My first 5K

Warning: I ramble. this is a lot of reading. This is why I don't write much on my blog. I can't sum things up. I like to keep going and going...

I did it. I ran my first 5K EVER. I had decided some time like 5 or 6 months ago that I wanted to put the scriptures to the test. It promises that if you keep the word of wisdom you will "run and not be weary". Or something like that. I should really look that up.... but I'm lazy. Anyway I told my sister-in-law Britta I was thinking about giving running a 5K try and she said "lets do it together!" The fact that Britta committed me to this made a world of a difference. She was my supporter through it all ;) Thanks Britta. You are awesome.

Now let me tell you about the journey. I am NOT a runner. I have always done plenty of exercising. I have tried running in the past but have never gotten far. I really really do not like running. I would go about 3 minutes and feel out of breathe and exhausted. I just felt like I could NOT do it. I figured some people were runners and some were not. I left it at that until I pondered that scripture. Run and not be weary.... really, could that be possible? I thought if the Lord promises it then it must be true. I have never been able to run and not feel like I was about to die. In the beginning I had not even run 1 mile with out stopping to walk.

So I started. It was ROUGH. I sweat more then I have ever sweat. I worked harder and more consistently then I ever have. It was lots and lots and lots of hard hard work. Like I said- I don't like running so it made it difficult to stick with it. I did though- I ran 3-4 times a week usually pushing myself harder then I thought possible.

I ran into lots of obstacles. We went on a trip to Oregon and I had a really hard time running while I was away. When I got back home I thought I should give up because I pretty much had to start from the beginning again since I didn't run while I was away. Britta said no and I re-committed to my torture ;)
I got shin splints. If you've ever had them you know how bad they can get. I prayed and asked for help. I was so close to finishing I didn't want to stop after so much work. I kept running and miraculously my shin splints never got any worse.
A few nights before my race I got a really bad pain in my arm. I thought I had a blood clot or something. The next day I had bad chest pains. We looked over the internet and it seemed I fit the signs of a heart attack! I was freaked out! I was thinking that if I ran I could possibly die!

The morning of my race I had sharp chest pains around my heart. I was crying and so confused if I should run or not. I called Scott (Bretts brother who is almost a Doctor) he told me he thought I was safe to run and it was probably anxiety. I still felt scared so Brett gave me a blessing. I was told that if half way through my race if I had chest pains I should stop and walk the rest of the way. In the blessing I was told that I would KNOW if I needed to stop running or not. Most of the time when I run I have chest pains- so I thought for sure I would be confused if I should walk or keep going.

I went to the race. Britta ran along side me. We talked. It was relaxed. We never stopped running. At the half way point I felt good. My chest didn't hurt at ALL. I knew I could keep running. We ran for 38 minutes. It went by pretty fast. Britta being next to me made me comfortable and reminded me that I could do it and it. Talking helped me realize that I had enough oxygen and I wasn't dying. I am so proud I over came something I never thought I could. I ran and I was not faint! I could have even kept going for another mile if I had to. I felt great at the end of the race!
The Book of Mormon is true. The Lord keeps his promises. He will bless you if you ask. He blessed me with strength, courage, and peace. With out the Lord I honestly don't think I could have done it. I was SO blessed through out my journey.





Here is the last part of the run. Britta is on the left and I am on the right.