corner and saw the end of the course in sight, I just made myself run as fast as I could, determined to at least finish strong.

I crossed the finish line at 35:34.

I'm not gonna lie, I was really disappointed in this time and completely frustrated after I finished. I felt like I should have easily been able to beat my previous time, but I didn't. Still, I tried to remind myself that I finished, and I had now done two 5ks, but I still haven't managed to run an entire one.

When I crossed the finish line, I was given a card with my place number (#34) and took it to a table, where I filled in my name, age, and gender. I wrote my last name a bit sloppily but told the woman, "I don't think it matters that you can't read this because I doubt I placed." She said, "You never know because we give prizes according to age group." I just laughed and went inside. There was a pancake breakfast (I had one pancake and doughnut hole), and we waited for the awards. A man brought in the board with all the age ranges and the cards attached to them, and I was trying to see if by some miracle my card was up there, but a man was blocking it. Then he moved, and I told Stephen, "I think I see my card up there!" And sure enough, when the winners in the 25-29 age group were announced, I won second place in my age division! I got a little trophy and everything! I couldn't help but laugh to myself about it because I thought my time was completely terrible and was so unhappy with my performance, and yet I got a trophy for it. Life is funny sometimes, isn't it? All in all, I'm glad I did it, and I am determined to do better in my next race!

Here are a few pictures from the day.

Waiting to start:



Crossing the finish line (Stephen took one of me running, but it came out blurry):


My fabulous trophy:



And here's my playlist, for those of you who are curious:

1. "Mother, We Just Can't Get Enough" by The New Radicals
2. "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay
3. "Spotlight" by MUTEMATH
4. "Girl Named Tennessee" by Needtobreathe
5. "Sahara" by Relient K
6. "Clocks" by Coldplay
7. "Control" by MUTEMATH
8. "Burn Out Bright" by Switchfoot
9. "The Nerve" by MUTEMATH
10. "The More" by Downhere

Get Your Body Running, Head Out on the Highway

Today I signed up for my second 5k! It’s benefiting the local YMCA, and it’s on Saturday. I was a little hesitant to sign up for one that comes up so quickly, but I think I am ready for it. I’ve been running steadily since my last 5k, so it should be easy, right? :) I would LOVE to beat my previous time of 34:19, but I also feel a little nervous about making that a specific goal because I don’t want to be disappointed if it doesn’t happen. That’s lame, I know. I just know that my speed hasn’t increased much, if at all, so I don’t know if I can beat that time or not. For now my goal is to finish it under 36:00. I will walk through the water stations because running through them just caused me to choke on the water last time, but I am hoping to run the rest of it. I don't know anything about the course, so if it's hilly that may change, but I am just going to have fun.

I also think I am going to run in the Memphis Race for the Cure at the end of the month. I have friends whose relatives have been affected by breast cancer, and so I am glad to have the chance to run for such a worthy cause. Last year I wanted to do it but knew there was no way I could run a 5k. This year I know I can because I already have!

Now all that's left to do is put together the perfect playlist for my 5k on Saturday! I will definitely post an update after the race.

Update and October Goals

I can’t believe it’s been almost a week since my last post. My apologies. I haven’t quite figured out how to fit blogging into my new routine. I started my new job as a receptionist at a local law firm last Wednesday and had training last week with the receptionist I replaced, but this week I’m all on my own. There’s a lot to learn, but I think it’s going well so far.

The biggest adjustment for me has been working from 8:30-5. I was used to a university teaching schedule, where I had free pockets of time throughout the day and wasn’t glued to a desk. I would teach classes, keep my office hours, then either stay at my office or run errands if I needed to, but those days are gone. However, I realize that most of the world has this schedule, so I need to get over it, right? :) The benefit to working all day is that I am not at home where all the food is, so snacking is limited to the one snack that I bring (either raisins or a FiberPlus bar). However, I am STARVING by the time I get home, so the key will be not to go overboard with dinner. I am going to keep my 8 p.m. food curfew in place in the hopes of curbing any nighttime snacking urges.

I did fairly well with my September goals. I kind of dropped the goal of running 120 minutes a week about halfway through the month and am okay with that. I'm focusing more on intense, shorter runs. Aside from the one ICEE slip-up, I drank nothing but water all month. I did immediately drink some Coca-Cola on October 1 (and also had some on Oct. 2 and 3 and today), however, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. :) I still plan on drinking mostly water, though. I did a great job of tracking my food and not eating after 8 (I think I only ate after 8 twice, and I tracked all of my food every day). I faltered a bit in my Bible reading plan last week, but I am just continuing with it and trying to read as much as I can on my lunch breaks. I only read one book. I lost 3.4 pounds, and though it wasn't quite 4 pounds, it was close enough. :)

Even though I didn’t post about them, I did set goals for October. Here they are:

1. Complete two High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) runs per week, for a minimum of 25 minutes per session. I have been using a modified version of a plan I found in Fitness magazine, and it is TOUGH! It gives me something to work up to, though, which is what I need.

2. Complete one Pilates session and at least one weight session per week. Ideally I’d like to do two weight sessions, but I am going to aim for just one because I want to see how my schedule works for me. I am really enjoying the Pilates workouts.

3. No eating after 8 p.m., except for fruit (but only if REALLY hungry). This worked well for me last month, so I’m going to continue it.

4. Run in at least one 5k race. I have my eyes on a few, so I just need to pick one (or two) to run!


Those are my only goals for the month. I’m trying to keep it simple as I adjust to my new schedule. I really have no idea how much I’ll be blogging, but I am trying to keep up with your blogs, even if I don't comment!

Do you have any October goals?