Racin'!!

Saturday morning at 5:45, Josh took Braxton and I to Loy Blake Park to run our first 5K race. I felt like I was going to have a panic attack - and not a mild one! There were so many more people there than I ever imagined and it was clear that 99% of them were actual runners. When it was time to start, I told Braxton to go kill it and I got in the very back of the pack where I could just run and not have to worry about getting run over! With about 40 meters left, after running the entire way, Braxton came running toward me. He finished with me. I was SO grateful for that because I was TIRED. We finished just the way we started this journey - together!

Josh and the kids were at the finish line to cheer me on. I was so glad to see that family of mine there! I ran it in 36 minutes - 12 minute miles.

This boy, however, took THIRD place in his age group. Holy crap I am so proud of him! He was up against cross-country runners and track stars and he pulled out a third place win!

Off to train for our next 5K!

Strength

My co-workers gave me some cash for my birthday. What did I do?!?! I bought new running pants! One of the pairs has the word "strength" down the side. I think about that word while I run. Colton told me last night that I am "strong." That's right, buddy! Your mama IS strong! We are ALL strong! We all do things that are hard. One of my favorite running quotes is, "It doesn't get easier, but you get stronger!"

I really am loving running. I think about it all day and then I go and do it and I wonder why I wanted to do it! But, when I'm done with my run, I feel STRONG. That is what it is all about. It's about accomplishing things that are good, that make us feel good, that make us stronger.

I Run With New Shoes!

My brothers, Logan and Skip, sent me a gift card. What did I do with it? I got running shoes - real running shoes. They are my first pair of running shoes. I literally tried on every single pair that they had at the store. Josh was so patient with me. He just kept opening boxes and helping me try them on. These are SO good. They have the memory foam in the bottom, which really helps my back. And, they are so cute which is a bonus! I had my first run with them Saturday night and I think we are going to be friends for lots of miles to come!

I run!

A few weeks ago, Josh and I were asked to participate in the Ogden City Marathon by going to the VIP tent, eating breakfast with important people, and cheering on the runners as they crossed the finish line. It was DUMPING rain. It was cold. I hate running. It was early. I was not exactly excited, but we went anyways. I can't tell you how many times I cried as people crossed that finish line. I was so inspired by those who clearly weren't classified as "runners." These people had a goal. It was to run. It was to finish. They did both. I left there and told Josh that I was going to run the Ogden City half next year. Last Monday, I started my "training."

Now, it's important to understand that up until last Monday, I would literally rather chew on broken glass than run. I always joked that I only ran if someone was chasing me, and even then I was going to question the importance of actually running. The thought of running made me unhappy.

I told my boys what my goal was. On Monday, they did it with me. We walked a mile, then jogged a mile. I did that same thing six days last week. Today, I start with a 1/2 mile walk, then I'll jog 1 1/2 miles. Next week, I'll go to 2 miles, and so on. I am running six days a week. We are signing up to do the Dirty Dash in September. It's a 5k. Before that, we are going to sign up to do the Syracuse 5k. It's August 1. I am determined to do it!

I could easily walk faster than I run, but that's not the point. The point is that I am doing it and I'm not quitting. I don't stop to walk one step. I jog the entire way. I think about how my family believes in me. I think about the text message Braxton sent me on Tuesday that read, "Keep going. You got this." I think about my amazing body, that is missing the three bottom disks in my spine, and that has had heart surgery. It's doing it! I pray the entire time I am out, pleading with my Father to bless me with hope, courage, confidence, and the ability to quiet the voice in my head that tells me I'm a quitter, that I can't do it, that I'll never accomplish anything.

I remind myself that I'm not in competition with anyone else. I am only in competition with myself. I am on my own portion of this journey. Others are on theirs. Some can run 26 miles, some can run 13, some can run 5, and I can run 1. One is a great starting point. Here is to six days of 1 1/2 miles jogging... because I'm good enough to achieve goals that I set!