28 Degrees, 2 Miles, 20 Minutes

Well, I did something today, that I thought I would NEVER do! I ran my first race!

Last week, I was at my favorite shopping area, The Greene, when I noticed a banner about a 2 mile race/run/walk benefiting the Go Red Campaign from the American Heart Association.  I quickly texted my friend Deanna and asked her if she wanted to do it with me. Deanna had to be there anyway, so it worked out beautifully.

I thought this would be a perfect introduction to my running endeavors. You know, since I DO have a slight phobia about running outdoors and I did agree to a 5k with some of my friends in April (Andrea, Shannan, and Emily).

If you have been following my Survey Sundays, you will have noticed that I am running on average 3.5 to 4 miles on the treadmill during these winter months to get ready for my 5k running.  But I also know how my body handles the outdoors so even though I can run 4 miles, fairly easily, on the treadmill now, with hopes to have that increased by the spring, running a 5k is stressing me out! I was even stressed out about this 2 mile run. So stressed out that I didn’t even tell anyone I was running this morning!! There were 2 people who knew, Deanna and Jeremy! I didn’t want anyone to know I was running, just in case I, you know, wussed out or even worse couldn’t finish the course!

Me stressed? SHOCKER! I know, but this is huge for me, people!

When the forecast early in the week mentioned that it would be around 30 degrees and sunny, I knew I needed to attempt this!! Then yesterday, the forecast changed to snow and cold! Deanna texted me last night, after snowing a couple of inches, and said “I have a feeling someone’s not showing in the morning, LOL “

She knows me too well! SNOW! COLD! CLOUDY!

I was half tempted to flake out! Because after all, I do have 2 sick kids at home who need me !

This morning I texted De and said I wasn’t going to be there. Then I texted to see how the pavement was after the snow. She of course texted back and said it was pretty clear and the weather wasn’t too bad. DARN HER!

I was laying in bed, my heart pounding, because I knew I needed to prove to myself that I could do this. I had to do this!! And really I had no good excuse now! I had even told Jeremy I wasn’t going. I got up with the kids around 7:30 (the time registration began), fed them breakfast, yelled up at Jeremy that he didn’t need to get out of bed because I wasn’t going. I looked at the clock, 7:50.

“Okay I have exactly 20 minutes to get dressed and out the door to make it there in time to register”. Registration closed at 8:45.

So in a last minute decision, informed Jeremy that I changed my mind and was going, threw my clothes on, found my missing running shoes (my good ones that I couldn’t find since Wednesday, they were in the ditry laundry basket under the dirty laundry), straightened my hair (come on now, you never know who might take my picture), put enough makeup on that I didn’t look dead (I know, I know) and headed out!

I got there and made it to the registration line at 8:40! Whew, and then realized I forgot my money and had to run back to the car! But all went well and I was at the starting gathering right on time. Deanna met up with me and made fun of me for a short time because, yes, I was slightly freaking out!!

About a mile into the race, I heard “MOMMY” and there was my crew! They showed up and cheered me on! Needless to say that was the highlight of my morning!

With all of that said…We did it! We ran the 2 miles. I did have to stop and walk a couple of times, because that cold air was hard on my virgin lungs! (my lungs rebel against the outdoors) But we did it!!

We pulled around the last corner and saw the time. 20:42. Deanna yelled, “We HAVE to make it in under 21:00 so we sprinted to the finish line!

20:58! Hey, I know it’s not the fastest or most impressive time, but it is a miracle time!!

I DID IT!!

And to top it all off, I won a $50 Gift Card to the Greene, as a Door prize, WOOT!!