RUNNING 101: I'm ready, I'm set, now what? GO!!

But first, get your stuff ready:  water bottle, phone, headphones, get your playlist and your running app all set.  You’ve already figured out where you’re running right? 

And before you go, if you don’t remember anything else, remember this:

Your goal with each run is to finish feeling like you could have done a little more.  I know this may sound counter-intuitive if you’re used to hearing athletes and competitors talk about “leaving it all out of the field” or whatever.  That’s not what we’re after here.  Your goal is to have fun so that you look forward to your next work out!  And to come back for your next workout UNINJURED! 

Where to begin? 

WEEK 1: 20-30 minutes, 3 days this week, with a day OFF in between to rest.

You already know which days you’re running right?  Because you’ve made a PLAN and marked it on the calendar! 

Don’t worry about the distance right now.  If you’re using an app like Nike+, just set it for a “Time Run” that will track your distance but the goal is TIME.  Set it for 20-30 minutes—you’re going to have to decide which.  Before you start, know that you can walk as much of that time as you need to.  This is not a race!! 

START SLOW! You've got plenty of time to get ready, and you don't want to be dealing with an injury next week! Be sure to stretch before AND after you run. (If you haven’t already, read about FOAM ROLLING here.)

Walk for a few minutes to warm up. (If you don’t have a foam roller (yet) be sure to walk for at least 5-10 minutes to give your legs a good chance to stretch and get ready.  Then run, slowly, for about a minute (or whatever part of a minute you can manage).  Then walk for 3 minutes. (WALK, even if you feel like you could keep running. Remember-- you've got to keep this up for 20-30 minutes!)  After you walk, run for about another minute, walk for three, and so on.

At 10 minutes, you've made it halfway! Turn around and head back! Continue to run 1 minute, walk 3 for the remaining 10 minutes, and you're done! Congratulations!!

Do that three times the first week.  If it's a struggle, have faith- take it slow and it WILL get easier. If it's already easy, that's awesome! You can push a little more next week.

Personally, I don't enjoy looking at my watch while I run, but that works for a lot of people. I listen to music while I run, so I use the songs on my playlist to time my run/walk intervals.  If you prefer running to music instead of watching a clock, try this:  Walk for one song to warm up (two songs if that feels better!) Then run for the 1st verse (and chorus if you can) of the next song, then walk the rest of the song. Then run the 1st verse (and chorus if you can) of the next song. And so on, for 20 minutes. I find that much more enjoyable than keeping track of time, and while all songs are a little different length, it's OK-- it all evens out in the end.

If you want to be moving for more than 20-30 minutes, I'd suggest you still only run/walk 20 for now, and walk at the end for as long as you want to make up the difference. When I started, I was looking for an hour workout, so I'd run for about 30 minutes, and then walk until I hit one hour. It's actually a great way to cool down. But you still have to STRETCH (FOAM ROLL!!) when you get home!

And drink LOTS of water!!!  Try to drink a bottle of water while you run, and then drink another bottle when you finish.   

OK, got all that?  THAT’S WEEK ONE!  20-30 MINUTES, 3 DAYS, WITH REST DAYS IN BETWEEN.  SIMPLE, RIGHT?   

WEEK 2

Week 2 will look a lot like Week 1, with maybe some minor adjustments.  

A few things to think about:

1.  Figure out which days your running and resting.  Same days as last week, or do you need to change it up? 

2.  How did last week feel?  If it was a struggle at all, repeat Week 1 exactly the same way.  Don’t try to increase anything, just do the same thing and see if it feels any easier.  Celebrate even the smallest improvements!  They will multiply, I promise!!

3. If last week felt good, do exactly the same thing, but instead of 10 minutes out, shoot for about 12. That should put you right around 25 minutes total. If you're running to music, that's just about one more song! Keep the same intervals-- about 1 minute of running, 3 of walking (if you’re using music to keep track, that's the first verse (chorus optional) running, walking the rest of the song.)

4. If you felt like this week was too easy, try running a little longer.  (the first verse + the chorus, or add 30 seconds).  The times don’t have to be precise, as long as you know what you did before, and how to increase it but just a little bit.  And if you run longer for the first half or your work out and begin to struggle, know that you can always walk a little more if you need to in the second half.  There is no rule that says that if you start out running for 1.5 minutes and walking for 3 that you can’t drop back to 1 minute/3 minutes if you need to.  You can also pick it up to 1.5/3 again at the end if you recover and are feeling good!  Do what feels right for YOU!! 

Remember your goal is to finish feeling good, like you could have run a little farther! (not exhausted!) Don't worry about speed, just shoot for extending your run/walk time to 25-35 minutes total.  Walk when you’ve planned for a walk break, not when you’re at the point of exhaustion (by then, it’s too late to recover well!)  If you feel like you could have pushed more, awesome!  Do that next time.  If you get hurt or burned out, there is no next time! 

And that’s your first two weeks.  DONE! 

What next?  More of the same… and then some!

Every week, follow the same plan all 3 days.  If it’s a struggle at all, stick with that plan the next week. 

If you’re feeling good and you’re ready to do more, increase your total workout time by about 5 minutes or one song.  In general, I’d suggest keeping the intervals the same until your total workout is at 45 minutes of running/walking for 1 minute/3 minutes.  If you’re starting at 20 minutes, it will take you about 6 weeks.  In that time, you are more than DOUBLING your workout!!  That’s awesome!! 

Why 45 minutes?  That’s a pretty reasonable time for anyone to finish a 5K, even if you’re at at super crowded race with a slow start and lots of hills and you end up walking most of it.  So if you build up your endurance first, you’ve got the 5K, no problem! 

Once you’ve built your endurance to a 45 minute work out, then you can work on increasing your run/walk intervals.  You don’t even have to wait till you’re actually at a 45 minute workout—you can run a little longer for some of your running intervals on any given day (in fact, if you’re using music to time yourself, you probably will run longer for some intervals because some songs are longer than others!)  I’m just saying, don’t focus on extending all of your running intervals until you’re comfortable moving for 45 minutes. 

When you’re ready to increase your intervals, go for it!  Increase for an extra 30 seconds, or an extra verse of a song, or just part of a verse or whatever feels good.  And you don’t have to do longer intervals for the whole 45 minutes.  There are no “interval police” watching!!  Remember your primary goal: finish strong so you can come back next time!!

What about tracking and that Nike+ app?

 

By all means, track your progress!!  Get yourself a running log and keep track of every run, every mile, your pace and your distance.  I never encourage anyone to push for a certain pace or distance, but by all means, KNOW what you are doing so you can SEE yourself improve!!!  And improve you will!!  If you stick with it, and you keep increasing your workout time (endurance), those other numbers will take care of themselves! 

What if I'm struggling?

The first couple of weeks were fine, but something about 40 minutes is daunting and you’re dying at the end?  Two words:  SLOW.  DOWN.  This is truly my answer for everything! 

I am not a super fast runner to begin with, but a speedy clip for me is a 10:00 mile.  I’ve run as fast as a 9:20 mile.  And I’ve had days where I couldn’t go any faster than 13:20 if I was being chased by zombies!  It’s ALL GOOD!  

Different days will feel different.  When I first started, my Tuesdays were usually pretty fast (I think I was rested up from the weekend) and Thursdays were slow for some reason.  My weekend run could go either way.  I learned to just take it all in.  Look at the numbers, yes.  But don’t be ruled by them.  So, your pace is slower today than last week—how did you feel?  If you felt sluggish, then it all makes sense.  If you felt great, that’s awesome no matter what the clock says!  I’ve had days where I felt "just OK" and ran a PR (Personal Record.  You’ll also see runners refer to PB, Personal Best.  When you first start out, you’ll hit a lot of these—celebrate every single one!!) 

