She runs... or at least tries to run...

This spring my sister called me and wanted me to participate in a 5k event she was going to do up in Midway and I said "Sure, 3.1 miles will be no biggie, I can do it!"  And then I totally let the mind talk set in and I gave up long before I actually started training.  It all started with how can't I train for a 5k in several weeks (which was really between 6-8 weeks, plenty of time for a couch potato like me to get ready...)  and then other converstaions I had in my head consisted of how hard it was for me (the fatty as I refer to myself regularly) to run, and that my skinny little sister didn't understand what it took for someone who is literally 40 lbs over weight to train for a run like this, and then I convinced myself I didn't want to slow her down and I didn't want to be left behind, and then eventually I gave up altogether on even pretending I would do it with her. 

I went to the cabin the weekend of her race because who wants to miss out on any cabin time, not me...  She got up in the morning with her hubby and went down to the start line and about 25 or 30 minutes later I decided I needed to hit the store for something inconsequential and on my way I passed the Homestead where the FINISH LINE beckoned to me.  I pulled into the parking lot, jumped out and hoped I wasn't too late to see my sister cross the finish line.  I was so excited for her (and more than a little ashamed of myself for giving up) and when I saw her jogging down the fence line and into the parking lot I just cheered and cheered!  I was so proud that she had set this amazing goal and accomplished something I didn't think I could ever do - and that was the minute I was so inspired that I decided I COULD DO IT!  I'm so thankful and so grateful that I have such an inspirational woman to look up to (even though she's the little sister!) and I hope she knows how much those few minutes at the finish line of her first 5k meant to me! 

Fast forward a couple months to August 11th - I DID IT!  With Becky as my inspiration and my sister-in-law as my running companion (ok, she can really walk fast to my run, it's those disgustingly gorgeous long legs of hers...) I crossed the finish line 47 minutes after I started my first 5k.  It too was in Midway and started just down the street from Centennial Park, headed 1 mile up Memorial Hill and then 1 mile back down and finished at the park.  My goal was to get below the 40 minute mark, which I obviously didn't make, but more than that I didn't want to finish last and I'm pretty proud to announce that I finished 18th of 34 in my age group and 91 out of 162 overall!  WOOT WOOT!  I'm so happy that I didn't let the mind talk stop me on this (I honestly don't think the sil would have let it, she just pushed and pushed to make sure I would get this done!) and I'm grateful that even though Kiersti could have finished so much faster than my 47 minute time she stuck with me right up and through the finish line!

Here we are before the big race.  This picture is terrible of both of us but hell,

it was early and we were having fun...  Don't judge ;)

Thank you so much Kiersti, I really appreciate you being there for me right up til the end! 

And to my sweet little sister ~ thank you for being such a huge inspiration Becky!  I really would not have done this without you to look up to!  I'm so sorry I wasn't there to run with you when you asked me to be, I'm full of regret for missing out!  I hope we get to run a race together soon and I hope to kick butt on my 47 minute time with you by my side! (it would be even more amazing if we kicked butt on your quick 34-35 minute time!  at least I think it was around 34-35 minutes wasn't it???)  You are awesome sis!