The school where I teach has started a new healthy living initiative called The Impact program. This is our first year implementing the program, and our first event was a 5k in Huntsville. I signed up to run this so that I could show my students how much fun running could be!
I haven’t run seriously since June. I didn’t run outside at all the month of July for vanity reasons ha! I did not want racerback tan lines for my wedding!! And I absolutely hate the treadmill so my running really slacked off. Then immediately after the wedding came school. I was trying to figure out how to meal plan, grocery shop, start a new school year, and enjoy time with my new husband all at the same time. So obviously my running was pretty nonexistent in August, too. Then came this 5k opportunity. I knew the weather would be perfect in mid-October so I signed up knowing I would have plenty of time to get my body re-acclamated to speed and distance. Umm, this did not go as planned. The areas around our home are constant inclines with some hills. There are no flat surfaces, so I’ve had a hard time getting my out-of-shape-running body re-adjusted.
The weather for Saturday’s race was absolutely perfect! I rode the bus from school with the students so I had to be at school at 6:00 A.M. It was about 45 degrees! I brought a blanket and layered up for the bus ride because it was projected to be about 60 degrees once the race started, and I was wearing a tank and shorts to run in.
Bethany and I after the race! We are representing the 7th grade!
I didn’t PR this race….it was surprisingly my 3rd fastest time, but that credit goes to a running buddy who I spent the last half of the race trying to keep up with. I got a stitch in my right side at around mile 1.8. I slowed down a bit and tried running with my right arm up while leaning the the left and breathing in through my nose. (Just trying to do all of that slowed me down!) Then at around mile 2.4 I came upon what I like to call a mountain. It literally was a HUGE hill!! I eventually walked about 10-15 seconds up that just to catch my breath. I think I was trying to run up it too fast. Anyway, I came in at 29:07 which put me at 659th place haha!! At least that was out of over 6600 runners. I placed 28th in my age group. I never claimed to be fast! This race has definitely motivated my running again because just trying to get my body ready for a decent time caused me to lose the little bit of weight I had gained after the wedding. No more weight gain and more races!!
A full group shot of all students, teachers, and parents who participated in the race! We had a great time!