What about pain?

I know, you’ll hear a lot of runners talk about running thru pain.  I am not one of them.  Being a little tired or uncomfortable is one thing, but I am not an advocate of running through pain. It's almost become a joke around here, when I come in from a run my kids will say, "How was your run?" And I always respond, "It was excellent." And I mean it! I may struggle with my schedule, my attitude, the weather or whatever before I run, but when I finish, I always feel better than when I started. And I make sure I always finish feeling like I could have done more. Even when I run 16 miles!

Be sure you're foam rolling before and after you run, be sure you're resting on days between running days (no running two days in a row!!) and be sure you're drinking your water.  If you've got pain that doesn't ease up, go see a doctor.  But if you're just uncomfortable from moving muscles that haven't been moved in a while (and only YOU can know that) give it some time, take it easy, and it should get easier as you go! 

Everybody ready?

I know it's all a lot to take in!  Just keep in mind: warm up, run for about a minute, walk for 3 minutes.  Repeat that pattern for a total of 20 minutes.  Walk more as you need to, especially at the end.  Drink lots of water.  Stretch.  Rest for a day.  Come back again the next day! 

Please let me know how you do so I can cheer you on!!!

RUNNING 101: GET SET! A Plan for Success!

So, if you’re following along here, you are completely hydrated, all stretched, and well-equipped to run.  What’s next? 

SIT DOWN. 

Take a few minutes to plan and your training will go much more smoothly! 

Where will you run?  If you've already been walking or running and have a route you like, stick with that this week. If you've never run before, pick a place you can run/walk for about 15-20 minutes, then turn around. Don't worry about the distance right now.  The simplest, easiest route is to head out your front door and start your timer there.  As you get more comfortable, you might want to venture out to local trails or other interesting places to run, but to start, try and keep things as simple as possible.  Just think about where you’ll have a safe place to comfortably run/walk for about 15-20 minutes in one direction.  As simple as it sounds, just taking the time to think about where you’re going will go a long way towards getting you there!

Next, figure out which days next week you're going to run/walk. If you're really good, you can even plan the exact time. I never do that-- I have to wait and see what the weather's doing and what my day is like and how I feel.  I also have to think about my schedule and when the sun's going down.  I never know exactly what time I’ll run, but I always know which days. 

You need to choose 3 days to run with a day off in between.

Your options basically start with which weekdays work best for you:  Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday.  Then pick your weekend day:  Monday/Wednesday runners can choose Friday or Saturday for their third day, while Tuesday/Thursday runners can choose Saturday or Sunday.  Think about your schedule, your activities, your typical week and weekend and figure out how you’ll fit in 3 days with rest days in between. 

Choose your days, and MARK IT ON THE CALENDAR! 

It's easiest if your training days are the same every week, but in real life, that may not work for you, and it's fine. Just be sure to plan to take a day off in between training days! Don't stress about the whole month, just look at next week for right now.

A great question you’re likely to have, as one of my good friends did:  "So when you say rest, so you mean no exercise? I usually go to the gym every day, elliptical weights, etc.....or is it still ok, just no running/walking?"

I really mean rest. Take the day off.

If you want to do some kind of exercise, weights (upper body) or core work, pilates, yoga... any of those would be great. But definitely no running two days in a row, and ideally, no cardio on your non-running days.

Having said that, I am the poster child for resisting rest days.

When I started this journey, almost a year ago, I was working out on an elliptical trainer every day, 7 days a week, no rest days. I did that for 5 months, and only missed 3 days, and only because I had no access to a gym those days. That's actually why I started running-- no access to a gym. I was lucky to make it that long without getting injured. I was even more lucky that I was intercepted by a friend who introduced me to running, and then once I was hooked, only agreed to help me with a training plan if I agreed to take a rest day at least once a week!

When I started, I did still do the elliptical on my non-running days, and took Saturdays completely OFF. I didn't do anything-- no weights, no yoga, not so much as a push up. Nothing. But when I started training for the half marathon, I really had to take those non-running days off as well. I do yoga or pilates, and weights (arms, abs), but that's it. No cardio.

I know, you ran today and it felt great, so you are itching to go again tomorrow, right? I've been there, trust me! But here's how it works-- when you run, tiny tears develop in the muscles you're working. On your rest days, those tears heal and your muscles grow. If you don't rest, you just keep tearing-- no healing, no growth.

At shorter distances, you'd probably be ok to do some cardio between running days. But do something that doesn't put pressure on your hamstrings, quads, calves and ankles like running does. Cycling is ok, but no spin classes!! Walking or swimming are great options!

But again, ideally... just rest!! You'll be glad you did!

RUNNING 101: GET READY! Essential Equipment

What equipment do I need to run?

The short answer?  Sneakers. Simple as that.  That is the beauty of running.  You don’t need a gym membership or any special equipment.  Like they say at Nike, “just do it.” 

But if you’re entering these waters with any reluctance, or you just want to give yourself the best chance at success, and you have the luxury of spending a little money, there are a few purchases you can make that will help.  (Click on the more links for details.)

First and foremost, a a foam roller.  For about $25 you can avoid injury and make the whole experience fun and pain free, with the added benefits of increased flexibility and upper body strength!

Next, the obvious: sneakers.

Can you just run in the shoes you have?  Sure, maybe.  If buying new shoes is gonna be a deal breaker, then lace up the ones you have and go for it.  But if your current kicks were not properly fitted for running, at some point, either now, or after you’ve gotten a few miles behind you, you’re going to want to (or need to) look into getting a new pair.  And my most important piece of advice: choose a reputable running store with a liberal return policy!

I run in "minimal" shoes. The first pair I chose myself, because they were bright orange. I loved those shoes, and they were perfect for me.  But I was lucky.  When I was ready for my second pair (after about 4 months), I went to Capital Run Walk, had a proper fitting and chose these Brooks Pure Flow2s – another pair of minimal shoes with much more cushion in the sole. I love them!  

The day after I bought them, I ran 10 miles.  My longest distance ever at that point, and they felt awesome!  The right shoes won’t need a “break in” period—you should be able to lace them up and go run with zero pain!  If they bother you at all, go back to the store. (because you followed my advice and chose a store with a liberal return policy, right??) 

The best piece of advice they gave me was to get shoes a half size bigger than my regular size. (Your feet swell as you hit longer distances, and apparently that’s how runners lose toe nails.  yuck!)  It's worth your time to talk to a professional who can look at your stride and give you suggestions. The shoes don't cost any more (in fact, my new ones were cheaper than the pair I chose for myself at Dick's!) but having the proper shoe is priceless!

I recently took my kids in to Fleet Feet Sports to be fitted for new running shoes.  They do an excellent job.  Regardless of where you go, here’s what to look for:

1.  Assessment of your current running shoes or whatever sneakers or street shoes you’re wearing.  They can tell a lot from the wear pattern so take them with you. 

2.  Assessment of your stride in bare feet.  They’ll take a look as see what your feet and legs tend to do naturally when you walk, and determine whether you need any sort of support and if so, what type. 

3.  At Fleet Feet, once they figured out what type of shoe seemed best, they chose one brand as a representative of that type and let the kids run in that one to see if their assessment was correct.  If so, they then pulled out a few different brands of the same type of shoe.  One of my kids wears a neutral, like me, and easily chose the one that was most comfortable.  My son needed a light stability shoe, and had to try different shoes on each foot and narrow down his choices thru process of elimination.  Take your time, because finding the correct shoe is totally worth it!

Also, keep in mind that your best friend’s favorite shoe might not work at all for you.  In fact, you’ll probably hate it.  That’s how these things seem to work.  Find the shoe that feels perfect on YOUR feet!  You’ll be glad you did!

