So I participated in a 5K on Saturday! I know that a 5K 'race' is only 3.something miles, and I didn't "run" the race, only walked, but I walked
FAST! That's something I would not have been able to accomplish
60+ pounds ago. The first 5K that my daughter and I walked in was in Idaho, earlier this summer. There were TONS of very steep hills in and around that small community and we finished in
50.14 minutes. Now, she is a jogger and could easily finish a 5K in 15 minutes or less, but she's very encouraging and willing to walk with me; but don't think for a minute that I can slack off. Too much talking and I slow down. Too much sightseeing along the way and I slow down. She is quick to remind me to keep walking fast and FAST we walk! Sometimes we even break into a slow jog! So this particular 5K we finished in
48.3 minutes, we shaved about 2 minutes off our time....thanks to her "coaching".
It felt real good. Real good in a physical way; my heart rate was elevated most of the way, but it was also a real boost to my self esteem...an
accomplishment to feel proud of. Sure, there were runners there, very fast, and in excellent shape but I didn't focus on them and let myself feel intimidated because I knew what I was doing was fast and excellent for me. I have done two now; will I do more? Well, if my 'coach' has anything to say about it, I definitely will! So I better keep up the regular walking so I will be ready for whatever may come.
