Running in Faith - Race Report!!

I don’t know where to start when telling you about the Running in Faith 5K, it was an amazing event that was initially a “Virtual 5K” thinking most would want privacy in order to go out and complete their first 5K without the pressure of a real 5K– BUT then it became a real mini 5K! Turns out the support of family and friends and love were what we needed and wanted.

 

I started this month by changing my blog and refocusing on what had really made an impact on my life- Growing my Faith thru Running. The faith I have in my self, in others and in God. This weekend was truly a wonderful experience, I found faith in myself to put together an event like this one! Would you have told me a year ago that not only would I go on to run more than my first three miles but 13.1 miles and hundreds in between and turn around and host my very own 5K – I would have thought that to be a crazy idea. When I first told my husband about my crazy idea, I figured in the end I would at least make my family sign up and make them do it with me. God’s plan was a little bigger than that :)

 

In the end 33 people signed up to participate in the Running in Faith 5K – welcome to my mind being blown! Here enters the amazing people that you are. Scared or seasoned runners you came through and stepped outside of your comfort zone, many of you shared what I was up to by telling your friends and family, some of you by stepping out of your comfort zone and committing to  walking or running 3.1 miles. I heard from a few in the days leading up the 22^nd – you were scared, nervous and not sure you could do it. Well let me tell you! You not only did it – YOU ROCKED IT! You had faith in yourself that morning when you woke up and tied your laces and headed out – some of you reached out to encourage someone who really needed to be encouraged and that in itself takes faith in yourself to speak out and uplift. Thank you for being out right awesome J

 

Without further ado – I present to you – Running in Faith 5K 2014

 

Saturday morning – two groups got together – one in Memorial Park and one in Alvin. The group in Alvin was headed by my beautiful friend Abby {you will hear much more about her in due time} she had a group of 5 and she made sure they knew where they would begin and end their 5K – after she passed out the 5K cookies to the finishers and I could not be more proud of the awesome job they did out there! Thank you!!

 

Our group in Memorial Park grew over night and was out in full force! I tried to be a good host! I brought waters and snacks and bananas and of course my 5K cookies!! My son and my little brother were my little helpers, so they headed out early so they could move things to the finish and make sure everything was set up. I was also lucky that my son manned the camera and we have tons of memories for all to share! I could not have pulled this off without them – THANK YOU!

 

Jim wasn't able to join us Saturday morning at Memorial because he was VERY busy being an awesome Gampa!! Taking cool, to a whole other level (I thought this level was the level!!) a pretty awesome couple sent in their picture aaalllll the way from Mexico! A super special thank you for taking time out of your day to be a part of this special day!

 

 

 

Turtle Race Report

I would be such a liar if I started this blog in any other way but to tell you how excited I was for this run! It’s funny how a race can be exciting when it’s thousands of people deep and then equally exciting with only a few hundred people. Truth is this one had so much to be excited about :)

I participated in  the 1st Annual Turtle Fun Run/Walk last year, I was only about 3 weeks into the “Couch25K” program at the time so I  walked most of it. I never dreamt that a year later I would have completed a ½ Marathon and running 3 miles would come naturally?! I knew without a doubt that I would be participating again this year, not only because I work for the school district that puts on the 5K but because it will always be my very first 5K :)

Although we did not have quite as many co-workers come out like we did last year, we did have our faithful group of girls come out and represent!! What was even more awesome was the between Jim and I we had so much of our very own family there with us this year!! He has had such an impact on his boys that 3 generations of boys were out there running, his wife walked the 5K and his daughter-in-laws were the cheerleaders along with the newest baby princess! WOW! I felt just as blessed because we had our very own three generation group there too, my dad, me and my son –sweet! It didn’t end there- Lety, my little bro Vince, my soul sister Cindy and my best friend Clarissa participated too! How super awesome is that!

I could not have been more excited to have everyone together like that. BUT I am going to have to go all crazy on y’all because everyone had run a 5K before except for Clarissa it was her very first 5K! She has been following the “couch210K” for about 3 weeks so she set out to walk/run it and she rocked it! She had all of the same feelings I had a year ago, going into the 5K. She felt like she would be for sure the last one to cross the finish – I felt the same way before. She thought she might look silly – no way, there were plenty of silly looking people out there! (ahem Cindy!)  

