“You should be proud of yourself, beating these young chicks!” – my mom š
Last Friday, April 29th, I participated in the Rock n’ Run 5k in Southern Pines, NC, that was for raising funds and awareness for Friend to Friend. Friend to Friend is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Moore County, North Carolina, that offers help to all persons affected by interpersonal violence, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
So it was for a great cause and I had been inspired to find my running legs again when my husband did his half-marathon early March.
Unfortunately with having been sick for 3 weeks of March I did not get to follow-through with the 8 week 5k training plan I had, but only got in some runs, or more of run-walks in just a few weeks before the race so expectations were low. Have fun, try to run the whole thing, maybe under 30 minutes.
It turned out my parents came down to visit so they were there too! They have been my biggest fans through all my athletic endeavors from high school/college volleyball to crazy Ironmans.
The race started and finished at a local brewery, Southern Pines Brewery and I thought was a road 5k. However, it turned out it was a mix of almost everything.
We started downhill on a road for about 2/3 of a mile then went through a large gravel parking lot onto a trail that was sandy, grassy and full of rocks and roots! It also had some ups and downs that created a loop until we returned through the same gravel parking lot to the road.
But, I couldn’t breathe a sigh of relieve for road as we had to go back up that hill we came down. I’m proud to say I ran it all, even that last big hill and found myself very surprisingly winning my AG (40-49). I was shocked as my time was not anywhere near what I used to run or what I would call remotely fast, 27:36, a pace of 8:53. I’ve ran marathons at a faster pace than that!
But ya know what…it’s about who showed up that day and I also was 11th female out of over well over a 100.
As the quote above from my mom said, I was super tickled, not just the fact that I beat “younger chicks” but also I still am on my weight-loss journey and no where near finished. Many of those I beat looked way faster and fit and I beat them. I totally attribute that to the strength workouts I’m doing from my coach/nutritionist as well as how I’m eating.
To clarify, too, it’s not about comparison but we all know in the running and fitness community there’s so much talk about weight and size and stories of runners who were already very thin being told they need to lose weight to get faster.
I don’t and won’t believe that.
Sure I’m not going to be an olympic marathoner but I can still be a great runner and reach MY full potential which also doesn’t mean I have to be super skinny or light.
I want to be strong. I want to have muscles and be able to do push-ups and carry my own groceries even as I age.
And actually you know what, I don’t WANT to be strong. I AM strong!
Anyone can be a runner no matter shape or size. If you love it, do it and do it for you! You are strong too.
Now it’s time to find my next race and continue on this journey back to finding the best runner within me.