On Your Mark.....

THIS POST IS DELAYED MATERIAL>>>>


A few weeks ago I ran my first 10K(6.2 miles) race!! I was so excited about it and have trained for weeks to run it.  I wondered about how I would feel, if I'd be hydrated enough, would it be fun, did I get enough rest days prior to the race?  I tried to remember all the sage advice from my peers and neighbors who have completed this race in the past.  It all went out of the window, because so many things went wrong with the race, even though most of us who ran would not find out until the end.  I will tell you that many things went right with my race.  I paced with one of my running mates from Black Girls Run!, I was hydrated, I was prepared to take on the course and I saw a friend(out of 40,000 runners/walkers) from Atlanta!!  What is the likelihood of me running into a friend from my former city!!!???

Race Packet/Hmm could not flip image

The race is behind me and I am not sure if I will run this particular race again.  I felt almost territorial about the course since I run it every week with my running group.  We have the whole place, so to speak, to ourselves since we run so early.  The sun greets us as we complete our run and sometimes we see dolphins!! On race day, I could only see the backs of people, not my beloved views of the water.  I have decided that this race is not for me, but I won't say never.  I am preparing for the next race, Divas Half Marathon and 5K! I was a little apprehensive to be honest with you about this race, after my 10K experience. My family, friends and running mates have all encouraged me to continue on my path and remember my goals.  I have decided to move forward and train any way and leave the past in the past.  The race date looms with only a few weeks left to go.  I am running 10 miles this weekend with my group!!!! YIKES!! One mile at a time is all I can do right?  Thank you for your support and if you see me out there, Honk a friendly HONK!

2 Weeks Down......Many More Miles To Go Before I Sleep

Running my first 5k, 2011

 

So, many of you know by talking to me regularly or by reading the blog, that I have been running lately.  Well, I have always sort of run, but would get on a nice roll for a while and then......STOP for weeks or months at a time.  I have been steady Eddie since December and I don't see these happy feet slowing down any time soon. I joined a running group, Black Girls Run! read more about them here, I am training for a 10K and a Half Marathon simultaneously!!!  I am really excited and elated to proclaim....dunt  dunna...horns blaring...."I AM A RUNNER!"  I know, whatever right?  It is really major to me because it is that thing that I said NEVER to.

 You know, those things that you see other people do or achieve and you think to yourself that you could or would never do that!!??  Well, for me it is running.  For me it always was about what I thought it had to be or look like, etc.  I decided that I could do this my way, stay in my lane and run my race, not the next person's.  People ask me all the time what's next, what is your mile time?  I am really not that interested in my mile time, I just want to start, enjoy the ride and finish safely.

It has brought me so much joy, just "doing" it, as the NIKE ad stated years ago!! I look forward to it and I even want to shop and style my running outfits??!! I know, who have I become??  Well, quite frankly, I am the woman that I want to be: strong, fit, confident, powerful, composed and relaxed!!  

I encourage everyone who will graciously read this, to find your "IT", your "THANG", and go for it!! I dare you to.  What's the worst that could happen?  You discover that you have hidden gifts, talents and abilities waiting to be released?  You might be pleasantly surprised!!  I was!!

Running: A Refreshing Perspective

 

I have been dabbling in running for some time now, starting, stopping, building my endurance and stamina only to take a long break and lose all that I gained.  I even worked up to my first 5k race in May!! This was a huge accomplishment for me.  I fell into the clutches of running forever after that.  You know you have heard people say that it is addicting once you start?  Well, I must agree that it is something that you want to keep improving at.  You put so much into it that you want to see it through to the end.

 Over the last couple of months I have participated in a boot camp that has really challenged me and increased my endurance and stamina.  I was still looking for more of a challenge and I decided to join the running club, BGR!, Black Girls Run!.  This group is so inspiring, find out why here.  I joined my local chapter a few weeks before Christmas and I have not looked back.  I love meeting all the new runners and feeling a sense of sisterhood as we collectively tackle one mile at a time each week.  The encouragement is UNBELIEVABLE!!!  

I recently read a post by a fellow blogger friend, Danielle of Refreshing Words and wanted to share it here. 

Don't you feel compelled to run to your local runner's store to be fitted for a pair of Saucony, Asics or New Balance and take to the streets?  So, go forth and get your run on!

Happy, healthy, new year!!