So I have been training faithfully - with huge support from Jeff!!! Not sure I would be able to do this, without his encouragement, support, and willingness to take on the kiddos while I go out for my runs!! As for my training I was following a basic run/walk training. Run for 3 min and walk for 1. Then I bumped the running up to 4 mins, and then 5 mins. Up until my last training run, I had yet run continuously. I was hoping to be able to run the 5K without walking, but had yet attempted it, so on Wednesday night for my last run, I decided to give it a try and I DID IT!!! It felt so good going into the race knowing that I had done it and that I could do it! My average pace on my last run was about 11:50 min/mile. Which I thought was pretty good b/c when I was running on the treadmill I was running a 12:00 min/mile pace.
Well, I am happy to report that I finished the 5K in 32:38 with an average pace of 10:30 min/mile - Woo Hoo!!! I came in 29th out of 72 in my age group (top half!) and 399 out of 783 runners overall (almost top half!) I must admit I was blown away with how well I did.
As exciting as it is to have this accomplishment, I am still struggling to enjoy the actual running. I battle a LOT of negative talk in my head (even after my great run on Saturday, my next run on Monday morning was hard and I again didn't *feel* like a runner) As I was running on Monday, I was praying to God and just asking Him to help me enjoy this. That I didn't want to continue going through these next 6 months NOT enjoying this and as I was praying this - the thought came into my head, "do you think THEY enjoy walking over 6 miles twice a day to get dirty water" Wow! Conviction! I am not sure what the next 6 months will look like. If this process will continue to be a struggle, or if I will be able to find some enjoyment and fulfillment out of it on a personal level. What I DO know, is that I am doing this for something so much greater than myself. This is NOT about me, it is about bringing awareness to desperate needs and about raising money to help those less fortunate.
I am Running the Chicago Marathon with Team World Vision to help raise money to build water wells in Zambia, Africa!! Will you make a tax-deductible donation to support my efforts? Together we can help change lives in Africa!
http://support.worldvision.org/goto/heathergerwing
Thank you so much for your support!!!!
