Fitness and a 5k

I’m baaa-aaack!  Okay, not really, but I feel like my workout mojo is slowly creeping back in.  Will I be at the Y 5 to 6 times a week like before Connor?  Not anytime soon.  But I can find a way to be active 3 to 4 times a week, even if one of those times is just a long walk with Monte.

My company was a sponsor of a 5k this past Saturday.  It’s been a long time since I ran one of those, but the entry was free so how could I pass up the opportunity to get back in the game?

The last time I ran was at Thanksgiving and while the actual run felt good, my back hurt so much afterward that I didn’t dare try it again.  So last Monday, less than a week before the big race, I decided to do a practice run.  I jogged to 18:30 before I needed to walk and for the next 12 minutes, I walked a minute, then jogged for two.  It was a hot, humid evening, the sun was still shining, and my route didn’t offer much shade so I was a hot mess at the end.

All in all, though, I was happy with how my practice run went and was feeling optimistic about the 5k.  I was able to get in two more real workouts (boot camp at the Y and a session with a trainer) plus a long walk with Monte last week.

So, the 5k.  I invited Heather to join me.  Misery loves company, right?

My goal was to get at least 20 minutes in before I needed to walk.  Guess what?  I didn’t have to walk at all!  That’s not to say I broke any records getting across the finish line, but considering it had been 7 months since I’d been running, I was happy to clock in at 29 minutes, pretty much on the dot.  I checked the results yesterday and it turns out I was 4th (out of 53) in my age group.

I had gotten to the point where it wasn’t worth getting up for a 5k, but now I’m starting over so I wouldn’t mind doing a few of these to help get me back on track.  I jogged again Monday night, same route as last Monday, and I didn’t have to walk at all, but it took me just as long to finish as it did last week with the walking so apparently I ran faster last week.

I went to boot camp at the Y last night and tonight I’ll be home because the McHusband has to travel for work, but tomorrow I meet with the trainer. I’m liking this new schedule and hope to keep it up.

Happy Hump Day!