First place in my first 5k!

Today I participated in a 5k for a camp that provides therapeutic support for families who have lost a child. My good friends (a husband and wife team, the ones who run the boot camp I do every Saturday), lost their daughter when she was almost five months old, and every year they do a 5k in her honor during her birthday month. It also hit a little close to home because I have a brother whose son passed away as a baby, so he was my inspiration too. A whole bunch of us from work got together and participated, and people were asking if I was going to run it. I said "I'll try, but I've never run that far outside before, so I'll probably have to walk some of it." I stuck in my headphones and put on my special playlist that I listen to when I need to remind myself that I can kick *kitten*, and off I ran. And ran the whole time...nonstop. Never have I done that before. It was just me, off by myself. I kept picking off the people in front of me "Just gotta pass that girl, just gotta pass that guy..." and on and on. I started to lose it a few times, thinking about the fact that I was running my *kitten* off, thinking about my nephew and my friend's daughter. And I started just bawling outright as I came upon the finish line. Luckily I had sunglasses on so everyone wasn't noticing me crying like a baby, but my guy friend came over and just hugged me and he told me how proud of me he was. Like I said, he runs the boot camp I do, and I've known him for three years. He's a big part of how I do so well today, and a big part of my getting fit. It was his daughter we were honoring, so he started to tear up too. It was very emotional.

Then, the group of us were together afterwards, hanging out chatting and they start doing the awards. Out of nowhere, I hear my name over the loudspeakers throughout the park...I was so confused, and thought someone was playing a joke on me. I ran up there and they gave me a small porcelain tile that kids at the camp had decorated. Then I thought that it was something that my friends were giving out., and they were like "No, you won that! You came in first place in your age group!" I said "My age group from the people in our group here, you mean?" She goes "NO! From EVERYONE who ran in the race!" I was f'ing floored! I was like "There's no chance I beat everyone in my age group in this whole damn race...impossible!" But I did! I did! I started to cry again. LOL

Had anyone ever told me when I weighed 249 lbs that one day, I'd not only run a 5K, but I'd beat everyone in my age group, I'd have thought they were nuts. But I did it...and every step was worth it. Everyone was so proud of me, and I am so proud of myself. If I can, you can.

From this: (249 lbs, 2000)






To this, today: