My Very First 5K: Life Goals

Yesterday I ran my very first 5K. But my running journey can be traced back as long as I can remember.

My step-dad was a runner. I remember him getting up early and training hours for marathons. Us traveling with him to different cities, sleeping in hotels while he ran. I did not want to wake up before dawn and run.

I remember being forced to run in high school and hating it. One of my best friends in high school was a runner. I still didn't want to be a runner.

For some reason in my mid-twenties I decided I wanted to run. I lived in a condo complex in San Diego that had a gate on either side. Not even a mile. I couldn't even run to one gate...at sea level! Nope still not a runner.

Then one day.....


At the end of August 2015, I had knew for certain that a relationship I was desperately perusing had come to an end. I went home, really wanting to be alone, but instead of crawling into bed, I grabbed my sneakers and started to run. I ran to be alone, to heal and to make my body feel something it hadn't before...my willingness to push it.

In January of 2016 I moved to Denver. My apartment just so happened to be right across the street from one of my newest friends. She was a runner and a few mornings a week we decided to run together. She pushed me to run my first runs without stopping. 1 mile. 1 1/2 miles and then 2.

When she mentioned that her favorite 5K in Denver, The Hot Chocolate 5K was coming up and asked me if I wanted to do it with her, I was very nervous. I'd never ran that far in my life. I said yes....and began to train. Remembering how much I loved pushing my body and mind to do something I was exited about.

Come race day October 1st, 2017, I had practiced my 5K 7 times. All on my treadmill. I'd never run on the road throughout my entire training. As we stood in the corrals, ready to run, I was relaxed, excited and ready to run. I'd told myself I'd done it before....and we were off.

The run started off crowded for the first mile. Spectators waved and that made me pumped! Mile two was a bit more spread out and it reminded me of our first two mile run together and I got a bit nostalgic. I was so happy she was the one by my side again.

On mile three we could hear the announcer and the crowds. She told me to RUN and though I was trying to video my finish, I ran with all my heart and crossed my very first finish line! I still can't believe it happened! It's because of my best friends, that I even tried this scary thing!

My only goal for the race, was to run the entire thing without stopping. And I DID! Of course I wanted a good time and I was really happy with my time....though next time I think I could do better! I am more happy to have crossed something off my life list that I never EVER thought I could or would do! Bring on the next 5K!

What is something you thought you'd never do but DID! Share with me in the comments below!