My first 5k!

I ran my first 5k on Thanksgiving morning...in 32.33 minutes. Feeling pretty good about the standard pace me and my running partner have established so far. We ran a 5 mile run this morning, which was a bit difficult, we were both pretty stiff and sore...but we did the mileage, even though it wasn"t perfect. We are on the tail end of our endurance training...3 more weeks...and then a week off, and then serious marathon training begins...woohoo!

hope everyone had a fantastic Thankgiving, and we'll keep you up to speed with the next chapter of our training.

Take care, and I will update soon.

Beth

5K race on Thanksgiving day

I am so excited about running in my first race in preparation for the marathon in April 2010. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I am running the 5k (3.1 miles) for the Human Race campaign. My running partner (Sarai) and I will be hitting the pavement at 8 a.m. in Draper City, UT. Originally we were planning on running the 6k (3.75 miles) up City Creek Canyon; but we missed registration by one day! Ah well, live and learn. My hubby who is not really a morning person, will be coming along to support me, and see his wife in action. I am so happy that I have so much support as I pursue this goal. I am truly Thankful this Thanksgiving for so many amazing friends and family in my life. I am so aware that so many people do not have the ability to run at all, and I feel that I am given the gift of a fully functioning body and that it is not only my obligation but also my absolute joy to utilize what it is capable of doing!
I am so thankful for my health, and my awareness to be proactive with my body and my life. It has not always been the case, and perhaps because of poor discipline and bad choices that I have made in my life I am genuinely filled with such gratitude and a reverence for how amazing our bodies are at this point in time!

I hope everyone has a truly lovely Thanksgiving Day! And to all those who will be racing tomorrow, good luck and have fun!!

Quote's for the post: "I feel the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more"
"It's easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top."

Gearing up for my first race!

I realize that it has been over a month since my last post, due to technical difficulties that have since been remedied, I was unable to devote the time required to make any updates.
I also, have not been able to upload any new photos but will be able to do so in the near future so I can share my progress with whomever is interested.

I am still running, and successfully accomplished my first goal of running for a solid 30 minutes straight. Feels pretty incredible to have hit that mark, and keep moving toward more accomplishments/goals. I will say that "Little by little, does the trick!" is such a truth for me. I did hit days that were filled with frustration and lack of motivation, but worked through them. Some days I missed, and had to make up in one way or another. Some days I ate better than others. Some days I got the proper amount of rest, others I struggled with runs that were difficult due to the lack of rest, hydration etc. It is a continual process of reinventing habits, and there is always something that can be improved upon!
I have found that the challenge to simply stay focused and persistent is truly the biggest goal and the motivating force behind each and every decision. Make no mistake, every decision you make, every choice for either this or that, to do or do not, will or will not - does in the end either take you a step closer or farther from what you choose (your goal), this is an absolute universal truth!
It is empowering in every moment to know and seems to make decisions easier and clearer, it keeps the emotion (laziness, excuses, etc.) in proper alignment to your focus.

Enough of the "soap box", I will put it away and stand on it again I am certain on a later date.

My new goal is to run a 6K (3.75 miles) on Thanksgiving morning. This will be my first race in preparation for the marathon in April. I am looking forward to it a great deal. I do have an awesome running partner, and she will be running it also. We have been working through an endurance program, but both took a week off due to illness, and we just had our first run together since a week and a half ago. It was such a beautiful morning, with a stunning hot pink sunrise over the wasatch mountains. I did feel as though I was running in mud a bit. I am not all that surprised after giving my body a very long break. Happy to be back on the training schedule again though. It is also true that "if you don't use it, you lose it". The race is in two and a half weeks, and will be the first of many!! I am so excited!

I will let you know how it goes, and what will be next, once I know for myself.
My quote for this post is:
"Health is the thing that makes you feel that now is the best time of the year" and
"There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either in or out. Ther's no such thing as life in-between."