OK, so foam roller, check.  Shoes, check.  You might also want a tracking device.  This is not a necessity, but it sure is nice to have.  There are a number of running GPS/watches on the market.  I have one and I’m not at all happy with it.  Instead, I use my iPhone and the FREE Nike+Running app.  (The Nike+iPod app that comes pre-loaded on the iPhone requires use of the shoe sensor, which also costs money, and I found to be less reliable.)   The Nike+Running app uses the GPS and gives you audible notifications while you’re running—elapsed time, distance and pace (and it’s FREE!).  You can set up an account with Nike+ and it will sync each run to your online account, tracking your best times, farthest runs, longest workouts, etc.  It’s a fun way to stay motivated! 

I would recommend running with your phone anyway, just in case of an emergency.  (Yes, I have had to use mine to call my kids and tell them to meet me at the ER.)  I also use my phone for music while I run, so I get all three—tracking, music and emergency communications all in one device!  That’s efficiency!

 

One more piece of equipment to consider—something to hold your phone.  I love my SPIBelt and have gotten them for my kids.  It will hold just about any phone, it’s easy to use, you don’t even really notice it when you’re running (that was a biggie for me) and you don’t have to have huge biceps (if you’ve looked into armbands, you know what I’m talking about.) 

And that’s it!  Foam roller, sneakers, you probably already have a phone, something to carry your phone.  You’re ready to go!

   

Wait!!  What do I WEAR??  Shorts and a t-shirt will work just fine, but if you’ve been out of the fitness game for a while or nothing fits or you just don’t like anything you have, then shop wisely.  Buy one outfit for starters and see if you like it.  I started with regular running shorts and I like them OK, but quickly learned that I prefer running skirts or capris—something tighter on my legs.  And definitely choose “wicking” fabrics, especially for tops.  T-shirts are fun and easy, but if you’re buying anything, avoid cotton.  It gets wet and heavy if you’re sweaty or caught in the rain.  My go-to store for running gear is Target!  The prices are great and I’ve been happy with everything I’ve gotten there.  Once you figure out what you like best, reward yourself with new pieces as you stick with your training plan! 

OK, that's really IT!!  You are fully equipped and ready to run!  

RUNNING 101: my secret weapon...

This is something I think everyone should have. If you know me in real life, you're already tired of hearing from me about the foam roller.  

You really need to stretch before and after your workout, and this is the best way to do it so your muscles are ready to work before you run, and then to release them after. It's also great on your rest days between runs, and will help with general flexibility.  (If you want the scientific details, google self myofascial release and read to your heart's content... or just trust me!)  

You can get one here on Amazon for about $25, free shipping with Amazon Prime and if you order today you'd have it in two days! (no, I don't get a commission!) I recommend the blue EVA high density, because that's the one I've always used.  I don't know if it's any better or worse than others, but I've had great luck with this one. 

I wouldn't be without mine-- even carry it with me when I travel.  Foam roller, check.  Water bottle, check.  Sneakers, check.  Ready for anything! 

Truly, an excellent investment in yourself!

I’m going to post some links that will show you how to use the foam roller, but before you get overwhelmed looking at videos, I want to try and explain the basics of my simple routine.  When I first learned about foam rolling it felt very awkward and took me a while to build up the upper body strength to do it!  (and by a while, I mean a couple of days—it’s not that bad—just stick with it!)  But in addition to feeling awkward, for the longest time I wasn’t sure if I was remembering what to do and in what order, which slowed down the whole process for me and made it kind of frustrating in the beginning.  So I’m going to try and help you avoid that! 

Here’s what you do: (without worrying about form or details, just read thru this and try and visualize the basic progression)

1.  Start with your calves, ankle to just below the knee.  Sit on the floor, and raise yourself just off the floor enough to roll your calf muscle over the foam roller, back and forth 3 times.  I like to roll the inside and outside of each calf.  Then roll your hamstrings, then your glutes (you basically sit on the roller, and lean toward one "cheek" then the other, 3x each.  (There’s a little more to it than that, but you get the idea… start at your ankles and work your way up.)  NEVER FOAM ROLL OVER A JOINT!  

