Runners = the nicest people

Has it seriously been another MONTH since I've blogged? I cannot believe how busy I've been. I have been on the go since I got back from vacation last month.. and now I am back in school taking two online classes. 

I keep telling myself that I need to give myself a break, but then I always end up filling my day completely. It's just who I am.. The funny thing is, I wasn't always this way. I remember when I would spend my days off sleeping in until 2 pm and then doing nothing but lounging on the couch all day. When I look at myself now, I can't believe that I ever was that person. Now my weekends are more jam packed than my workweek. They are filled with sleepovers with my two favorite little girls (my nieces), spending time with friends and family, and doing active things such as running and hiking. Had you told me when I was in high school, or even a little over 3  years ago, that this is the person that I would become, I probably would have laughed in your face. I really do need to take a break soon, but I am definitely glad to be living my life to the fullest. 

This weekend, true to form, was jam packed. Yesterday morning, I had the annual 5k trail race that is sponsored by my work. I originally was not going to do it this year, as Saturday mornings are my half marathon training group runs; however, the director of customer service at my work had e-mailed me a free entry to the race. I couldn't turn it down. Especially since I was supposed to do it as part of the Move It & Lose It challenge at work. A few months ago, two friends that I work with started this challenge for us to join where we would aim to be healthier - either lose weight and/or be more active depending on what your own personal goals were. I had signed up to be a part of it, but then had to stop attending the weekly meetings due to half marathon training group runs being on the same night and time. 

Anyways, I was supposed to run 7 miles as part of my half marathon schedule. I had planned on running 4 in the morning before the 5k and then 3.1 for the 5k. However, I did not wake up early enough to do this. The 5k was great. There were a few people that I work with that this was there first time walking/running a 5k. I was so excited for them, because I knew the pure joy that they would feel after completing their first ever 5k - there is never another feeling like it. I have a love/hate relationship with this course. I love the fact that it is on a trail because it is easier on my body and my pace is always great... for the first 2 miles. The last almost mile is on an area of the trail that is very steep, winding, rocky and cluttered with roots. There were parts that were incredibly muddy this year. I had to run/walk part of this. Last year, I hurt my foot and it was not worth sustaining an injury again. 

What I always seem to forget is just how nice runners are. I always pictured runners as people who think they are better or faster than others and, for the most part, that could not be further from the truth. As a runner with a slower pace, I have received so much encouragement from other runners, especially when out on the course. The 5k course for Saturday was a loop. The course went out 1.65 miles and then looped back and then veered off to the left at mile 2. From mile 1 to the turnaround point, there was a steady stream of runners that were ahead of me and running by me. I cannot even count the number of people that cheered me (and others behind me) on when I was running past them, saying "Great Job", "Keep it Up" and some even giving me a high five, many of them from people that I had never seen before, and will never see again. When I was almost to the finish line, runners who had just finished took some time to congratulate me on finishing. It is just the greatest feeling in the world, and one of the many reasons that I was so excited for my work friends to experience this. 

Co-workers before the 5k!

 

After the race!

Me after the 5k!

After the race, I was going to just run four miles around where the trail was, but upon second thought realized that the roads were probably busier than I would have liked. I set off to head towards downtown Manchester to run some city roads that I was familiar with, when I received a text from Sarah asking if I wanted to meet up with her to run the remaining 4 miles. I was excited because I definitely was not looking to running an additional four miles... You're supposed to stop at the end of a race! We met up at a flat trail in Epping that we have walked the dogs at. We ran out 2.5 miles and ran back 1.5 and then walked a mile for cool down. My pace was faster than my runs recently, but still comfortable. (aka slow!) It was great to have Sarah there! I'm sure if she was not there that I would have most likely ended up walking some of that as it was definitely hard to break up the run into two runs. She also did great. She hasn't run that distance in a few months and handled it like a pro! OH - and the weather was PERFECT! I love fall running!

Sarah & I after our run and cool down walk

 Half marathon training is going well. I still can't believe that in a few short weeks, I will be a running a HALF MARATHON. 13.1 miles. EEk! It seems unfathomable. But then again, a couple of months ago, I couldn't picture running 7, which I did the past two weeks - one all in one stretch and the other split up this past weekend. I definitely need to work on hills the next few weeks. Any time I have needed to do the walk/run method has been to get me up a big hill, and there are some big hills in the Manchester Half. So, I really need to do this, and stop saying that I'm going to do it. Last year, I had to walk a lot more than I wanted to. I really want to run the entire 13.1 this year, and I think that if I get the hills under control, that I will succeed. 

I've definitely rambled on way too much tonight. Off to bed! :)