Something I NEVER thought I'd do

but WE DID IT!

Let me start from the beginning. Last April I watched contestants on the Biggest Loser run a marathon. I was blown away that someone who was so unhealthy could begin working out and 6 months later be in good enough shape to survive a marathon.
At the same time, I had been considering joining a gym with childcare so that I could be intentional about losing Jackson's baby weight. (I call it his baby weight as if I had no contribution to it whatsoever - HA) Anyway - when I saw the marathon, I thought 'if they can run 26 miles, why can't I learn to run 1!?'
It was a huge deal for me. I have never run in my life. In high school I almost failed PE because I couldn't walk a 15 minute mile to complete the Presidents Physical Fitness Challenge. No kidding.
So, I talked to a few friends who almost laughed when I said I wanted to run a mile (as if anyone could do that) and told me I should do a 5K. I laughed. No WAY would I even aspire to THAT, since one mile seemed impossible.
I didn't tell many people at the time and have never blogged about it until now because, honestly, I NEVER thought I'd actually accomplish it.
Anyway, they set me up with a training schedule. I took it super slow. I started out running 30 seconds and walking 4.5 minutes (and I thought 30 seconds would kill me) a few days a week and then once a week I did a "distance" day. My goal on my first distance day was one tenth of a mile. Each week I increased it, little by little. Running 1 minute, walking 4, etc.
It took me 16 weeks (4 long months!) to work up to running a mile. It was tough.
I did really enjoy going to the gym all summer though. It gave me "ME" time. It was a goal for myself - that had nothing to do with my home or children (hope that doesn't sound bad. but you know what I mean...there are times when I get so absorbed in being Stephen's wife and Mary Beth and Jackson's mom... well, I just needed something that was mine. my time. my goal.)
After I completed that goal - 3 miles didn't seem so scary. I knew I needed a new goal to keep me going. Stephen said if I wanted to run a 5K he would do it with me. I thought I was crazy, but I started searching online for a 5K and found a race on our anniversary weekend. No major plans, but I kept it in the back of my mind.
I kept meeting little goals along the way. In October, I got back to pre-prego weight. In November, I ran 2 miles. December, 2.5 miles. On January 1st I registered for the 5K. No turning back. I worked up to 3 miles in January but still had a lot of training to do to be able to run hills.
For 6 weeks I worked on hills, but then it was here. Ready or not - the race was here. I knew I could do it - but I was terrified. Even after we got to the race Saturday, I wanted to back out. This was CRAZY.



On March 6th, Stephen and I completed our first 5K.
I wasn't fast. It wasn't pretty. But WE DID IT!