I ran 5K!!

I should have posted this yesterday, but I was still relishing the before and during picture I posted yesterday. I didn't want to detract from it.  Even though I had more exciting news.

Today I'm strutting my stuff!

                                             

I ran a 5K!! 

Me!  At 275 pounds! I ran a 5K without stopping.  That is 3.1 miles.

After missing my run on Thursday, I was really struggling. I wanted to finish my C25K training. I know I still have a long way to go to move my runs outside and increase my speed.  But I wanted to mark a check next to "complete C25K training".  This is important because I have a tendency to start things, but not finish them.  I'm working on breaking that trend.

Since we got home from Lubbock early in the day, I decided to go for a run.  It was really hard a first.  I wasn't able to run faster than 3.5 MPH. (I have been trying to run at 4.0 for at least one song.) I had a series of goals.  The run was W8D2: Run 2.75 miles or 28 minutes.

• Make it 28 minutes ("required" run for the W8D2)
• Do at least 2 miles
• Do at least 2.25 miles (like last time)
• Do at least 2.50 miles (to beat last time)
• Do at least 2.75 miles ("suggested" distance for W8D2)
• Do at least 3.0 miles (hey! why not?)
• Fun a 3.1 miles (a full 5K.....If I made it this far....why not?)

Honestly, I almost didn't make it through the 28 minutes.  I did put a print out of my picture (posted yesterday) on the treadmill for inspiration.  I made it to 14 minutes (and the voice in my ear buds said, "You are halfway done") and I dropped my speed to 3.3 MPH.  At the "one more minute" alert, I dropped to 3.1.  Somewhere along mile 2, I dropped to 3.0 where I finished.  I kept running.  I passed each of the markers.  And I kept running.  When I hit 3.35 miles on the treadmill (my warm up was .25 miles) I started walking.  I learned along the way that my treadmill automatically goes to cool down after 60 minutes!  Total time: 68 minutes: 5 minutes warm up + 5 minute cool down + 58 minute run.  What?!?!?!? 58 minute run?  

Yes. I ran for 58 minutes without stopping.  That is 18 minutes longer than my previous best run!  And .84 miles further than my previous best distance!

And I did it in under and hour!