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 :)

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!!

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!!!

Team Hoyt

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

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!

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!

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.

Red Lights

I have a confession to make....I run red lights. No, no, no, not all the time. Only a little before 5:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays on my way to boot camp. I know it seems dangerous but let me explain. Every morning that I wake up for boot camp and head out, I get stopped by the red light crossing highway 84 at 5:27 a.m. I wait and wait; I watch the lights change for the opposite side of the road, but nothing for me. So by 5:30 a.m. (when I'm supposed to be at boot camp) I get tired of waiting. Since there's no car in sight, I look both ways and make a run for it.

Why, you may ask, are you confessing now? Well the truth is it almost caught up to me today. No, I wasn't almost in wreck or anything life-threatening but here's what happened! I was sitting as usual waiting for the light to change knowing it wouldn't (but I always give it a chance) when I see a car coming. I thought "Okay, after that car turns, I'm going run this red light to get to boot camp." The car turns beside me and I see that it is black and white with lights on top. Yes, you guessed it--a cop! I thought "Okay, a cop, I'll wait til it's gone down the road some before I break the law." I was getting ready to run the light again when I see another car! I wait for it to turn and by goodness, if it isn't another cop! After the cop turned, a car pulls up beside me in the turning lane and the light finally changes! I hit the gas and in 2 minutes I'm at boot camp (late again).

I'm telling you this training for a 5K comes with more risks than I ever thought. But boot camp is part of my continued training and not even a red light can stop me from getting to my goal!!

Shake-up

Okay, so of course today is Wednesday and that means early morning which means boot camp! Boot camp started off like any other day (except for the election results buzz) until Coach Danny did a shake-up meaning shifting people down and moving these people and that person. So when the shake-up was all said and done with, who did I end up beside? None other than the "other" Danny whom likes to refer to himself as Evil Danny. Evil Danny Hendrix recently became a certified personal trainer through COGI and loves it and doesn't mind letting you know it.

Danny H has great sense of humor but I honestly didn't realize how crazy he was until this morning with his humorous commentary on each exercise. I don't know how his wife puts up with him--just kidding, Danny, you know everybody on the boot camp team loves ya!

But really the shake-up created a fun environment for everybody or at least where I was anyways! Danny H really is an encourager so I didn't have time to slow down on the exercise routines this morning--no slackin' off this morning! What a fun start to my day!

Pushing Forward

Wow, I've been a slacker these last few days when it comes to blogging. I haven't completely neglected training for my first 5K but must admit that over the weekend I was doing a different kind of running. Busyness pushed its way in over the weekend with fall festivals, family reunion, work, church and more. Okay, okay so I admit it--I did not run over the weekend (and I ate me some sweet treats).

Boot camp resumed yesterday. It's awesome to have new faces join us. Today I quit putting off running and hit the loop. I was afraid I might have found myself in a running in a downpour by the looks of the cloudy sky but I pushed forward. The cloudy sky mirrored my anxious spirit. For any of you who know me know that I am very passionate about my country and the need for a return to our Christian foundations and principles. Therefore understandably this day--election day is a very exciting yet nerve-racking day to me! As I believe that this election day may be historic for conservative victory, my anxious spirit is like that cloudy sky awaiting the unknown. Will it rain or will the skies hold back? I've voted, prayed and now I'm doing the hard part--waiting!

While I was running, my legs felt so tense and my mind screamed for me to stop but somehow my legs and heart refused to listen. My legs charged ahead as though they were running into battle. When I crossed my finish line for the day, I wanted to throw my hands up in victory. Each day at boot camp, Danny Copeland reminds us that we are beating our flesh into submission. We don't immediately see the benefits of doing that but it's days like today that I'm so glad that I've pushed forward through momentary discomfort to a disciplined heart and body. (Eventually the mind will get there too--it's also in training.)

COGI Boot Camp

Yesterday afternoon my running buddy, Charity and I started pounding that pavement around town. Charity is also planning to run the 5K November 20th so we pushing each other to the next level and eventually across the finish line. As we were running through mud and water (after the much needed rain, Hallelujah!), I realized how much easier it is to breathe now. At the beginning of the year I was gasping for air after just a short distance; now I can run 2 miles without crying "Air, I need air!"

