Saturday, November 20, 2010

I Finished!!!

I finished my first 5K this morning and I'm still on a high from it!! My goal was to run the entire way and guess what!! I did (even with a knee brace)!!! You might can tell I'm a little excited. Huh, who I am kidding, I am really excited!! (Note my use of lots of exclamation marks.) I forgot who told me but someone said that once you do one 5K, you're hooked and you just keep doing them. I totally get what they meant after this morning!

This morning at the United Way 5K, it really was so fun. At times I wasn't sure I was going to make it but I kept taking another step. I finished the race in 37.25 minutes. Not the fastest by any means but I kept a steady pace and crossed the finish line, as did all the COGI Boot Camp Team which included my mom!

This 5K run would not have been possible without my COGI Boot Camp Team and our "Coach" Danny Copeland. They really are the greatest. I am so thankful for their encouragement and support! But above all, without my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, this never would have happened. I think I prayed most of the run and especially when I wasn't sure if I could make it up the next hill. My Savior, He is just so good to me and I cannot even begin to express how much He means to me.

My only regret is that we didn't get more pictures of the COGI Boot Camp Team members running in but here's a few of the team courtsey of Jessika Copeland.
Charity, Me, and Mom The COGI Boot Camp Team We even took some medals home :)

Friday, November 19, 2010

Tomorrow!!

I can't believe it's here! My first 5K is tomorrow! I am so excited. Yesterday my friend, Charity and I ran/walked 3 and 1/2 miles. As we ran a mile and then another, we said to each look how far we've come. And it really is amazing to look back at where we were at the beginning of this year and see that hardwork and discipline pays off.

I do ask for your prayers for tomorrow's run as I've encountered an obstacle I did not count on--injury. Last weekend I tripped in a hole and started having lower back pain that was affecting my leg too but after icing it down several times, it seems to have gotten better. But then today at work somehow I strained my knee. I'm not even sure how I did it other than I walking and stopped abruptly and felt my knee kinda scream. I've never done anything like that before! It has swolen a bit so I've iced it down, got a brace for tomorrow's run and have read Hebrews 12:12 several times over.

Hebrews 12:12 "Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees."

Injury will not stop me though because this goal is within reach now and a sore knee is not going to be an excuse for not completing tomorrow's run. I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me! That scripture has been a favorite among the Boot Camp team and it will carry us all through tomorrow. Look out for the ones in the COGI Boot Camp t-shirts because tomorrow here we come!!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Thankful

One of my favorite shows is Biggest Loser. It is a motivator and inspiration to watch the contestants' journeys to a new life. It is just the encouragement needed during the week to keep moving forward. This week on Biggest Loser, the contestants received videos from home, except for one young woman named Ada. Her family, even after being contacted several times, did not send a video to encourage their daughter and their sister. My heart ached for her and I just couldn't imagine how a family could be so hard.

Watching her struggle made me realize what I have to be thankful for. I have a family who encourages me in my dreams and goals in life and this 5K has been no different. My family has rallied around me to encourage me, read my blog posts, and even run with me. My mom will be running the 5K this weekend and it's been so great to be able to encourage each other and it will be even better to both cross the finish line this weekend.

Call this an early Thanksgiving post but I am so thankful for my awesome family and friends! Sometimes I take them for granted and don't realize how much of a role they play helping me to accomplish my goals. This 5K journey has been the greatest with them by my side cheering me on and I really am so THANKFUL!!!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Team Hoyt

I couldn't help but share this video after seeing it on another blog. Such an inspiration!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

One Week!

I can't believe how fast time flies. My family is always telling me the older you get the faster time goes. Honestly I can't imagine how it can go much faster. And the time leading to my 5K has shrunk to just one week! At this time next week, I will have completed my very first 5K.

This morning we met for Boot Camp at Southside School, where the 5K run will begin next week, for a practice run. Before we got started we attempted the obstacle course on the school grounds. The obstacle course included climbing over walls, monkey bars, and some other equipment I couldn't even tell you the name of. I actually loved doing the obstacle course but I have a lot to work on. My attempt at the walls and monkey bars was actually quite humorous but fun nonetheless. When I arrived at the monkey bars, I could move past the first bar because of my gloves slipping (or at least, that's what I'm pleading) but with a little help, I guess you could say I made it across. When I was little I used to be a real monkey on the monkey bars out at Shiver Elementary School. I don't know what happened (hmmm...) but my next goal is to be able to make it across the monkey bars with no help! We'll see how that comes together.

After all that fun, we headed out for our practice run--3.125 miles! The route goes through several neighborhoods in Cairo, past a pond, and up and down a few hills. I almost ran the whole thing! I had to walk for just a little while (maybe a 1/4 of a mile) and then finished running across the finish line. I'm thinking now I will try to run the same route at least once this week before next Saturday to get used to the route. I am so thrilled with how well I did this morning and it's so great to run with such a great group of people. We're all each other's fans cheering for each other. I'm so excited about next week! Counting the days down--just 7 to go!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Hometown Run

I LOVE running around town! There's so much to see and observe and draw my attention. Running around a track is, well, kinda boring. But running around my hometown is the best. I never know who I will see, who will be encouraging me or who might even join me.

Today when I ran by Thomas Cheverlet, all the salesmen were gathered up just outside the main office. I usually see them at different times when I running by and they're trying to sell a car to a customer and I say a quick "Hi" in passing. Today they were encouraging me in my run, telling me to "Pick up the pace. 1, 2, 3; 1, 2, 3; Run!" I love how in small towns it feels like everybody knows everybody (well most of the time I love it :).

On further in my run in front of City Trends a little fellow who was at the most 3 walked out onto the side walk with his grandmother. I made sure I didn't tumble into the little fellow and his grandmother was pulling him out of the way. I said "Hi" and kept going. Just moments later I heard the sound of small feet behind me and a grandmother yelling for a grandson to slow down. I turned around and saw that cute little guy gaining speed on me and his grandmother trailing behind trying to get him to stop. I slowed my pace and looked down telling the little guy "Wow, you caught up with me." I thought by slowing down he'd slow down too giving his grandmother time to catch hold of him but instead he charged ahead. I reached out and grabbed his hand to slow him down. I sure didn't want him running out in front of a car or onto the train tracks. His grandmother arrived to us and said "Whew, I'm not in shape to be running after him." I smiled and kept going! How love a hometown run!!
Of course, I was looking my best on my hometown run in my new COGI t-shirt!! You can get your COGI Apparel too at Next Level Training in Thomasville, GA!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

It's Working!


This past weekend at church I saw a friend of mine that I had not seen in several months. She kept telling me that I looked like I had lost weight. I assured her that I had not lost weight but had lost inches. I told her about COGI Boot Camp and preparing for the 5K Run and enjoyed catching up.


Later I was thinking about what she said and the thought hit me that I had not weighed myself since I had started training for the 5K. So I stepped onto the scale. And heck yes!! 4 lbs, I lost 4 lbs!! Every girl loves it when the number on the scale goes down. Just another added benefit of training for a 5K!


With the time change, it has thrown me off a bit with my routine. I usually run in the afternoons after I get off work but now it's almost dark by then. Needless to say, I've missed a few days. When I skip a couple days of running, I actually miss it. I never knew that would happen for me--the not athletic chick--but apparently anything is possible.