I DID IT!! I RAN A 5K!!

From the time I was a youth, I had dreams of being athletic. I wanted to play soccer on the high school team; I wanted to jump high and spike a volley ball; I wanted to sprint around a track and leave people eating my dust. Unfortunately, I never accomplished any of those things. I didn't understand that I needed to practice, train, or get in shape. Fortunately, I have married a man that does understand what it takes to be in shape so with his help and the help of a dear friend - I am finally on my way to being the athletic person I have always wanted to be.

My friend Rachel Jackson and I ran the "Beat the Heat 5K" in Winston-Salem, NC on Saturday July 19, 2008. It was an evening race which was fabulous because it is HOT and HUMID! We are great running partners - we push each other to accomplish runs I know I couldn't do on my own - Oh like a 5K! There we are in the heat of the race.

As I passed my family at the end of the race, I reached out for Caleb so he could run with me but he was confused and just stood there. I would have picked him up but my body was so weak that I knew I would have stopped running if I had.




There we are, so close to finishing we can taste it.

And we did it! I never thought I could run 3.2 miles in one stretch. Thanks to Rachel and her constant encouragement I have officially run my first complete 5K ever!

I don't think there is a better treat after something so exhausting than a delicious orange. This is the love of my life sharing in the absolute joy I had by completing this race.

So, the challenge is on and Rachel and I have a goal to run a 10K in December.

Man, I love to run!