Run Sara, Runnnnnnn

At the end of February I decided to start running even though I've always hated it. (I have terrible memories of running "the mile" in high school) After a couple attempts in college to start running I had pretty much decided that running was not in my cards. I just couldn't do it. I didn't have the body type or the joints to sustain it.

So what on earth possessed me to take up running? I love to be active and last summer I tackled a couple of hikes I never would have thought possible. With much wheezing and feeling like death, I dragged myself up mountains and reveled in the beautiful vistas that made the torture worth it. As this summer approached I thought, wouldn't it be nice if I didn't feel like death while dragging myself up mountains? This thought gave me the courage to try snowshoeing and then, when the snow started melting, to start running. 

Last Saturday I headed out for my second  2.75 mile run thinking I would complete this one, skip the third 2.75 and be able to run my first 5k distance on my 28th birthday. (How poetic) When pain in my knee severe enough to make me want to cry (I might have. Just a little) stopped me about 1.5 miles in, sending me limping home,  I was discouraged and upset.  Just shy of my first big milestone! How long would I be out? Did I need to see a doctor? Would I be able to not suck at my first 5k race?! (I'm nervous)

After self-diagnosing runner's knee I took off three days from running. Tonight was the night. I was scared, irrationally so.  I started out telling myself, "Just make it a mile" but when I got outside I decided I was going to try for 2.5 at least and go the last 1/4 if my knee wasn't too painful. 

I ran the whole 5K! In 29:45 which is just 45 seconds shy of my initial 5K goal time, which I know might seem slow to some people but when I started I just hoped I'd be able to run 5K under 30 minutes.  And my knee was okay, not at all painful during the run and the post-run pain was easily fixed with ice. 

Elation :)