I did it!!!

I ran 10k!  WOW that was HARD!  I can't even begin to express how much mental effort it took!  I swear, it takes just as much mental training as physical training.  A friend of mine said something to me right before my race that REALLY helped push me through.  She told me "when you want to quit, think of all the people who CAN'T run - and do it for them".  Her little boy can't run, matter of fact, he can't walk.  He has a very rare condition called S.M.A.R.D. - spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress.  Here is some information about SMARD.  Anyway - at one point I wanted to quit SO BAD.  I was coming up on the 5k mark (the race was a big circle - one loop for 5k and 2 for 10).  I kept thinking, I could just stop and call it a 5k.  Then I thought about my friend's little boy.  I ran for him.  I have not told her all of this, but it's true.  Her brave, courageous, BEAUTIFUL little boy gave me the drive to push through!

Ok - I'm sorry, I'm getting very deep this morning.  So, let's talk about the actual race.  It was ROUGH!  First of all, it was kind of hot out - it started out ok, but it got hot.  Second of all - the course was NOT something I expected, nor even had a chance to train on.  The middle part of the loop ran through the woods on a trail.  WHAT?  Trail running?  I've never tried it before!  It was kind of hard!  It slowed me down quite a lot (my average pace was only 13 min mile!).  The ground was that shredded bark mulch - it was really spongy.  It kind of felt like running in sand.  My quads were SCREAMING at me!  The trail run was the part that made me want to quit.  I started telling myself that nobody would blame me for quitting on something I had not trained on.  Then I realized that I would blame me.  I don't know how to get across to you how bad I wanted to quit.  I kept thinking that even though I was almost done with the trail run part that I would have to finish the loop and come around and do the trail one more time.  I swear, I exercised my brain more than my body yesterday!

I told Pete I had the right to divorce him for taking the WORST picture of me in the WORLD!  I was SPRINTING to the finish line.  OH MY GOD this has got to be the WORST picture EVER! My boobs are about smacking me in the face!!   It's the only one he took of me while I was coming across the finish line so I felt compelled to share it.  UGH

I have decided to work on my speed now.  Here is my plan:  I'm going to start the couch to 5k program again.  This time instead of walk/run I'm going to do run/run faster.  I'm sure there is a technical term for this- splits or something, I don't know any of the running lingo yet.  Anyway, I'm going to do the couch to 5k program 3 days a week and then once a week I will add in a long run, just so I don't lose all I had gained for this 10k!  I have REALLY slacked off with diet and exercise (apart from running) and I think it was because the 10k program was REALLY hard for me.  I probably should not have done it yet, but whatever - it's done!  Anyway - I'm going to call my new program my 5k to faster program. HA! 

After the race drove up to Portland and took the kids to the zoo - that was SO much fun!  It was Susie's first time - she really enjoyed the cheetah - we got to see one really up close!  Then we all went out to dinner with my in laws.  We had a really great time - lots of food and laughing and talking!  Pete's sister is visiting from the east coast - we don't get to see her very often, so Colin was just LOVING her up!!  This morning he asked me if he was going to see his aunt today.  I told him he was, then I asked if he had fun with her and he said "oh, she is so crazy!". I almost died laughing!!  I can't wait to tell her!

Well, I'm off.  Lots to do before we have our house guests today!!!  Have a GREAT day and thank you for reading!!! -Monica

OH and as promised - here is a picture of Shimano - the wondermutt!!!!