2.  Flip over, and roll your shins (Again, I like to do inside and outside of each.  This is also a great core and upper body workout.  Bonus!), then your quadriceps (upper front thigh).  (You’re almost finished!  Simple, right?) 

3.  Finally, roll your IT band on both sides.  (This is your hip area.)   

And you’re DONE!!  Three simple steps—back side, front side, hips. 

Now you just have to figure out HOW to roll each area.  That’s where these videos will help.  You can find hundreds of videos on YouTube, these are just my personal favorites.  You'll notice slight differences, because different things work for different people (you'll hear me say that a LOT).  Try and find what helps your muscles stretch the best.  There is no one "right" way.  (Just don't roll over your knees-- that's a "no no"!) 

Check out the first video here.

And here is part 2.  I don't do any of the upper body stuff, and he skips shins completely (I'll get to that in a second), but you get a good idea of how to do it.  Keep in mind, the goal is to roll over all the muscles in your legs, holding on any tight spots for about 10 seconds to help them to release.

This is another really good video and she does shins (around 8:00).  I especially like her suggestions for when you hit a tight spot.  

Don't get caught up watching hours of videos trying to figure out what's perfect.  Use what you see here to get an idea of how it works, then DO IT!!  You'll figure out the best way to roll out YOUR legs!  

After watching the videos, if you’re still uncertain, do not despair.  You are in good company!  I think everyone feels a little awkward at first, but in just a few days of doing it, you’ll be amazed at how quickly it will become easier and feel more natural!    

If you just don’t have the $25 to spend right now, that doesn’t mean you can’t start running!  But make this commitment to yourself—think about skipping a few “small” things, like a soda next time you eat out?  Or maybe even the whole meal?  Clip some coupons and set aside the savings?  Perhaps you have a birthday coming up and someone needs a gift idea?  

And in the mean time, instead of foam rolling, start your run with a really good warm up—WALK at a nice brisk pace for a good 10 minutes before you even start to run.  (I’ll give you more specifics on this part later, just keep in mind that if you aren’t foam rolling, you really want to be sure you’re good and warm before you run!)  And after you run, look into some of these ideas.

If you have any experience with yoga, that’s an excellent way to stretch and recover after a run.  I love to do yoga before I run.  Try some different things and figure out what feels best for you! 

OK, Step Two: STRETCH!  DONE!  Let me know how it goes! 

Real Mom on the Run: Erin - 5K HER way!

I had this idea to write about some of my friends who are also “real moms” and have just started running and finished their first races.  When I contacted one about sharing her story, this was her initial response:

“Sure, but just FYI, my training was not one to brag about...in fact after spring break there pretty much was none! I am doing the Color Vibe, but honestly I have not run since Mothers Day....so....don't know if you want to blog about me....




I did love the run though!”

PERFECT!!!

First, let me back up.  WAY back.  I have known Erin since I was in college and she was in grade school, (she was in my youngest sister’s class).  She comes from a very loving family who are always there to support one another.  Her mom is a creative dynamo, and Erin is just like her!  She has 4 kids—twin boys who are 7, a little girl who’s just about to turn 4 and a 10 month old baby boy!!  (Just let all of that sink in for a few minutes…)

Back in March, when I posted about the Run Like a Mother 5K, Erin was one of the first people to respond.  She tagged me in this post on fb… from her phone!

“Thinking about running my first 5k. I am definitely NOT a runner....am I crazy or go for it??? Training suggestions for mom of 4 to find the time???”

I love that she posted that from her phone—say it out loud, to the world and to Facebook, before you have a chance to change your mind!!

