First 5K: Done!!

Yesterday was my first 5K! I did the Race for the Cure in DC and there really couldn't have been a better day for it. It was beautiful outside - low humidity, highs in the low 70s, etc. I had planned on running most of it but I found another person in my running group and we made the trek together, which meant walking a good part of it. Not to be all competitive ... well, OK, maybe to be a little competitive ... but she's in worse shape than I am, which, not gonna lie, felt kinda good. I'd rather have someone to talk to for the 3.1 miles than go faster. It was a good time, and I'm looking forward to the Run for Roses on the 16th and the other races coming up in the fall.

I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying this process. I totally thought I'd have the idea to run a (half) marathon and then suffer through it out of pure stubbornness until I ran the damn thing. The key to this was probably joining the running group. Previously I'd decide I'd run and then get frustrated when I couldn't go very far and stop. The group has given me accountability and made me continue to go and stick with it, and it has been very cool seeing myself progress.

I read a good book the other day: Mile Markers by Kristin Armstrong, who happens to be Lance Armstrong's ex-wife (I didn't know that until after I finished and saw someone mention it in their review on Goodreads). The author talks about the various reasons why women run and uses running as a metaphor for pretty much everything. It made me want to continue to make strides (pun completely intended. Ha!).