My First 5k!!

I’ve never been a big runner. Well, let me rephrase that… I have never enjoyed, worked on, or consistently tried to be a distance runner. Playing softball in my childhood and doing TaeKwonDo in adulthood, I loved the short, explosive, fast movements using fast-twitch muscles. Running long distances was never something I was interested in or naturally talented, so training for something like this was going to take time, consistency, and work. Why not give it a shot?

When I started training in April, I was also focusing on a 12-week plant-based challenge that I put myself on to see if it would help some health issues.

What happened the day of the race was a wave of emotions I was not expecting at all…

May 7th, 2022

I RAN THE ENTIRE 3.1 MILES WITHOUT STOPPING, SLOWING DOWN, OR WALKING!!! The emotions running through me from this morning’s race are more intense than I ever imagined.

For the first time in my entire life, I ran 3.1 miles without stopping. At the age of 41. I literally just started training for this event 2 1/2 weeks ago!!!

My hip flexor felt a little tweaked at the end, but overall I felt really good. My time was 37:04 with a pace of 11:56 per mile, and I placed 7th out of 25 in my age group. My goal for this race was to complete it. That’s all. It blows my mind to be able to do something like this for the first time in my life as a mom over the age of 40.

My husband was faster than me with his long legs and impeccable stride, and he was waiting for me at the finish line. When I saw him, I started yelling, “I ran the WHOLE way!!!”

I cannot express how incredible this feeling is. For so long, I have thought, “I can’t do this. I’m not getting any younger.” Yet, here we are…and being fueled by a plant-based diet.

After the run, I felt great. I drank water and my post-workout smoothie, but still have the energy to do some household chores.

This changes things. My motivation has just increased tenfold, now knowing that I can do this. Training will be better. My mindset is better and more focused. I actually CAN do this when I doubted it.

Total time: 37:04

Average pace: 11:56

Division place: 7/25