This morning the alarm was going off at 5:00. I was up and out the door and greeted by this incredible blast of cool air--50 degree temperatures are the best for Boot Camp! Today was the final day of this session of COGI Boot Camp but no worries another one starts Monday and there's always room for people who are wanting to take it to the next level! It's a great workout with great teammates and encouragement. Check out this video to see what COGI Boot Camp is all about. It is sure to take ya to the NEXT LEVEL!!!

2 Miles!!

Yes, I did it! 2 miles--I ran 2 miles!

This morning in the muggy weather, I was out at boot camp bright and early. It was bit more challenging this morning, not that we did anything unusual from our normal routine but the humidity was kicking our butts! As we were leaving, I looked around at all my boot camp teammates and saw I wasn't the only one drenched in sweat.

After I got off work, my mind was made up that today was going to be the day that I crossed the 2 mile marker. I wanted to make sure that I ran a full two miles so I headed to the track at CHS. I've never smiled when I've arrived at a track but I actually did today because I knew today I would leave it having ran a full 2 miles for the first time.

The track was definitely different than running around town. The surface of the track is different and there's no zooming cars or people to watch. The track just goes round and round. It takes four times around the track to make a mile. On my 7th time around, my legs were feeling it. Thankfully, no one was on the track at the time so I started encouraging myself and quoting "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." and "Nothing is impossible with God." On my final round, I was ready to celebrate but kept it together until I crossed the 2 mile marker! My right leg started cramping after the run but after some stretching it felt okay. I was thrilled as I'm sure you can tell.

Just getting closer and closer with each step to that final goal.

Choices

Attitude has so much to do with how my day goes and that includes my 5K training. Today was one of those days; I woke up on the wrong side of the bed and I was immediately in a mood (and not a good one). I was late to bootcamp. I started feeling a little better after some of the exercises. But when the crab crawl came, I could hardly move more than a few feet at a time and I honestly felt like just crying right there in the middle of the field but I kept on with the encouragement of my "team mates".

When I got back to my house and sat down to eat my breakfast, I felt God reminding me that I get to choose my attitude. In all reality, sometimes it's hard to choose a good attitude when you're having one of those crummie days but I truly believe that we have a choice. In Deuteronomy, it says that "I set before you blessings and cursings, life and death. Now choose life, choose blessings." That scripture tells me the way I live my life is my choice. Are there days that my circumstances or my emotions try to tell me different? Absolutely. But it's in those days like today that I remind myself over and over again that I am choosing a good attitude. It's not easy at first and sometimes my emotions rage and tell me that I can't really choose. But I know the truth and I do have a choice.

This afternoon, I went for my run around town. I had worn heels all day long so my legs felt tense when I started running. Thoughts ran through my head telling me "I won't be able to make it", "Why are you even trying?", "Maybe I should just quit" but I made my choice. And I ran--further than I had before and in less time too. (1.8 miles ran + .4 miles walked for warm-up in 26 minutes)

25 Days Until...

Two Days

It's been two days since I've blogged but it has not been two days that I've neglected training. Thursday after work my friend, Charity, and I hit the loop around town. We ran a mile and walked another. It was a lot of fun and we chatted the whole way making the time fly!

Friday morning I was at boot camp at 5:30. I had seriously considered not going because I had coughed all night and my head felt so congested but I determined I would get up and go in faith that I would get better. And I really did feel so much better afterwards!! Plus I did 40 "man" push-ups. I couldn't believe it! I was so excited to have done that many; of course, today my arms are really feeling it.

I have been a slacker today. I wasn't able to go to boot camp this morning because I had to work. It was a disappointment to miss today because Saturdays are run days and for some reason, Saturdays are always my favorite! Boot camp on Saturdays is more like a family run and I love the camaraderie of it all--next time!

