i ran my first 5K this weekend all by myself. but i didn’t do it without the support (and encouragement, and transportation, and care-of our boys, and pride) of kenny.

i’m so thankful for the incredible support kenny has given me since the moment i said to him in May: “will you go running with me?” he didn’t even look at me like i had two-heads (because he has heard me say on more than one occasion that i will never, ever run. at least willingly)! he said, “sure! if you want to.”

and then he started running with me in the wee hours of the morning (while my dad or mom stayed at our house while the boys were still sleeping during those wee hours) because i won’t run on our roads at 6:00 a.m., even in the summer, because of our “black bear problem.”

and then he stayed with the boys while i would go running at our local high school track.

and then he bought me a pair of running shoes: the most expensive item of clothing i own!

and then he signed up for a 4.1 mile trail run with me (he loved it. i hated it.).

and then he bought me a long-sleeved running shirt because it was forecasted to be 51 degrees at the time of my run this weekend. he also made sure that my phone was filled with all of my favorite Muse songs to get me through the run.

and then he drove us down to pittsburgh on saturday, we stayed at my old house that evening, and woke up at o-dark-hundred to drive me and three sleepy boys down to the starting line. they all stayed with me for a little while, then he drove through a city full of closed streets to find parking near the finish line.

and as i neared the end of the race, i spotted him and the three boys yelling my name, cheering me on. and i was able to run faster towards that beautiful FinishLine.

i have a rockstar husband who helped me conquer a huge fear of mine this weekend, and who continues to encourage me to keep on climbing.

~`~`~

running notes: Great Race 5K: 33:13 (mostly downhill and flat with one long very slight uphill part on the Blvd. of the Allies)

about 2 minutes into the race (yes, it only took two minutes!), i was starting to have those, “what the heck am i doing? i can’t run 3 miles. i’m NUTS!  i’ll never finish this race without walking more than half of it. what was i thinking?” and then i remembered kenny encouraging me to “be careful, but push yourself!” and i remembered the quote i say to myself while training: “pain is temporary, but giving up is forever.” and i kept going. i stopped to walk a few times, for a total of about 3 minutes (mostly on the Blvd of the Allies, as it was a slight uphill grade and my heart was yelling at me to take just one little break!). as we entered the city streets, i kept running, and never stopped again.

rowan drew me this picture, showing me running to the finish line, coming in 1st place with my trophy waiting for me (with all those dots behind me being the runners in 100th place).