My first 5k

Even as I type that blog title I feel like it's not really happening. I kinda feel like I am in this really cool dream and that I will wake up and feel none of the motivation I have right now. I have expressed in a few of my previous entries that I have this desire to run. It has embedded itself into my soul and my body will not allow me to shake it loose. Not that I am complaining! Since December when I decided that I was going to start taking care of myself, again, I have been doing my run/walk workouts. I started out running about 30 seconds before stopping to let my lungs catch up. Now I can do about 2 minutes at a time. Still a long way to go but I have already improved 300%. No where near ready to run a marathon by all means! Well I could if they would let me have a week to finish it. Anyway, thanks to my friend Patti, I was introduced to the book, The Courage to Start by John Bingham. It's got me running more and has done a great job to keep me motivated. I subscribed to a runner's magazine too and also picked up a few other running related books. I have just been trying to sponge up as much information as I can. Since there are Facebook pages for practically everything I thought I would look to see if John Bingham had a fan page. Sure enough he does and linked to that was another facebook page for the "Penguin in the Park 5k" on March 27th. John refers to himself as a penguin because he doesn't run extremely fast and he does the running for enjoyment. I think this is why I related so much. I don't want to be competitive. I just want to move and of course losing the weight along the way is a definite bonus. So anyway I thought wow that's so neat but it's all the way in Decatur, Illinois. OK so it's 3 hours. No big deal. I am no where ready to run a 5k so I thought about just going to observe and cheering on my fellow penguin friends. They have a little awards show after the race that John is speaking at and I thought how cool would that be. So I email the racing committee and ask if I can go and just observe. Fortunately, they said I would need to register in the race in order to attend the awards show. I say fortunately, because they didn't give me the easy way out. Since they knew I am brand new to running they encouraged me to come and just walk the race like some others do until they are ready to run them. It was such a nice welcome but I immediately got visions of being the very last runner and everyone waiting on me. I know it's silly but I have never done this before. So I thought OK I need reinforcements here and fast! I posted on my facebook "I am looking for someone to attend the Penguin in the Park 5k with me on March 27th. It's only 3 hours away and I will drive. Anyone? Beuller?" I practically begged my daughter to go with and of course pointed out the fact that her boyfriend's college campus is only an hour from there so it could be a chance to see him too. She was easy to convince though. She has been part of my motivational force at home. She is a runner in training as well. After she was on board I was really surprised to see I had four other people express interest in going. I was flattered and thought wow there is no turning back now! A few of them are still maybes but I definitely have over a carful interested. I didn't really expect the great response that I got. I have since purchased my new running shoes (which I am currently breaking in and they are awesome) and some race day clothing. I have registered for the race and have one confirmed friend coming with too. We will see if the others can go as it gets closer. I am really psyched up about this and feel so excited and scared at the same time. I hope to one day look back at this and think wow that was nothing, I run marathons now.