MamaBear 5k
This past weekend, we went to Atlanta to spend some time with my sister and brother-in-law. On Saturday morning, we got up early because John Michael and I were running a local charity 5k with a friend of mine from high school. I’ve mentioned before that I am a new runner and one of the goals I’ve set for myself is to run a 10k in November. This 5k was a little warm up just to see how I was doing with my first round of training.
We met my friend, Kristen, up at the parking lot where the race was going to begin. I was really excited. I have been running for a couple months now and I’m up to about 4 miles every other day or so in my training routine. A 5k was going to be fairly easy. Even though Atlanta is much hillier than Orlando, I was counting on the excitement of race day to help carry me through those hills. My goal was to not stop running the entire race.
It was super fun to have friends running with me and people cheering for us along the way. That made running seem even more exciting than it is to me on a normal running day.
Mine and Kristen’s husbands were there with our kids, and it was super exciting to know they were going to be there at the finish line. My sister made these fun posters for the kids to hold and Bean colored them the night before the race. For a new runner, that encouragement was really special to me.
The race began and I felt really great. The weather was much cooler than I’m used to running in, but it was weird to be running in the daytime since I am so used to running early in the morning when it’s dark outside. I felt like a vampire. Ahhhh!!! The sun! Make it go away!
About ten minutes into the race, we came to our first hill. Everyone around me started walking, but I kept huffing and puffing, with the encouragement of Kristen and John Michael (both avid runners). I made it about 3/4 of the way up the hill and I really thought I was going to pass out. I’d never run up a real hill before and this one was a doozey. I kept thinking, “Just a little more! Just a little more!” But I just couldn’t do it. I had to stop. And I was bummed.
I walked to the top of the hill and then we ran almost another mile before we hit a series of smaller hills, and even those small hills about did me in! I had to stop then, too! Now, I was pissed. Really, really pissed. I could easily run at least 2.5 miles at home without stopping, and here I couldn’t even make it a mile! Kristen kept telling me not to be so hard on myself and to focus on what a great job I was doing, but I was so disappointed. To come all this way and not even make it one mile!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By the time we got to the last half mile, I was aching in places I’d never ached before (namely my tookus!) and I just wanted to be done. I didn’t have that runner’s high that I love getting usually around the 3rd mile. I was just hot, hurting, and pissed. Kristen turned to me and said, “We’ve got one more turn and then there’s the finish line. You can totally do this!” and so instead of just quitting and throwing rocks at people who were running faster than me (like I wanted to do), I finished the race.
Turning the corner to see my family standing there cheering for us gave me a huge boost in confidence. Maybe I wouldn’t pass out in the street after all…
So, I had to stop and walk. Big deal. I beat my best time yet and finished the race in 35 minutes (the last time I ran a 5k it took me 46 minutes to finish). But racing aside, I was really, super proud of myself. I was proud that when the going LITERALLY got tough, I didn’t quit. I was proud that I was able to smile and cheer with my kids. I was proud that my family saw me accomplish something that I had been working for. I was proud that after sort of a disappointing race, I was still looking forward to my next one. But I think I was most proud of the fact that my kids and husband got to see me do something strictly for myself – something that no one makes me do or expects me to do. It’s just something that I’ve picked up and decided to do for my own health and sanity.
Lately, I’ve been learning some really hard lessons about dreams and goal setting. Sometimes the best laid plans just aren’t meant to be, no matter how hard you work. And that can be really tough to accept because we’re taught that hard work will always prevail. But in my ripe old age of 29, I’m learning that sometimes no matter how hard you work towards a goal, you may not reach the exact finish line that you set out to accomplish. You might have to walk sometimes. And that’s okay. Because the important thing is not crossing the finish line exactly how you set out to cross it. The important thing is that you ran the race.
25 Comments
Christy
You are so smart! It looks like you had an awesome weekend. Congratulations on finishing the race.
