Pre-race Photo


This is the end of my 6 month blog.

My goals were:
1. Run a 5k in 25:00.
2. Loose 20 lbs.

I achieved:
1. I ran a 5k in 25:06......(Hollis Apple Country Fast 5k)
2. I lost 15 lbs.

Race Report
Yesterday was my goal race. I was very nervous and I almost missed the start due to my own poor planning. Instead of reading the race info., I assumed that packet pick up would be near the start line. It was actually at the finish line 3+ miles away. Oops! It was good thing I came early. Luckily, they delayed the start by 10 minutes, which gave me exactly enough time to pick up my race # and warm up.

Pre-race: The audio is really bad, but that's ok because I was mostly rambling. (I was also standing in a swarm of little flies.)

I shimmied into the crowd where I thought 8 minute miler's should be. I asked the folks next to me what their pace would be....8:00 they replied. As it turns out, I was way too far back, and so were the folks I asked. It took about 5 seconds to get to the start line and cross it....no big deal. But then it took even longer to weave around the folks who were running at a more leisurely pace.



I ran hard, listening carefully to my legs...which were telling me my pace was right on. At mile 1 my watch said 7:37. Woohoo, I might do it! I chased a girl who told me she'd be running 8:00s, for as long as I could keep up with her. I hit mile 2 at 14:something. Then the course had a slight incline and I slowed a bit to stay strong. I just kept thinking, "Legs only Megan! Let everything else relax. Legs only, Megan!"

I saw a sign that said 1/4 mile to go, and my watch said 23:00! I can do a 2:00 400! Go Megan Go! I had almost nothing left, but I managed to dodge vomit puddles (thanking God they weren't mine) and race across the finish. The clock read 25:04.

Some proof: In the photo the clock reads 24:53. I'm wearing the white tank top, black shorts, with sandy blonde hair pinned up.


I was hoping my official time would actually be under 25:00 because it took at least 4 seconds to get to the start line....for my chip to start timing me. But, unfortunately, the official sheet said my time was 25:06, which I will gladly live with. I my eyes, I did it!


Before and After Photos
I'm greatly indebted to the "Who wants to get active?" Program for all the support and coaching. But, the beginning....the real beginning was 3 years ago, when I was WAY overweight after having my 3rd baby. It has been a long journey with many bumps in the road. But, honestly, it is the focus on health, fitness, and energy that kept me going. Focusing on weight would have been detrimental to my progress. Losing weight happens slowly, VERY slowly. Progress MUST be measured in other ways in order to stay motivated. Here are my before and afters (cringe):

Before: My brother's College graduation. Three weeks after giving birth. Baby #3 is just to the left, not shown.


After: Yesterday, at my race.


A Runner for Life I plan to continue on my current course. Run 4 days/wk and do track workouts with the Gate City Striders. As I have more time, with kids in school, I will increase my miles.

Long Term Goals:
2008: Keep running 4days/wk and get my kids involved
2009: The summer of the 10k
2010: The summer of the Half Marathon
2011: The year of the Marathon

Thankyou Dave Dunham (for believing I could do it, even when I didn't believe), Dave Camire, Belle, Joe Decker, Melissa Eisler, Active Toby, The Gate City Striders, the stay-at-home moms who contacted me, and my dear husband...for all your support and inpiring lives. You've created a runner for life.

As usual for Wednesday night, I went to the club track workout. I started out slow, feeling kind of crappy. But things picked up and I soon felt great and finished strong. Here's the workout.....

I jogged a slow 1.5 miles while Nashua finished up their track meet. Then stretched and did the following workout.

Three sets of:
400 (200 rest)
400 (200 rest)
400 (200 rest)
400 (400 rest)

My times fluctuated more than I'd have liked. But they were consistantly between 1:52-1:56 with a couple 1:48s (one at the beginning and one toward the end). I didn't keep track of rest times, but I did try to keep them (200s) around 1:15-1:30. Towards the end, I was the only person doing a recovery jog. Everyone else was cutting across the field to start the next 400. I would have been tempted to do the same, but (I think) this is my last speed workout before my goal race. I wanted to make sure I didn't cheat myself.

At home (over a bowl of strawberry shortcake) I calulated my miles for today and Whoa Nelly. I ran about 6.5 miles tonight. I had only planned on 4. Yay me.

On Sunday, I ran the Tucson 5000. It was about 75 degrees at the start of the race. By the end it felt like it was in the 80s. I started slower, like Dave told me to. It was kind of fun to watch the sea of people woosh past me, and then to zig-zag through them about a half a mile later. But, unfortunately, I ran too slow. The race felt really hard and I did my absolute best, pushing all the way, but I just didn't have it in me. I finished in 28:11....the heat, the long day before, and a little dehydration took their toll on me. I was really disappointed. I should have at least run closer to 27:00. Hopefully, I'll do better in June.

I took Monday and Tuesday off....due to exhaustion. I hit the track tonight but only did ok. Here's our workout: (I didn't keep track of rest times because I forgot my watch.)

200 (200 rest) :58
400 (200 rest) 1:56
800 (400 rest) 4:06
1200 (600 rest) 6:11
200 (200 rest) :52?
400 (200 rest) 1:59
800 4:05
(jogged 2200)

I also need to set goals for this week and report on last week, so here goes:

Week 22: 12 miles
Mon: off
Tues: 5 miles
Wed: skipped speed work because of knee
Thurs: no run, family obligations
Fri: no run, travel
Sat: 4 miles (border patrol and drunk driver morning)
Sun: 5k race in Tucson

Goal for Week 23:
Mon: off, travel
Tues: off
Wed: Track (5 miles)
Thurs: 5 miles
Fri: off
Sat: 5 miles
Sun: 5 miles

I'm hanging in there. Hopefully things will pick up over the next two weeks.

This has nothing to do with running, but I think it's kinda funny.

Tonight we had our track workout. I run with group 5. Yup, that's right. There are four groups faster than us....and there are only 5 groups total. he-he But, today I ran faster. In fact, today I led my group. I even ran faster than the little old lady. (I hope she doesn't read this blog.)

The woman who ran in my usual position (behind the first runner, which happend to be me this time) said my pace looked so effortless....that she looked to see if i was even sweating. What a nice thing to say. She made my day. It's so nice to get a little boost like this occasionally.

Here's how I did:
400 1:52 (rest 400 2:45) (The rest was supposed to be 200, but Skip made an executive decision that it would be too confusing for us beginners to do half laps. he-he)
400 1:52 (rest 400 2:50)
800 3:48 (rest 400 2:58)
400 1:48 (rest 400)
400 1:53 (rest 400)
800 4:02 (rest 400)
400 1:55? (rest 400)
400 2:00 (rest 400)

I didn't commit all the rest times to memory. But, I did pay attention...and tried to keep them around 2:45.

I felt better during this week's workout. I didn't really run any faster. But at least I didn't feel like I was running under water, like last week.

The best part about group track workouts is hanging with all the other slow runners. It seems we all dream of running as fast as those that whiz past us. We watched (with admiration) as one of the fast groups came in from their 1600 (I think). The times being called 5:28, 5:31, etc. A gentleman in our group said longingly, "Oh, but to do it in 5:28." We all chuckled.

I did a better job keeping track of my times this week. Here they are:

400 (2:00)
Rest 400 (2:14)
800 (4:07)
Rest 400 (2:28)
1200 (6:14)
Rest 800 (5:30?) I can't remember the exact times for the next three; but these are close estimates.
800 (4:20?)
Rest 400 (2:40?)
400 (1:48) I got tired of the little old lady beating me. So I ran this one a lot faster. She still beat me.
1200 slow jog

On a parenting note: I had to hire a babysitter. My husband had to go back to work for a second-shift employee meeting. It was his (and his bosses) job to explain to them why their raises wouldn't match the rising cost of fuel and groceries. Fun, eh? Anyway, instead of wasting an opportunity to be alone, we met up after our respective obligations and had a lovely dinner. I had fillet mignon and two glasses of wine. A rare and priceless evening in the world of parenting.

Here's Coach Dave Dunham:


Hmmm....I think I can do that. I guess I better get myself signed up too, eh?

I feel like I am living in that movie "Four Weddings and a Funeral" except there's only three weddings this year.....that I know of.

It's been quite a year. A hard year to have 'becoming a runner' as a new goal. I've faced a lot of challenges. The most recent is the passing of my father. He died 5 days after I visited him. It's strange how a dying person can hold out long enough to say goodbye to loved ones.

Anyway, I'm beginning to believe that it is fate or providence or divine intervention that this is the year I chose to run.

Week 18: 10 miles
Mon: travel home from CA
Tues: slept instead of running
Wed: again, slept instead of running
Thurs: 5 miles
Fri: dressed for a run, ran some errands, never made it to the gym
Sat: 5 miles
Sun: recieved the news that my father passed...no run

Week 19 Goal: 20 miles (really!)
Mon: 4 miles (treadmill)
Tues: off
Wed: Track (4 miles)
Thurs: 4 miles
Fri: off
Sat: 4 miles
Sun: 4 miles

I am looking forward to track workouts again. They somehow help me stay on track. (pun intended)