Running Around ...

Turkey Trot

11/11/11

Last June Lindsey asked me if I would run a 5K race with her. I agreed and we planned to run the Turkey Trot at Thanksgiving in San Jose. I saw that there was another race sooner that I wanted to do, the Veteran's Day race, 11/11/11, and Lindsey agreed she would do it with me. We ran that race, and then also ran the Turkey Trot two weeks later. I ran both races all the way and I realized I can do it!! I didn't think I could run that far, 3.1 miles, and found out it was achievable. I looked on line and realized that there were many races throughout the year. I knew that I wouldn't keep exercising unless I had a reason so I made a decision to run two 5K races every month for the year of 2012. I started on Jan 1, 2012 and ran in Palo Alto.

Jan 1, 2012

I then ran on Jan 15 in San Francisco, around the baseball park, ATT Park. I had been to the park before, but never around the outside. I ran those alone. I was happy that I was able to complete all four races without stopping. Sometimes I want to stop before the first mile, but I MUST do it. I know the first time I stop then I will stop often. I don't come in the front of the pack, but I'm not the last one either. I was surprised at how many people ran during these races. The first one we did there were about 350 people, the next was 21,000, the New Years one was 2500 people and the one in SF was 1100.   February was a problem because I worked 3 weekends. I only had one open weekend so I had to do two races in one weekend. I did one on Saturday in
 Campbell, Lindsey came but her ankle hurt and she shouldn't really run. That afternoon we drove to my

Me running around the baseball park.

Mom's house and stayed the night there. In the morning Lindsey decided it was best if she didn't run that day either. I was really excited because they were closing the street that I have driven on many times and I ran with the ocean on one side and the golf course on the other side. I feel proud of myself for doing six races so far. I plan on doing the SF marathon because on the day of the race I only have to run 5K and I keep a record before the race that I must run the other distance. The only problem is I don't know if I have to work that day, July 29. I also read about another race I want to do that is like an obstacle course, the Warrior Dash on October 27 http://www.warriordash.com/?utm_source=active.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WD%2BNational. Next Month is March 10 in Oakland running around the lake and then also in Oakland on March 24 when they are closing the streets to let me run!!

Getting ready to run in Pacific Grove

Finishing the Campbell race.