It's my race-iversary

**First off, thanks to those of you who commented and reassured me about yesterday's lousy run.  My mental game was way off, and while the 10-mile loop route I ran was convenient for switching water bottles, it was bad for talking myself out of going for the second half.  After I posted my little whine and called my mom to tell her I'd be on time after all for lunch, I sat there and realized what a baby I was being.  Having already changed plans with my mom about three times because of the run, though, I just went on home.  It was definitely the capper for what was a week with some disappointments and frustrations.  BUT, it's a new week.  So thanks again for reminding me that one bad run isn't the end of the world, and now I'll return to my regular scheduled Super-ness.***

Exactly one year ago today, I ran my first race since competing in grade school field day.  I signed up for the Go! St. Louis 5K after my sister-in-law suggested it and faithfully trained using the Couch to 5K plan.  I was a total non-runner.  Those first 1-minute run intervals hurt, and then the 5 minute intervals hurt.  The 8 minute intervals were scary, and the first 20-minute run seemed downright impossible.  But the plan said I could do it, so I did.

I posted obsessively about my training on Facebook (something that will come as no surprise to those of you who are my Facebook friends...sorry for clogging up your wall with my overuse).  I was so excited and nervous.  I can remember driving there with my sister-in-law and being disappointed that neither of our husbands were there to take pictures of such a momentous event for us. 

Pre-race shot of the finish line

We picked up our packets, pinned on our first bibs, attached our timing loops to our shoes, and lined up in about the middle of the pack.  It was all so new and nerve-wracking.  We had to walk for a bit to get to the starting line, and even though I'm not at all fast, I had to weave around a TON of people before could really get moving.  The race was held in St. Louis's beautiful Forest Park, and while it didn't have big hills, it had some hills.  Of course, I'd only trained on flat routes.  I had also trained using the Nike+ system, but I'd never calibrated the foot pod, so I got another unwelcome suprise when my iPod told me that I had run 5K...before I'd reached the 3-mile point.  Turns out I was even less fast than I'd thought I was. 

I pushed hard to cross the finish line before thirty minutes, and I did it: 29:13.  I watched for my sister-in-law and cheered her in.  We grabbed a couple of food items, snapped some pictures, and headed for home.



Kristy



Sadly, I don't look much different now.



So proud of ourselves! :)

 And even though I never expected or really wanted to be a runner, here's what I've done since then:

Run: (4) additional 5Ks (PR 28 min)
(2) 10Ks (PR 58:37)
(1) 7.8 mile trail race (2:21)
(1) 15K trail race (1:43)
(1) 10 mile race
(1) 20K trail race (2:20)
(2) half marathons (PR 1:58:37)
...and  my first marathon is on May 1.

Written:
(202) blog posts (most, but not all about running)

Gained:
(75) new blog followers and countless new blog friends

It's been a busy year.  While I'm a little sad that I won't be able to slip into conversations that I've only been running a year, I'm really excited to see what the next year holds.