Probably one of my longer lasting obsessions and to some of my friends one of the craziest. Back in Febuary I decided that I needed to accomplish something with my life before I turned the ripe old age of 26. I suddenly had an epiphany I would become a runner!! Sounds great doesn't it but where was the challenge?
The smelt run in La Conner became my first challenge; a 5K run starting early in the morning. The decision was made a few weeks before the race as this gave me chance to work on convincing my dear friend Beth that this was truly the best possible thing for us. I think I was working on myself that this was definitely something I could do and that I shouldn't back out.
Febuary 28th 2009 we drove out to La Conner and in true Washington style the weather was cold and damp. We registered before we could back out and were incredulously watching these people running before the race even started. I think we both felt that they were a little cuckoo, heck we hadn't been out of bed too long and were regetting not having that second cup of coffee. Quick registration to receive our numbers and before we had time to dwell on it too long we were off our first 5K with no training.
The smelt run in La Conner became my first challenge; a 5K run starting early in the morning. The decision was made a few weeks before the race as this gave me chance to work on convincing my dear friend Beth that this was truly the best possible thing for us. I think I was working on myself that this was definitely something I could do and that I shouldn't back out.
Febuary 28th 2009 we drove out to La Conner and in true Washington style the weather was cold and damp. We registered before we could back out and were incredulously watching these people running before the race even started. I think we both felt that they were a little cuckoo, heck we hadn't been out of bed too long and were regetting not having that second cup of coffee. Quick registration to receive our numbers and before we had time to dwell on it too long we were off our first 5K with no training.
Recommendations for all those out there considering running, it's better to train first!
Just over 30 minutes later, I had run most of the race and walked a little ways but I was done. Beth was waiting for me at the finish line and cheered me through. As we cooled down we were like kids in a candy store and anybody would have thought we were teenagers they way we jumped up and down. We were elated that we had completed a 5K!
From there our obsession began and we started looking for more races, a li
ttle bit cazy but we decided our next one would be the Tulip festival 5 mile run. We decided a little more training should be done and so we prepared for the April run. April seemed to arrive super quick this year and we had the pleasure of Beth's husband Brent joining us. For all those that think 5 miles is a piece of cake I would like to say it's harder than you think when you realize that you still have another 2 miles to go. Just like our 5K in Febuary though we were even more excited 5 miles not a 5K. Although I do owe a shout out to Alison Percival she helped me through the last mile and a half for us to sprint the last 100 meters - Allie you rock!!So now I have us up to April and we decided that although we managed 5 miles we should at least do another 5K. May being around the corner the Haggen to Haggen run in Bellingham seemed to shout out at us and let me tell you it was fabulous we had goodie bags full after we had finished. Now for those that don't know Bellingham it is an extremely hilly town but our times were improving another reason to jump up and down!! (see the pattern and why it's an obsession?)
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