And when she asked about finding the time, she wasn’t kidding.  Yes, mom of 4, but like so many moms, she’s not just hanging out at home with the kiddos…  

“I did work at preschool one day a week teaching toddler class. I am nursery coordinator at church, so that's weekend time, and occasionally an evening or two during week. Gracie has school 3x a week plus gymnastics and dance. The boys both do sports and sing in church choir. Hubby works till 5 and 5-8 is crammed with time together doing dinner, homework, baths and playtime! I never want to miss anything so I hardly ran during that time when I technically ‘could’.”

First of all, WOW!  And, I’ve been there.  This was my life just a few (ok 10) years ago.  And I can promise you, I was not running.  I was not even thinking about running or ANY kind of exercise other than keeping up with little kids.  So my hat is off to Erin for even considering training for a 5K!!  Sometimes, all it takes is the courage to start!

And start she did!  After she signed up for the race, she was running on a pretty regular basis, which is amazing considering how busy her days were at that point.  I asked her how she fit it in when she did:

“At first it was the honeymoon period and I did it right before dinner. I'm lucky that my hubby likes to cook so I could go then and dinner was usually ready by the time I was done. However, that meant he was trying to cook with all 4 kids wanting his attention, especially the baby! So eventually I only ran on weekends when I could time it around activities and nap time, etc. Unfortunately it got too easy to skip weekends, too, because we're just as busy then as the weeknights....so....hence, the "lack of training"....everyone I talked to said to have a workout buddy but then there's two schedules to work around so that didn't happen either. I did have two friends who were also doing Couch to 5k that would check in daily and try to motivate me. It worked sometimes.”

I can so relate to all of this!!  Even now, having a workout buddy doesn’t work for me.  Between my schedule and my moods, the weather and whatever else is in my way on a given day, I never know when I’m actually going to run until I’m just about to step out the door!  A workout buddy is a great idea IF it works for you.   But the important thing is, you don’t have to do what works for everyone else.  Try it, sure.  But if it doesn’t work for you, try something else!

So, despite a training plan cut short after about 5 weeks (out of 9, so she made it more than half way!!), Erin completed her first 5K on Mother’s Day.  

 

But first, her older kids ran the one-mile fun run with her dad!

If you know her family, this does not surprise you at all!!  When one of them is in, they're ALL in!!  

Her ever-crafty mom got in on the act and made these awesome signs for her cheering section:

I asked her about her impressions after finishing:

“I, too, was very intimidated at first thinking I would be the only walker and definitely last (I know someone has to be last but I just didn't want it to be me with my whole family there watching). You don't know the pride and confidence I had when I turned the corner to head back and saw tons of people behind me! Not only was I not last but there were quite a few people way behind me!! I know this sounds like a "yea right" comment but honestly I think I could've even run more but I hung back with my friend who needed to walk...it was her first time, too!”

Every time I read that it gives me goosebumps!!

Because here’s the thing(s): 

~ Running your first race when your training didn’t go exactly as planned is HUGE!! (a lot of people would have dropped out)

~ Doing better than you expected in your first race is HUGE!!  (just goes to show, you’re always stronger than you think!)

~ Finishing a race and feeling like you could have done more is HUGE!! (what a great inspiration to sign up for the next one!)

~ Running with a friend who’s running her first race is HUGE!! (I don’t even need to explain that one, right??!!  That’s the part that gives me goosebumps!)

And what’s next for Erin?  Well, like she said, Color Vibe.  But she’s not just running it—she’s got a TEAM together!  So far there are 8 on her team, and it’s a first 5K for 6 of them!!  Even better—the race is on one friend’s 40^th birthday, so they’ll all be helping her check off “running a 5K” from her bucket list!  How awesome is that??

On completing a 5K after a less-than-perfect training program:

“It works for me.  It’s not going to get me “in shape” but it’s low stress, low pressure and makes me happy.” 

And I always say, if it’s not making you happy, what’s the point of doing it??

Congratulations, Erin! 

Congratulations on making that promise to yourself! 

Congratulations on having the courage to start!

Congratulations on not giving up!

Congratulations on inspiring others!! 

You are one AWESOME MOM!!!