me? run a 5K?

Back in July we visited Heather and Jim at the summer cottage in the Muskegon area. While sitting around the campfire, Jim told us that he had challenged Heather and her mom to run a 5k in the fall. They asked me if I wanted to join them. I wasn't sure about it because I have never liked running. I just couldn't really picture me being able to run 3.1 miles without stopping. I couldn't even run a half a mile without stopping! Well, a little over 6 weeks before the run, Jim emailed me information on how to train for a 5k. Even then I wasn't sure about it because of finding the time to run. I wanted to, but wasn't sure if I had the discipline to do it. Finally, I set my mind to do it, no matter what. About every other morning for the last 6 weeks I have been setting my alarm early to go run before school. Let me tell you, it hasn't been easy to get myself out of my comfortable, warm and cozy bed to get out and run! I am so glad I did though!

This weekend we headed over to Grand Rapids to stay with Jim and Heather. Saturday was race day! We had a beautiful morning to run. Jim made us some cool shirts that have his business logo on them. I successfully ran the race in 31 min and 14 sec. It was so fun to run knowing that Heather and her mom were doing it too. That is what kept me working for it...knowing that they were working hard training as well!

Running is something that I truly never thought that I'd do. Now, I am so thankful that Jim challenged Heather and her mom to run the race, and then challenged me to join them. If not for them, I am not sure I would have ever done it. I would have missed out on this feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction of working hard for a goal!

I had to take a picture of my tennis shoes for a couple of reasons. First, everytime I see my shoes I kind of smile inside. Seeing them makes me feel good about myself and what I have done to get in shape. Second, I plan to scrapbook a page with them in it. There is a layout I have always admired about a woman who runs and why she does it. I never thought I'd be scrapbooking a page on running, but now I can!