C25K

The past 4 weeks I have been doing the C25K program (couch to 5K), and I have to say that I am in LOVE!!! (I started at week 4 because I did so much cycling this summer that I felt I was in a little better shape then to only run for 30 seconds at a time). I started this program in April or so to prepare for the 5K race that I ran in Oakley the beginning of June, but I never finished it...and I started from the beginning, but I as I worked my way up I got frustrated that it was only having me run minutes and not distance.  All I was thinking back in May when I stopped doing the program was, "Just because I can run for 30 minutes without stopping, does not mean that I can run 3.1 miles"...so I started doing distance running and not minutes!  I made it through my 5K just fine and even finished with a faster time then I ever dreamt possible.  Then I came back to CO and bought a road bike, which took the place of my running because I loved it so much (there's something to be said about the adrenaline rush you get going 30+ mph on a bike down a mountain with the wind blowing in your face).  So after my first 5K ever, I never really ran again until about 4 weeks ago.  Which brings me to what happened about 4-5 weeks ago...
In January, I got a phone call from one of my greatest friends from college asking me if I would be interested in running the Kansas City Half Marathon...and at the time I was like sure...that's 8 months away and there is no reason that I couldn't run 13.1 miles by October...well, Oct. 20th has come and gone and I didn't run the 13.1 miles that I told my friend that I would...did she?  Of course she did, with another friend of mine. I am so proud of them, but when I read my friend Mel's blog about their race (you can read it HERE!!!!), I cried....I cried because I know how hard these girls worked to run this race and I was so happy for them, and I cried because I was supposed to run this race and I don't think that I have felt the feeling of disappointment in myself worse than I felt that day reading Mel's blog.  I was so disappointed because I was supposed to be there running that race, and I didn't...there are many excuses I can come with for reasons as to why I didn't run this race, but the bottom line is...I didn't stick to my training, I rode my bike more (I actually rode around 700 miles this summer), I didn't push myself, I didn't make time for it, and I just didn't do it.  I remember one day begging Mel and Lexie for some motivation...and my girl's pulled through and gave me different quotes for motivation, a blog entry to read that kept Mel. motivated...etc!  In fact I still have my 13.1 sign hanging on my mirror in the bathroom that Lexie made me, and now it haunts me!  (I will have one of them on my car in April)

So, Mel. and Lexie are working toward their 2nd half marathon in April...and I WILL BE RUNNING IT WITH THEM!!!  I am not backing out of it this time...and I am training in the winter so that I can't push my running off because I want to ride my bike (I really do love my bike).

My motivation???
When I was begging for motivation that I didn't take seriously, Mel. sent me a link to a blog that you can access HERE, I did read the post that she sent me and that was it.  I never went back, and I thought oh geez, that b*tch is already running 10 miles and I can barely run 4 miles...I was not very motivated and I didn't go back on her blog to read about her journey nor did I care.  A couple weeks ago, I remembered that blog post, and well tonight I finished reading Mama Laughlin's entire blog, and I'm telling you this girl has wit, humor, motivation, and inspiration!  I couldn't stop reading it when I saw her pictures comparing her at the 200 lbs. that she used to be to the 140 lbs. she currently is!  Needless to say, I have become a groupie and follow her blog now.  My motivation starts with her story and how she lost weight, became a runner, and now inspires a ton of people to start moving!!!  Mama Laughlin ran her 2nd half marathon this weekend and I can't wait until she blogs about it!

So, in 2 weeks I will be a C25K graduate and will be running the ColderBolder...yes, that is a 5K on Dec. 1st...I know, I know...it's gonna be freezing, but I can't wait...of course, I am looking forward to the beer and Chick-fil-A I get at the finish line!!!



So April 13, 2013....

I WILL OWN YOU!!!!