Training for Baby: 5K triumph

I’ll admit, I didn’t train too much for the Komen Race for the Cure. I did a lot of cardio in the gym, but didn’t do a lot of running outside. I always figured I could walk the route if I got tired.

Despite not sleeping too well the night before the race, I was wide-eyed and full of energy at 7 a.m. My husband, on the other hand, wasn’t. He isn’t too much of a morning person. It takes him a little while to get moving.

We enrolled in the Recreational 5K, which started at 8:45 a.m., but we had to arrive at the RBC Center early to catch a bus to Meredith College. Lines were so long, we barely made it to the race on time.

At the beginning we were in the middle of the giant herd of people, barely walking toward the starting point. It took 10 minutes for us just to reach the starting line! But the minute I could, I maneuvered over to the side of the crowd and starting running.

My husband was in shock. I never run anywhere! But I was sick of barely moving in that crowd and I was in the mood to pass some people.

I was running like I was headed to a sale at the Coach outlet store.

The only thing that distracted me was the Burger King on Hillsborough Street. When I saw it, I wanted to cry. That was my old life of cheeseburgers and chicken fries. Here I was running a freakin’ 5K, after losing 25 pounds.

But, I didn’t want to cry because of how far I have come. I wanted to cry because I saw they weren’t open and I was really craving a biscuit! (You can take the girl out of New Orleans, but you can’t take the New Orleans out of the girl!)

I kept running though. I had to slow down at some point because my legs were killing me. My husband and I alternated between jogging and walking for the rest of the race. Most of the race I jogged, which was a shock to both of us.

My heart rate monitor and calorie calculator said I burned 1,300 calories from the start of the race until we got back to the car. Not too bad! My trainer said that is a third of a pound.

Maybe, I will enter the competitive race next time. I might need to train before that though.

Anyone else do the Komen race a few weekends ago?