Sunday, September 13, 2009

First Race

Yesterday I ran my very first race......well at least since elementary school when we had field day. I was never much of a runner. To be perfectly honest, I was never athletic. I always wanted to be good at tennis, but the whole hand-eye coordination seemed to work against me!

For the past couple of years I have talked about wanting to take up running, but never really did much about it. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that if I don't know what I'm doing I don't really want to do it for fear of looking like a complete loon.

I met an Irish guy at the park one day while I was walking around Tech Terrace. He was riding around the park on his bike encouraging people who were walking/running. Once he spoke I was immediately curious about him because I could tell he was Irish. You don't meet many people from Ireland around here! Jerry explained to me that he belonged to the West Texas Running Club, so I decided to pick his brain about running. He is a marathon runner, and runs mostly to set pace for other people in the running club. He took my email address down and emailed me a running program.

All summer I've been training and making headway. My goal has been the 12K (approx. 7 or so miles) Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. It has been such a fun process, one because I finally decided to put my money where my mouth was, and two it has given me an outlet to clear my head/pray/think etc.

So yesterday I ran a two mile race in Shallowater. The idea was for me to run with one of the other 4th grade teachers, Sandra Spruell. On Thursday, Sandra told me she was going to have to help with registration, but that I could run with her 11 yr old daughter, Lindsey. Well, Lindsey left me eating her dust at the starting line.

It was crazy when they sounded the horn to start the race. Everyone was running like mad, so I started off faster than I would have normally. I ran pretty hard the entire way, but people kept passing me.....like elderly men. When I say elderly, I mean 80+. I was convinced I was bringing up the rear until I got to the halfway turnaround and saw there were still several runners behind me. One guy kept passing me, and then I'd catch up to him as he was walking. Once I passed him, he would start running really hard to pass me. This happened at least four times.

Once I came across the finish line, I didn't wait around to check my stats. I was hoping to make it to ladies bible study so I went ahead and left. Later in the day, Susan Wilcox told me I had around 9 minute miles. My best time in training was around 9:48 min/mile. Then Jerry emailed me to tell me great job, making me think my time had been posted. So I was curious, and decided to check my time on the running club website. My time was 8:58 miles! I had to laugh because I knew old men were passing me and my running partner left me and I started out too fast, and so on. Come to find out I came in 2nd in my age group.....out of four. HA!!! My overall ranking was 112 out of 164.

I guess there is always room for improvement, but I was really happy with my first run ever. I have a 10k/6.2mi run October 10. That should prove to be very challenging. I'm up to about 3 and 1/2 miles in my running plan. So I still have quite a way to go.

Tonight I'm off to run at Tech Terrace. Sundays I run with Jerry, and get coached on form, nutrition, and training. It's great to have the help and encouragement.

So thanks for all the kind words and prayers....keep 'em coming! I surely need all the help I can get.

7 comments:

cemotosnack said...

I'm so proud of you and I admire your dedication to your health. I'm so lazy when it comes to diet and exercise that I am consistently fascinated by you. If I had to choose between exercise and anything else in the world ... I would choose the anything else. But you usually choose exercise, or find a way to do both. I admire that characteristic in you.

I will keep praying for you and am always her to encourage you along the way ... but I doubt I'll ever be running beside you.

Great job Sarah!!!

Sydni said...

That is so great!! I ran a 5 mile race once w/ my aunt. Running really does clear the head, etc. I'm excited for you and will be waiting to hear how the Thanksgiving race goes (and how you do in any other races you participate in between now and then)!

Sarah said...

Sydney, you always say such sweet, encouraging things! Hope y'all are doing well! I'd love to see those sweet girls!

Paige, I am not nearly a good about all of it as I should be. Every little bit helps. I'm better with exercise than I am with diet....I love food too much! I'm going to see where this takes me.

I think the thing that really got me is that I want to set some different patterns in my life. Neither of my parents are healthy, so in some ways that predisposes me to being unhealthy. I know there are diseases that no matter how healthy a person is, you can still get. I just want my quality of life to be good now, but especially in my later years. If God does give me a long life, I want my quality of life to be good. I'm not afraid of death, but dying slowly is not how I want to go. LOL! Maybe I can make a difference in that now. I do know the immediate benefits to me are worth the effort. Hopefully the long term benefits will pay off as well.

Anonymous said...

You are amazing and I stand in awe of you for taking up running! I won't even WALK for goodness sake! heheh

I am glad that you find peace and time for talking with God while you run. That has to be good for ya.

Can't wait to see how great you do in the Turkey run!

Mommahen said...

I'm just so excited that you were finally able to update. Maybe all that running has kept you too busy! ;-)

I am very proud of you too. Walking is about as athletic as I get, but my heart desires more. I just don't have the drive.

And like you my parents aren't in the best of health, PLUS I have children. I know that should be enough in and of itself.

So don't stop. You are inspiring people along the way. Way to go!

And the new look is perfect for you!

Su said...

Sarah, you were amazing! I'm looking forward to running "with" you @ Tech. (Maybe on Thanksgiving!)

Also, no one has ever mentioned me in their blog before. I feel like I won an Oscar or something. :)

Jerry ran about 1/2 mile with me at the 4th of July race (he had already been done for 20 minutes or so, and had come back to encourage people) and he really was so helpful. Nice guy!

Sarah said...

Susan, come by for your award. I went ahead and did an acceptance speech for you.

Elaine, you are always too kind to me. I love you so much!

Sherry, thanks for sharing in my victories, no matter how small! You ROCK!!!