Children's Justice Center 5K

Saturday, August 15. The whole family went today to West Jordan Park at 7:00am. Lucia and I ran a 5K. Maya and Emma ran a 1K. Here's the flyer for it http://cjcslc.org/pdfs/run5kflyer2009.pdf

Lucia did awesome! She ran it in 29:12. She placed 55th overall, out of 157 participants. In her age/gender group, she placed 2nd, and got a blue ribbon with a 2nd place medal on it.

I finished the race. hehe.

I should just leave it at that. But for anyone who wants more detail:

I've actually been exercising for not quite two months, after at least a decade of not exercising at all (other than hikes with Boy Scouts). I've lost 15 pounds, and have 15 to go to my target weight (200 lbs.). Anyway, I was not entirely sure that I was yet in good enough shape to finish a 5K (3.1 miles). So, I went Friday night at 7:00 and ran a 5K on the treadmill at Golds gym, to prove to myself that I actually could finish, and that it wouldn't just be a waste to pay the $20 registration fee. (I had run at most 2 miles at a time in the last 2 months, so wasn't actually sure I could do it). I ran it in 33 minutes on the treadmill. Not a real great time, and it took quite a lot of willpower, but I did it. So, I had convinced myself that I could do it and registered online. This was only 12 hours before running the actual race. So, anyway, in about the first 300 yards of the race, my right calf got a cramp. A cramp that lasted the whole race. I could run a ways, then had to slow down and speedwalk, and even stop and stretch out my leg to get the charlie-horse to release. I did this repeatedly through the whole race, which I finished in 33:26. It was not actually a very pleasant race, but it did feel good to at least finish. Next time, now that I know I can actually finish, I won't need to foolishly run a full 5K just 12 hours before running the actual 5K race, and giving myself leg cramps.

I'm looking forward to continuing to train and get my time down. I was 97th overall in the race. I was 15th in my age/gender group. (the first place in my age/gender group was also the 2nd place overall. So, a person *can* be 37 and still be in good running shape. But that's not me. Yet. :).

In highschool, I ran the 5K in around 20 minutes. I remember getting under 19 only twice, the rest of the time I was between 19 and 21 minutes, as best I can remember.

Maya and Emma tied for 3rd in their 1K race (.62 miles). Maya could possible have run ahead and been second, but when she saw that Emma was struggling hard to keep going, she reached out her hand and encouraged Emma to run with her, so they ran together hold hands. Maya has such a wonderful, loving, kind, sacrificing spirit. She couldn't just blow past her sister to win personal glory -- instead she helped Emma out to push herself harder than she otherwise would. Emma she many tears when she was done - it clearly had been a huge challenge. They got a trophy to share.

So, Lucia, Maya, and Emma did great. And I finished. :)