Run a 10k - check!

After my highschool basketball coaches forcing me to run unimaginable amounts I never thought I'd ever have the desire to run without anyone forcing me! Well, all that changed in the past year and I've realized it's a fun and free way to stay in shape and loose a little weight. Last October Jamie Zeller and I ran a 5k together and had a great time. We'd taken a little break for Christmas and I knew I really needed to get back into running. My friend Vanessa Petrea had the great idea to run the Cap 10k in downtown Austin and I just decided to go for it. Vanessa and I ran anywhere from 3-5 miles every weekend and we ran on our own during the week. I never though I'd ever be able to run 6 miles without stopping, but I was determined to finish the race!

Race day was last Sunday in downtown Austin. I was extremely nervous. I was nervous about what to eat before, what to wear, and I think I went to the restroom every 5 minutes just to be safe. It was a cloudy and drizzly day and I was surrounded by 20,000 people running the same race. Once the race started routine set in and I had a blast. Vanessa has been an awesome running buddy and we chatted for most of the time and we met our goal of running the entire way! I had a great time and I'm proud that I actually ran that long!

I know now that I need a goal in order to keep running so we have decided to run a 1/2 marathon in November. Not sure what I was thinking, saying yes to that, but I'm excited about meeting this new goal! Who would have thought I'd become a "runner". A really slow one, but a "runner" nontheless!

What was I thinking?

Hello Friends,

It's been way to long since I've updated you on my never ending journey of living life to the fullest. As many of you know, I am very goal oriented. After completed the ridiculous, wonderful cleanse in January, I realized I need a new goal and determined that would be running a 10k. What was I thinking?

For those of you who watched me play basketball and volleyball growing up, you might be asking yourself that same question. What is she thinking? To clue the rest of you in, running was not my favorite thing, nor was I ever the fastest girl on the court - far from it. The truth is - I want to push myself to do something I never thought I could do (and never really wanted to). Running was never fun for me, but it is starting to become a stress reliever and something I enjoy. Still didn't say it was fun...but it's becoming enjoyable. I also get to spend time catching up with my running buddies - you know who you are.

Last night, I had the lonely task of running by myself. I hate doing that. I'm a little ADD so I get really bored. I found this really awesome song on my ipod and played it 10 times in a row. It really got me in the zone. It's Francesca Battistelli's Unpredictable. So as I'm running I hear the line "So, help me rest in the mystery of what I can't understand" - and I get a revelation of sorts. I'm no very good at "resting". I always seemed to be worried about the future or I try to have the future planned out. This song was such a great reminder that I can "rest" easy knowing that the Creator of the Universe has a great plan for me and I need to stop worrying.

The 10k (6.2 miles) is on April 11...24 days from now. I'm looking forward to it, and I'm a little nervous about running that far on race day! For those avid runners out there - Do you have any tips for me for the next 24 days? I have a training schedule but any advice you could offer would be appreciated!

So, I guess running has done me some good and I'm looking forward to the 10k and to what my future holds!

Send advice and prayers my way!

Lauren