I Came, I Saw, I Conquered. Sort Of!

[ 16 ] 10/14/2011 | Nancy

I was bound and determined that I was going to run the entire Run the Hood 5k next weekend. It is something that I have never done before. I have walked more 5k’s than I can count. I have walk/ran some of those, but I have never ran an entire 5k. I figured I wasn’t getting any younger and it was now or never.

Eight weeks ago, I started the C25K program with many other sisters. It was hard right from the get go. I kept on pushing though. I made it through week 1, then week 2 and week 3. I got to week 4 and it was so hard. So hard that instead of moving on to week 5, I repeated week 4 again. When I finally moved on to week 5, I repeated that week too.

As I tried to progress through this training, I kept thinking that maybe I was not meant to run. I am rapidly approaching 57 years old. Maybe I am a little too “mature” for starting this at this point in my life. I mentioned something about it in a blog post and the voice of reason commented. Brooke said something that made perfect sense and I wondered why I wasn’t smart enough to figure it out on my own. She said “Just wanted to say – if running isn’t your thing don’t try to force it. you’ve got plenty of other things to keep you active. :) As long as you can say you gave it your all – totally no shame in saying “no thanks”.

I can totally say that I gave it my all. Even when my knee or my ankle were crying for me to stop, I kept pushing. I am never going to get that runners high that people talk about. I am never going to love it. I’m never even going to like it. This was my third real try at running. I am totally okay with saying no thanks to running now.

On October 22 when nine of us head out to do the Run the Hood 5k, I will be walking. I will be happy to be out there and have no problem with the fact that I am walking and not running. You see I came into this thinking that I had to run this race. With a little help from Brooke, I saw that wasn’t going to happen. So, I conquered the need to reach an unreachable goal and realized that Brooke was right. As long as I am doing other things to keep me moving, it’s all good.

Tags: featured, running, walking

Category: Couch-to-5K, MOVE IT, Nancy, Run the 'Hood '11, Running, The Sisterhood, walking

About Nancy: I'm a 57 year old wife, mom and grammy. I've been married for 38 years and have four daughters and three grandchildren. I've been chosen to be the mature voice of the Sisterhood and I couldn't be more excited. My passions are my family, photography and my new found enthusiasm for fitness and weight loss. View author profile.

http://www.jeninreallife.com/ jeninRL

YAY NANCY!!!

sometime letting go of those thing we just feel we HAVE to do is the hardest thing to do!!

Good for you for realizing what is best for you!

XOX

Nancy

Thanks Jen. It really was a hard thing to admit. I felt like I was failing. But once I realized the failure would have been in not trying at all, I was okay with it.

http://christy.shrinkingjeans.net Christy_TheSistherhood

I’m proud of you for conquering that feeling and realizing what you need to do, Nancy!!! Way to go for giving it your all! I’m so proud of you :)

Nancy

Knowing you are proud of me makes it even better. It took awhile to finally figure it out, but I finally did and I’m happy. There is nothing wrong with being a walker.

http://frugaltrophywife.com Brooke F

you’re pretty stinkin fabulous, ya know that?

Nancy

Funny Brooke! That’s just how I feel about you. Thanks for the help. It was a very good decision.

Anngregory

Brooke is full of great advice! That’s just one of the reasons we love her so much!

You have tried and tried again. Now it is time to OWN that 5k!

Nancy

Thanks so much Ann. I plan to own this 5k. I am proud to be walking it.

http://www.whereverimaywander.com Lissa_ShrinkingJeans

It’s all good!! I’m still not feeling “running” either and just don’t know that it will ever be my thing!

Nancy

The view is pretty darn good from this side of the fence. Feel free to join me any time.

Anonymous

Brooke is smart, yo! So are you for figuring out and accepting that running isn’t necessarily the best form of exercise for you.

Nancy

Thanks Bari. I wish that i was good at it and loved it like you, but I just don’t. These old joints just can’t take it and I’m okay with that finally. I know that you are going to rock your marathon this weekend. I can’t wait to hear all about it.

http://www.ThisMomsDelight.com/ Tami @ This Mom’s Delight

Walking counts! My kiddos ran the 5K this year with their Cross Country team and the general public. I told them next year I’d do it with them. One of my kiddos, of course asked, if they’d allow me to walk! LOL Yes, I’ll probably walk my first year. However, running in public is one of my fitness goals!