Race Day

So today I was in my first race. I feel this blog should start with a little preface first....

I am NOT a runner! I can't even say that I ENJOY running. For about six months now I have been trying to prepare for the Sheriff's Academy, but certain life events have complicated the matter...but to complete the Sheriff's Academy you need to run...A LOT! I could not even run 1 mile without stopping back in Feb, and everyone kept telling me that you just need to keep doing it. Well then I took some time off and in May started back up. Tania and I have been walk/jogging for a few months and our goal was to complete the Promenade ( about 2 miles) by the end of Summer. Back in the beginning of May when I first started running I got shin splints really bad. I have always felt like I was just a bad runner, and although it sounds stupid, I felt like I didn't know how to run. But when I went to go buy nice shoes this was confirmed when the man suggested not buying a pair of shoes until i see a specialist. Turns out I really didn't know how to run. After a little bit of physical therapy and re-learning how to walk properly ( heal to toe) I began running again...and went back to the shoe guy who helped me get a great pair of shoes! So I started running! My friend Keely suggested that I should sign up for a race so I had something to look forward to. Since I was happy to be able to run a mile I didn't think there was a race designed for that type of runner. But we found a race that was an Aquathon, which was a 3k (2.1 mile) run and a 400m Ocean swim. Having been a swimmer this sounded a little more fun. So we signed up. Amazingly I went from barely a mile without stopping, to 2 miles and then 3...while pushing "tubby" (Max) I also want to preface this with the fact that I am not a fast runner...and probably never will be. With Max I do about an 11 minute pace,and can run a 9 minute mile by myself (HUGE improvement over the 12 minute mile I started with!) But honestly I can say I am impressed that I have built the endurance to be able to run 3 miles, and figure if I can be a runner, pretty much anyone can do it.

So back to the race....

Keely and I were in the last heat and stayed close together throughout the swim, until coming around the second buoy. By the time I hit the beach I was pretty tired and was surprised at how much effort it takes to walk through sand when your muscles are sore. So I walked to the transition area ( wasn't the only one), and got out of my wetsuit. I can't say I am fond of the picture, but thought it was a good representation of the day! And then we headed out for our run. We kept a nice even pace, and at the end Keely even let me cross the finish line first since it was my first race! It really was a lot of fun to complete something like that, and who knows maybe there will even be a future race post! So thank you Keely for encouraging me to do the race, and staying with me. A huge thanks to Max for being so good in the stroller as I continue to run and train, and of course Brian who has been my coach and has always seen what I am capable of and helped me achieve things when I can't always see it!