Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival 5K

Back row:  Tara, Valarie, Rebecca, Liz, Cherri

Front row:  Jenica, Gina, Ashley, me, Nikki, Abby

I just finished my very first race (5K) this morning!!  I was pretty nervous because the group of us that ran it has been doing the Insanity workout program together, so I really have had no time to run (Insanity is amazing, but waaaay different than running).  I haven't ran in over a year, and before this race I only was on the treadmill 3 times (it has been non-stop rain and cold so running outside wasn't an option for me) and I also did a quick 1.5 mile run outside with a friend.  That's it.  And I am NOT a runner...at all...which is why I was nervous!  I had two goals...to not stop to walk at all...something I have never done, even when I was on the treadmill, and second, to run it in under 30 minutes (my fastest time on the treadmill was 31:30).  Both of these were kind of huge goals, but I knew I could do it!

Getting ready to run...it was pretty chilly at first!

These are the shirts we had made up.  It was soooo nice to be in the same shirt...easy to spot each other (there were around 700 runners/walkers), and easy to pick someone out to encourage them to keep going.  This verse is special because it talks about honoring Christ with our bodies - something all of us are trying to do - some by losing weight, others by just trying to get into shape.

We had lots of supporters!

Almost start time!  It was sooooo crowded!

Stephen somehow switched a setting on my camera and it was taking pictures using the "Fish Eye Effect".  Yikes!  So this looks funny (I look so frail and thin here!), but it shows how terrible I was feeling.  For some reason, as soon as I started the race, I knew I was in trouble.  I didn't even get a 1/4 mile without feeling like I couldn't breathe (normally I can at least get to 1.5 miles before that happens!), I honestly thought I was going to poop my pants (sorry if that is TMI), and for the last 1/2 mile I had a terrible side ache that I couldn't get to go away (can you tell in the picture that I am in pain??).  I also normally like to sprint the last 1/4 mile or so, and at the end I literally had nothing left and couldn't even speed up a little...trust me, I tried :(  At least I know I did the absolute best my body would allow this morning!

Um, Brian...I am not sure this is going to work :) :)

Shae!

This one was on purpose...the fish eye effect again.   I just thought it was too funny...especially since one eye looks bigger than the other, and it looks like I have a massive forehead and nose :) :)

OK, here is a nice one!

They gave all the participants a free pancake and sausage (all you can eat) breakfast!

Charlotte and Shae :)

Unfortunately our kids couldn't come :(  Damaris was puking and had a fever yesterday, and Titus had baseball pictures.  

Well, I guess I should tell you my final time...I was disappointed...30:08.  But I shouldn't be!  I felt TERRIBLE and yet never stopped running.  And it was so cramped at the beginning, so I know it was definitely several seconds before I even got to the starting line.  So I want to count it as under 30 minutes, but the official time is just that - official :(  BUT several of us want to do more 5Ks together...so I know that I can improve that time...especially if I can run more ahead of time to actually prepare for a run :)