I did it, and I'm still here to tell about it...

I FINALLY ran outside!!  I've been talking about it for almost a month, but didn't actually do it until today.  I know I should have been doing it for a while now, to get used to it, since the 5K is clearly outside!

My excuse has been that I needed to get running shoes, but you know I did that Wednesday.  Then Thursday, I tried my new shoes out at the gym, and found out they are magical!  So, I took the plunge today and went for a run.  (I skipped the gym yesterday, but still got in lots of aerobic activity.  The fun kind ;-)  Oops, sorry, I know, TMI!)  Well, it was more of a walk/run, but still.  Truthfully, I'm pretty damn proud of myself.  I ended up going literally twice as far as I had intended, and I feel great!

I was only going to walk/run to my parents' house, which is 2 1/2 miles from my house.  I ended up going from there to my Bestest Friend's house, cuz I figured she'd drive me home.  She didn't answer her door!! (Turns out she was in the shower)  So, I had to walk/run home.

As soon as I got home, I jumped in the car, reset my trip odometer, and drove the route I just finished.  It was 5.1 miles!  Woo hoo!!  Again, I didn't run the whole thing, but I ran half of it.  Since that is the first time I've run in 13 years, I'm pretty excited.

I switched back and forth between power walking and jogging.  I used the street lights as my guide.  I walked from one to the next, than would jog to the next, and so on.  About 2/3 of the way to my parents' house, I was starting to wheeze, so I shot Magnum a text asking him to drop my asthma inhaler off at my parents'.  He passed me in the car and beeped when I was about 2 blocks from their house.  He's so cute.  He waited outside their house for me, cheering me on. =)

I had originally thought I would just have my dad drive me back home, but I didn't anticipate feeling as good as I did.  I didn't think I could go all the way back home, but I figured I could go the half-mile to Bestest Friend's house, and SHE could drive me home.  Plus, then it would be almost the exact distance as a 5K.  Well, like I said, she didn't answer her door!  So, I walk/ran home.

The whole trip took me about an hour and 10 minutes.  Not so bad.  I do the elliptical for 65 minutes every day, so this was pretty good.  About half-way home from Bestest Friend's house, my left quad started talking to me, but I think that had more to do with the 7.15 miles on the elliptical Thursday.  And, my left knee started to get "pinchy," so I hope it doesn't kill me later tonight.

So, there you go!!  I survived my first run!  I actually felt like a million bucks when I got home, and was tempted to go back out, but then I smacked myself in the head, and reminded my big butt that this was the FIRST day, and I would probably end up hurting myself if I pushed too hard.  I have 2 weeks before this 5K, so I'm going to just have to get in a run every day til then.  I'm actually a little excited about it.  Who the HELL would believe that I would EVER be excited about running!?!  (M, I know you're so proud!  I thought of you the whole time!)

Maybe I should track my running mileage, huh?  Ok, well for today, I'm giving myself 2.5 miles!  Yay!

Oh, and M, here are my cute new shoes.  They're Asics.

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