Momma Tri-ed the First 5K

My first running partner Scott

  Originally, the 5k goal was just to complete a 5k.  That's where Scott came in and said make it measurable. Our church, Crossroad Church, has a 5k every year to raise money for a random ministry within our mission field.  The fall 5k was usually October or November so I thought, plenty of time to prepare.  I started running again with a purpose.  I had a goal in mind that I wanted and knew I could achieve it.  Fast forward 6 months and 4 days.  I'm texting with Scott's wife Cheryl as they are on their way down to the lake for 4th of July weekend and I am getting ready for a weekend camping trip with extended family.  Scott and I had both committed to running the Crossroads 5k and had been running on our own.  This time it was Cheryl's encouragement that got me going.  She said we both were ready and could do one sooner than November, so I jumped on Active.com and found that there was a 5K in nearby Kennesaw that benefited Wounded Warriors.  As a former sailor, anything military has a special meaning to me.  THIS IS THE ONE I WANTED!

Scott, somewhat reluctantly, jumped on board and we were set. August 4, 2012, came and I was anxious.  Would I be able to run the whole thing? It's August, in Georgia, what was I thinking? Hilly course or flat course?  Where do I get my number?  What if I don't have a number?  What if I have to pee along the course?Most of those worries were for naught, however, they couldn't find my number.  Being the good folks they are, they just wrote my name on bib and handed me some pins.  I was so nervous, I wasn't even sure how to pin on by bib!  Long lines delayed the start, but eventually we got going.  I always seem to think I'm a lot faster than I really am, but Scott has a pace that's more what I should be running.  We zigged and zagged our way around strollers and walkers for at least a mile of the mostly flat course. The temperature stayed cool for the morning run and I made it to the finish line in 36:09 with only about 30 seconds of walking total and Scott finished less than a minute behind me.

It was done!  I had finished!  I didn't have a heat stroke!  I didn't have to pee!  I helped raise money for a worthy cause!

Most importantly, I tried something I had never done before.  Running 3.1 miles with a thousand strangers and one really good, encouraging friend.  I learned that ALL shapes and sizes and physical abilities can participate in a 5k. You don't have to run the whole thing, heck you don't even have to run the first step.

So now it's your turn to try.  The Couch to 5k app is an excellent resource for getting started.  My daughter used the Zombies Run! app which tells you a story while you are conditioning that involves being chased by zombies.  Both are available on Apple and Android.  When you are ready to try your first 5k, check out Active.com for a race near you.

Click here learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project.