Bootcamp

At 5:00 a.m., my alarm clock went off and I've got to admit I hit the snooze for another 5 minutes but then got up, got dressed, brushed my teeth, ate half a breakfast bar, grabbed my water bottle and towel and was out the door. At 5:30 a.m., you could have found me at Barber Park at the COGI Bootcamp. So what is COGI Bootcamp?? Hard work! It's very similar to football training which may be explained by knowing the instructor, former NFL Washington Redskins player, Danny Copeland, owner of Next Level Training in Thomasville, GA. So COGI Bootcamp translates into running, push-ups, sit-ups, crunches, bear crawls, crab crawls, and more exercises than I can name. We meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 5:30-6:30 a.m. and Saturday 6:45-7:45 a.m. I joined the COGI Bootcamp back during the summer and kept rejoining. Each bootcamp runs 7 weeks. This bootcamp will end next Wednesday and begin again soon after that. For more information, check out the COGI website http://www.cogicertifications.com/. After Bootcamp, I had to go get gas and of course when trying to pay at the pump, it says 'See Cashier'. I always look a sight after bootcamp because of all the sweat and grass and frizzed hair and no make-up so I dreaded having to go into the store where others could actually see me but oh well! So I'm telling you bootcamp is intense but totally worth it!

This afternoon, I hadn't been feeling too good because of a scratchy throat and an earache. I had almost convinced myself not to go run my 1.6 miles but then decided I had better because I had said I would on my blog yesterday. When I first started running, I thought there's no way I'm going to run as much as I did yesterday but I did! And I'm so glad!! Actually feeling a little better. Until tomorrow...

Morning Run

This morning I woke up at 6:00 a.m. to go for a run! I was on my course around town by 6:22 a.m. and had completed 2.2 miles in 29 minutes, which by the way is a new record for me. I ran 1.6 miles of that without stopping--further than I ever have! I plan to run that 1.6 miles again tomorrow and then the following day add a tenth.

When I got back to my house, I practically dance in because I was so thrilled that I pushed myself a little bit further than last time. The key however was a goal for my morning run. I knew how far I had run last time so I determined to run the next landmark.

Although sometimes it's hard to pull myself from my bed in the mornings, I end up always enjoying my mornings when I do practice discipline and GET UP! I had a professor once who said that it's easy to do what feels good, it takes strength to combat those feelings and do the best thing. Very true! Now if I can just remember that in the morning :)

5k Details

I have been amazed by all the encouraging messages and interested inquiries about this 5k journey since my first blog yesterday. So for all you Cairo and Thomasville folks interested in participating, here's the details:

United Way 5k
November 20th
9:00 a.m.
Starting at Southside

Pre-registration (before Nov. 12th) $15 (t-shirt guranteed)
Registration at the Race $10

You can get a registration form from www.gulfwinds.org.

One of the main questions I've gotten is do I have to run the entire thing? No. You can run, walk, or run and walk this 5k. But set a goal as to what you want to do. Remember: Without a vision or goal, you have idea where you're going or what you're aiming for. A goal gives focus.

Make a Run for It!

Last Sunday at church, there was a short skit about running a race. In the skit, everyone was trained and ready for the race except one. He showed up to the race and made quite a 'scene' at the starting line but was totally unprepared and failed to even begin the race.

The skit was so appropriate and very encouraging to me as I will soon be running a race--a 5k to be exact. It will be my first 5k and although I've been trying to get fit and stay fit since the beginning of this year, I am still not what I would consider athletic or a runner. I am however very excited about reaching this goal. A year ago I would have never even considered making a run for it but thanks to COGI Bootcamps and the encouragement of friends and family, I'm really going to this!

The 5k (sponsored by United Way) is November 20th in the big city of Cairo, GA which allows me 5 weeks of training. My goal is to run all 3.1 miles of this 5k. Currently I can run 1 1/2 miles without having to stop and walk. I plan to continue to gradually increase the distance I run each time. One thing I've already learned is you can push yourself further than you think when you run with a friend so I'm thankful to all the friends who have volunteered to make a run for it with me during my training. So let the journey begin!