Meredith
you are a ROCKSTAR!! running hills is really, really tough. Like, really tough. And you did AMAZING! Look at that PR. You just took 11 minutes off your best time. WOOT WOOT!! Congratulations!
Brooke
I loved that second photo – I completely see a word bubble over Bean’s head that says ‘You’re embarrassing me Mom!’ Congrats on your finish!
Jen @ Ginger Guide
You did awesome for your first 5k! One of my favorite quotes is “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”. I’m slowly learning that I may not be the best at something at first but I’m going to work my butt off to do the best I can. You’re going to rock the 10k, especially now with your new experience and determination.
Grandma
Katie – you are an awesome granddaughter, daughter, sister, wife and mother! You are the whole ball of wax!
Kat
Congratulations Katie! You’re a superstar and should be so proud of yourself 🙂
Audrey
You’d never know this, Katie, but I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of years now and when you picked up running, you inspired me to do it, too. I’m going slow and steady, and just finished my first 5k in 46 minutes (strange similarity, huh?). Thank you for sharing your running journey. It has kept me going more than you know!
Rebecca @ The Reluctant Housewife
Way to go Katie!!!!
Chloe
Great! Well done! I agree, is that a glimpse into Bean as a teenager? You are so lucky witht he flat where you live, here it’s hill after hill! I love runnign up and walking down though. Also I read a great quote on Pinterest a while ago ‘If all people who worked hard were rich, African women would be millionaires’, life just doesn’t work that way 🙁
Amy
This background makes it hard to read.
Chelsea
Good Job Katie!!! You should be so proud of yourself 🙂
Lacy
what a great Blog! inspiring! maybe I will actually start running after I have my 2nd baby in october.
Michaela
Congrats! So not the point but your legs are amazing! Super jealous!
Abbie
Congrats on finishing the race.
Alaina
Good for you! I think that’s awesome!
Jamie
Congratulations Katie. I was equally disappointed during my first half when I had to walk because the hills were much steeper than I was prepared for. But what matters is that we finished the race and the next one will be better. So proud of you!
Casey @ The Baker Bee
Congratulations on not only finishing the race, but on setting a PR! No matter how disappointing the race may have felt at times, a PR is a huge accomplishment!
Katy
Congrats on a great race, which gave you such clear perspective.
BFF Em-ly
I’m sitting here, at my desk at work, doing everything in my power to not look like an emotional idiot as my eyes tear up and a knot builds in my throat the size of a softball. You friggin go girl. Proud of you (always) 🙂
Lori @ I Can Grow People
This is how running in Orlando is different than running Pittsburgh–ALL I DO IS RUN HILLS! I was so happy about my training until this week, Week 7, when I am running a straight 25 minutes (no walking.) No matter which route I take from my house I *have* to go uphill to get home! And this week I just can’t make it up the biggest hill. It’s been totally demoralizing. I was good when the training days were just intervals of running and walking because I could save energy for the biggest hill. Now though? Too hard. And it is also now hot and humid here so it has been 67 and 87% humidity at 6am and not the 47 and no humidity that I had been running in previously. I am thinking about signing up for a particular 5k in June because it is has the flattest course around! Inspiring post, Katie–way to go! You will be so ready for that 1ok, you are doing so great now!
Kat
I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! I still have never actually run a 5K, but I have super big hills in my neighborhood that I run with a stroller and the dog…does that count? lol
Laura
You did awesome. I’ve had the same hill frustrations and challenges, you just have to push through and walk for little bits. It doesn’t mean you are a failure, after all, a wise person told me ‘no matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping all the people on the couch’! Good for you!
Lindsay (Young Married Mom)
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb 12:1). Keep it up, lady! 🙂
FunnerRunner
“So, I had to stop and walk. Big deal.”…should also say, “and my legs look freakin’ fantastic, so there.” (PS – good job!)
Christina
You should be proud! It’s funny that I came by and read this tonight…I just wrote about my own 5K (non) experience. 😛 I didn’t even make it to the race! Next time, I guess!!
🙂