In the end I could not have been more proud to see everyone out there!

The run was great- right before we got to the start line I promised Clari that once I finished I would go back and meet up with her to join her for the finish. I wasn’t going for a PR at this run (although I’ve been getting a little tiny bit faster than before) but I will say that for a second a few of us thought we were breaking records and the we realized that the course was short only clocking about 2.6 miles! BOO! I came across the finish grabbed a water and went back to find Clari. She wasn’t that far away :) we crossed the finish and I was so proud of her!! So was her hubby!! She celebrated - and then I was a kill-joy. Yes, I told her the course was cut short, but if she wanted to really do a 5K we could go back out and finish it. Thankfully she didn’t hate me - instead she gave me a “lets do it” and off we went again!

Ah! The first 5K of my 2nd year of running and I couldn’t have asked for more :) I don’t know what the rest of the year has in store but if this is just the beginning I can’t wait till the next one!

Celebrate with Me!!

Hello everyone!! It’s finally February!! Woo-hoo! I have been waiting for today for a couple of weeks now :) SO! do you see something different about the blog?? TA-DA!! I gave it a makeover!! Whadda think?!! Whadda think?!! hehehehehe! I’m so excited to make this change, I have known now for quite sometime that the name of the blog had to change, it no longer described me or my writings, so for months I’ve thought and pondered about what the change would be.

A few days before running the ½ marathon an idea starting forming, and the days after running it all came to me in a sudden thought. Running in Faith. That's what I have been doing all along. When I began running I found myself digging deeper into my faith, first in God - as in “Lord please help me make it to the end of this mile!!!” slowly it became easier to run and my prayer became more focused on others, family, friends and my running. I then realized friends and family sort of had faith in me. You have no idea how many times I wanted to give up and throw in the towel. On those days I would run into someone or have a family gathering and you would tell me how proud you were of me! I’d get a fist pump! or a “good luck on your race- you can do it!” even a “wow you look great!” It may sound cheesy but you said it not me :) Eventually I've found faith in myself too. I have been through a hard run feeling like I just got beat up from head to toe, not just physically but mentally too. I walk away knowing deep inside I can do this. I know I can, because I’ve come this far, because I’m blessed to be physically able to and because my support team is simply awesome. I also have faith in others. Lately someone will ask me how I did it, and do I think they can do it too.  Yes we are each very different but I have faith that anyone can make a change to set their world on fire too.

SO!! to set off this awesomeness I am going to have my first ever virtual 5K!! This 5K is for you, for anyone out there who has never done a 5K, for those of you who have been meaning to get back to walking or running, or have been meaning to start walking for your first time and of course for the runners that want to set a new PR or simply would love a 5K with no chip, no pressure and just pure relaxing fun! This can be a stroll you take or a meet up with friends for a long gossipy walk. If the thought of paying out for a 5K and not knowing how you would do is intimidating - then this 5K is for you! It’s free!

In February of last year, the weekend right before my birthday, I had been following the Couch25K app for about a month and a half and I decided to go out and run a 5K. With no one else there, no pressure of time and as self conscious as ever, I asked my family to go to Memorial Park in Houston and basically wait for me as I ran my first 5K distance ever. It was slow and grueling but I did it and it felt great!

You can sign up to do the “Running In Faith Virtual 5K” held on, the weekend before my birthday, February 22nd! You have all day to do it, at your own pace. I will make you a personalized bid, with your name and number and after you have completed it you simply take a picture of yourself with your bib (and time if you want)  and email it to me!! I am not so fancy as to have a shiny medal BUT I will be sending out a “Finishers Treat” to everyone who finishes and submits their picture :)

How do you sign up?? By clicking right here.

You can email me your “Finisher” picture at runninginfaith48@gmail.com.

I will be getting together on the 22nd at Memorial Park at 9am for anyone who would like to join me in completing the 5K as a group.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me or comment below!!