Here's my entry for Saturday Sky this week.
She Who Is Not A Runner somehow managed to run her first 5K this morning.
I thought I had done really well, too, until I looked at the list of 60- and 70-somethings that came in before I did.
Still, fairly respectable for a first outing at age 54.
My goal was to run, not walk, and to not hurt or tear or break anything.
I succeeded, and I'll take that.
The group I trained with and ran with - the Artemis Fitness RoadRunners - made all the difference. Only a few of them are pictured here. Some dropped out of the group and others couldn't make it to the race today.
These ladies are awesome.
And getting into the right shoes also: night/day difference! My advice: Don't read stuff online or in a magazine and try to figure out what shoes are right for you. Go and get assessed and fitted at a sports shoe store with staff who know what they are doing. Turns out, I need a highly structured shoe, which is exactly the opposite of what I had been going for all these years. I am sad about the many dollars and the many years of trying to run wasted on the wrong shoes for me -- it is such a personal thing -- and also trying to run without having coaching.
The coaching was worth its weight in GOLD.
I am so glad I joined this gym (this week was my first anniversary there!) and this little summer running offshoot of the gym. It has been SUCH a positive experience.
I might even run some more -- you never know!
I'm hoping to get back into running once my baby is born. I feel like such a slug just doing dog walking no matter how far some of the walks get.
Posted by: Seanna Lea | Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 05:19 PM
Yay! You're back. Go Norma.
Posted by: Sara | Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 10:48 PM
Raising my hand! I remember and miss Saturday Sky!
Congrats on the run. :)
Posted by: Marilyn | Sunday, August 25, 2013 at 05:58 PM
You go grrl!!! How exciting to run your first 5K. I'm impressed and excited for you.
Shoes are KEY. Well fitting shoes ARE worth every penny. I did the same when I decided to get back into walking. Between walking and pilates I've never felt better. (well, at this age, anyway)
Posted by: margene | Monday, August 26, 2013 at 08:38 AM
Big yes to structured shoes and to competent running stores! As a girl with high arches I've always needed a stability shoe to help keep my pronation from causing me problems. I recently invested in a pair of Newtons that I am absolutely in love with.
Posted by: Theresa | Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 10:03 PM