I did it! My first 5k

jljune

Hi everyone!
I ran my first 5k on Thanksgiving Day coming in at 32:23. I would like to have finished in 31 min or less but I will definitely not complain. I am so excited I found this website. It motivates me so much more. After having a baby in February, I was the heaviest I had ever been in my life! I lost most of my weight before I found this site just running on my elliptical machine. Although I haven't lost much weight since joining, I am disciplined and motivated to lose the last 10-15 pounds that I would like to shed.
T-G-F-M-F-P.com-Thank God for myfitnesspal.com!!!


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nicolee516

Good for you! Keep up the good work!:flowerforyou:

mszSHOGAN

Great job! I have slowly been gearing myself up for my first 5K. I was doing the Couch to 5K program and then fell off. I'm getting back on the wagon though and plan to run one in the spring (5K that is). Thanks for the added inspiration!

Were you always a runner? I NEVER have been one but always wanted to. Any advice/pointers how you accomplished it?

thanks again!
Katie

JennCh

I ran my first 5k in November, and I've always said I'm a total non-runner. I wanted to prove to myself that I can do this, so I made the commitment by telling my daughter who is a runner what I was doing. She supported me all the way and ran with me the day of the run. I didn't do it for time. I didn't do it for competition. I did it to prove to myself that I can run at a steady pace for a longer period of time. I finished a minute and a half faster than I normally run the 5k, which was the crowning cherry on top of finishing. Now I run just about every day. I'm working on bringing my mile time down just a little, and I'm working on running just a little bit longer every time I run.

I do believe if I had not told my daughter that I was going to do this, I wouldn't have followed through. Making a commitment to someone special in my life meant having to finish or risk disappointing her. Seeing the huge smile on her face as we crossed the finish line will forever be one of my most treasured memories.

jljune

I do believe if I had not told my daughter that I was going to do this, I wouldn't have followed through. Making a commitment to someone special in my life meant having to finish or risk disappointing her. Seeing the huge smile on her face as we crossed the finish line will forever be one of my most treasured memories.

jljune

I do believe if I had not told my daughter that I was going to do this, I wouldn't have followed through. Making a commitment to someone special in my life meant having to finish or risk disappointing her. Seeing the huge smile on her face as we crossed the finish line will forever be one of my most treasured memories.

I know exactly how you feel! I saw the smile on my husband's face and how I felt is something that will make me feel fantastic forever! I started crying and he did too! When you don't think you can do something 50 lbs heavier and then to accomplish it is the most rewarding experience in life! Great for you! I was never a 'runner'. I was athletic at a young age but never a runner. Having a sport that only makes you win against yourself is the best sport of all!!!!

jljune

I wasn't always a 'runner' but I was athletic when I was younger. I guess I 'let myself go' you could say. I was 34 years old and walked into the hospital to give birth at 190 pounds!!! I was soooooo disappointed at myself. I started running on my elliptical when my baby was 4 weeks old. Slowly but surely I worked myself up to 45 min a day, at various levels. I put sticky notes up on my walls all over the house that said inspirational messages like 'you can do it' and 'keep up the good work'. It was only after I had lost 40 pounds that I took those notes down because I knew I had the strength to keep going.

A girlfriend at work ran the Race for the Cure in August and she sooo inspired me! I started running outside the beginning of October. Going from Elliptical to outside was a HUGE difference. I couldn't even walk down the stairs much less run outside the day after I ran outside the first time. Slowly EVERY DAY II just ran a little more and a little longer. Now I usually run about 2 to 4 miles a day.

One tip I do have is to pace yourself. Don't feel like you have to 'win a race' every day. Don't feel like you have to 'beat your time' every day. Just run!!!! I ran 3 miles in 35 min today and just enjoyed the run. I was slowly but surely. I do make sure I land heel-to...heel-toe. If I start to stomp, it makes me feel like I am wasting energy. My husband makes fun of me like I am 'just concentrating' on how to 'put one foot in front of the other' but it is true. If you concentrate on running 'heel-toe' you take less stress off of your feet, ankles, knees, etc..... I am not familiar with the Couch to 5k but I am sure that you can do it!!! Good Luck to you!!!

rogers8702

thanks for sharing. i am running my first 5k in 16days. its inspiring to hear other women talk about their experience. Thank You again and Great Job!!!!!:flowerforyou:

JennCh

Good luck! You're going to love it.

Like you, it's good for me to hear how other women are working to prove to themselves that they can do something they set their minds to. It seems we get so caught up in making everything a competition that we lose sight of doing something purely for enjoying it for what it is, what it can be. I know I'll never be a competitive runner, and I don't want to be. I just want to be healthy. Running has helped me focus on that. Running has also helped me focus on accomplishing other personal goals. Going into activities for the pleasure they can offer is such a different mindset for me. Running really has changed the way I live these days.

FitJoani

ooohhh yay a turkey trot!!!! congrats 5ks are fast races too!!!! shoot for bigger like a ten k it will make you feel amazing