The Good
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| My first racing bib! |
AKA my badge of courage. I have mentioned that I am new to running. During my senior year in high school, I tore my ACL during a gymnastics competition. It was a partial tear, and medicine had no remedy for that injury 35 years ago. Since then, I’ve been pretty active skiing and fishing, but my PT training told me that running, or any other excessive weight bearing activity, was not the exercise of choice for me. Funny, I was perfectly at peace with that limitation until I turned the big 5-0. The literally hundreds of stories I’d heard from racers, my patients, finally caught up with my psyche (or maybe it was my EGO). I realized that I was no longer content stretching, rubbing, analyzing ( see “PT Tips to Selecting Your Next Running Shoe”) and prepping others for that big race day. And it occurred to me that if I waited too much longer, my shot, my time of opportunity, would have permanently passed me by. The final push came during a trip to Walt Disney World last August. My boys and I had dinner at Japan’s Teppan Edo, and true to Teppanyaki-style dining, were seated with another group. These gents were veteran marathoners, and told us that no one does racing like Disney. How could we resist? I got to cross an item off the proverbial bucket list, and we got to book another Disney vacation before we even got home! On January 7th, my son and I donned our bibs, ran the 5K, and got to see the sun rise over that same Japanese Pavilion. It was very, very good.
The Bad
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| There! Can’t you spot us?? (We’re about 20 rows back- third from the right…) |
Since this was such a momentous “first” for us, we wanted to document every second of the adventure. Race Day was the first day with my new Flip camcorder. Naturally, I couldn’t run with my reading glasses on. Therefore, instead of filming, the camera was on standby for the entire race. What you see above is the solitary image we have to immortalize our journey. My BAD.
The Ugly
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| Pasta in the Park Party (complete with black light effects) |
This photo reminds me of a sad Peter Max painting. We all have ghoulish coloring, but I swear, we only had one beer each. The pasta and the company was superb. We were on top of the world; we were finally runners. Clearly, we did not care how we looked- good, bad or ugly…
Congratulations on doing what everyone told you you could "never" do!
There is a sense of achievement in doing that! Thanks for stopping in 😀
What a wonderful story! I'm so happy for you!! *High five!*
Awesome! My daughter is a Marathon runner so I'm a fan…and wannabe runner. I keep saying-some day. I do need new shoes first so thanks for the link.
Your Bad & your Ugly made me laugh. Thanks!!
You should be extremely proud of yourself, I am proud for you. And I see Buzz& Wood were there with you the whole way too! Congrats!
You did it – that is more than I can say
I kinda like the pinkish look on the last
Dear Manda, Dizzneemomma, Donna Kay and Reddy,
Thanks for the snaps. I'm hopeful that my "tires" will hold up for my next race 😀
You guys are great visitors!! xo
What an awesome post. I'm hoping to say I ran one too one day.
BTW, love your Wednesday post. It's so fun to see how much our kids have grown. Mine is only two, but I have a before and after of a 2 month old with Mickey, and a 2 year old. Major difference there too. So fun!
I think quirks like this make for the FONDEST memories! I bet you can look back and giggle a little! Congrats on completing the 5K!
I just got my post up, but hope you'll stop by to check it out!
http://tinyurl.com/3qhox22
-Amanda
Love it! Congrats on finishing your 5K! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Tara
http://www.gointothemousehouse.com
Magical Days With the Mouse- Believe me, IF I could do it, so could you!! Since you aleady have your comparison photos started, I suggest you keep it up. 2 mos turns to 2 which turns to 20 OVERNIGHT. Thanks for the hop 😀
Disney GTG- Quirks are my specialty. I left you a note on your spot! Thanks for coming 😀
Tara- Thanks for coming over 😀
That is so awesome! Congrats on such an amazing achievement. :o)
Disney on Wheels- It sounds as though YOU know something about achievements…. Honestly, the 5K was so much easier than I had envisioned it.
(Love following you!) 😀
That's awesome!! thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Hi Beth- Thanks for stopping by again 😀
Congratulations!
AWESOME!!! I'm a wanna be runner like so many of your other commenters. I'm not sure when I will ever reach that goal. I was just starting to run when I tore a ligament in my right foot and had to have it removed. I haven't ventured back out. That was 1 1/2 years ago. I really should do it. I've regained all the weight I had lost.
Oh well – I'm visiting since you visited my blog from the bloggy mom April link up. I am doing some blog maintenance this weekend. Thanks for your visit and your comment.
Pam
Congratulations!!! WhooHoo!!Wonderful story!! Thanks for sharing:)
Kathy, Thank you much! D
Pam,
I was so very impressed by the number of walkers and physically challenged folks who participated in this 5K; it was a humbling experience. 😀
Hi Deb,
Thanks again for your company!!! 😀
Congratulations! I bet you had a lot of fun and I'm sure it was extremely rewarding.
Congratulations! That is such a fantastic accomplishment!
Carrie-
I guess you can teach an old dog…
Just signed up for the Half in October!!
Thanks for stopping by- 😀