Running Girls on the Run 5K with my daughter

The first 5K I ever did (and I ran most, but not all of it) was for Girls on the Run. My daughter wasn't participating at that point (too young) but after that race, I decided I would sign her up the next year. And I did. She's done two seasons of GOTR now and really likes it. Just thought I'd share a photo from that day (and the one from almost exactly a year ago).

In the first race (first picture) it was REALLY hot. Well into the 90's in May and I thought I was going to die. Truly, in this picture, I had just snapped at my husband to take the picture fast so I get into some shade and cool down LOL. I felt sick. I was proud that I'd done it, but frankly, wondering why I did. I had lost about 50 lbs. at this point.


One year later, I had lost another 35ish pounds. I have completed multiple 5Ks, a 10K, and a half marathon. I run at least 3 times a week and am focusing on speed now (I'm still quite slow). This isn't the best picture, but if I weren't hiding behind kids, you could really see some dramatic difference between the two photos. More importantly, during this race, I ran with my daughter. Talking and encouraging her the entire way (and not gasping for breath LOL). I felt fine after the race, and didn't feel like I taxed myself much. Heck, we even spent the afternoon wandering around IKEA. We completed the run in 36:11 - more than 3 minutes faster than what her and I ran in the fall of 2012.


My husband and sons did the 5K as well (well, little guy in a stroller), finishing in around 42 minutes I think. They did a lot of walking, but my son (who is most definitely NOT a runner) did his first mile in about 12:49 because he was chasing Mira and I. The fastest mile he's done in gym class? Around 15 minutes.