Crazy? Or just foolish??

Today was the 29th Annual Sailing Shoes "Run for fun" in downtown Colorado Springs.Last weekend, Jim and Julie were headed to the running store to register for the race. I went with Jim, and on the way there, I found out Mikey was going to be running too, which left me as the odd person out. I decided that couldn't happen, 10 weeks postpartum or not. So, in an impulsive moment, I decided that I would run the 5k (3.1 mile) race.

So, this morning came. I hadn't been training. It's hard to train when you can't take the baby with you. We bought a jogging stroller, but it's not here yet. I suppose once it is here I'll have no excuse. The course is long and flat, all on roads, and snakes through downtown. I like it because once you get into the course a little, you can see all the people ahead of you running the other way, which usually means I get to see part of Jim's race, and he gets to see part of mine. Jim ran the 10k, which is partly trail.

When the alarm went off I was reminded of what I was in for. I nearly chickened out and took advantage of having the house to myself and sleeping in, uninterrupted, until Jim got back with Reagan. Almost. But, I was too curious to see if I could do it. Never in my life have I been more tempted to cheat and turn around early. But I didn't. I finished the entire 5 kilometers, only 8 minutes slower than I ran it last year, when I was in considerably better shape. Sure, I didn't run the WHOLE way, and I didn't finish as strong as I'd like to, but I DID finish.

So, admittedly, the decision to run a 5k and have it be the "beginning of my training" probably wasn't the smartest, especially considering I was on bed rest for about a month before I had Reagan. But I did it. And I didn't think I'd be able to. I'm feeling fairly accomplished. But, I will say, nothing seems as hard as it was before I had a baby. I think maybe I needed to learn what true, excruciating, but totally worthwhile pain really was. Reagan was there, but she was sleeping. If it hadn't been her nap time I know she would have been cooing for me, because I think she knew I was running for her. It felt SO great to know that I was back at it, and that I can, and will, be in shape again.