Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Woohoo... 5K!


Ok... those strawberries don't cost $5000 but don't they look fab? The first big haul from our garden this year. Organic, grown right outside our backdoor, strawberries.

So if they strawberries aren't 5K then what is? Well friends, you may want to sit down to hear this. I ran 5K this morning! Yes, a miracle has occurred. The earth shifted on its axis, worms turned over in the ground, the sun broke through the clouds and I actually ran 3.1 miles, in a row, with no walking break. Never, never did I think this was possible when I started the Couch to 5K program last January. Today I'm proof that anyone, and I do mean ANYONE, can do this if I can. I was the girl that couldn't run around the track once in elementary school because I couldn't breathe and got a stitch in my side. Today, it's official, I can run. Even sweeter, S also ran 5K. He made the target earlier this week.

This week was (supposedly) our last of the 9 Robert Ullreys podcasts that we've been using to train. This week all three of our runs have been 30 minutes long. Let's just say that S runs a bit faster than me so he made the full 5K in his first 30 minute run. Me, not so much. I ran a little longer on Monday and then today I ran about 34 minutes and got in the full 5K.

Can you tell I'm pleased?

I won't lie and say I enjoy running... I don't really ... but I don't hate it either. I do like the fact that I definitely feel, and am, much healthier. It's great to know that I won't get completely winded just going down the street. I just imagine my heart and lungs doing so much better now. I figure this is important since our hearts and lungs decline with age and you know I'm not getting younger (hitting this goal is especially sweet as my birthday is Friday... got there before my birthday... yeah!). I like to think of this as my little strategy to extend my life expectancy. Mine is currently 92 years ... have you calculated yours yet?

Between exercise and good eating, why shouldn't I get all the way to 100 after all? And speaking of good eating ...


This here little garden is going to give us some wonderful goodies this summer. That giant bush there at the front, butternut squash. It has just grown like crazy in the past week -- it must like 100+ degree heat. Our cucumbers are growing and growing and we have tomatoes on the vine now. And this morning...


Yep, our cauliflower have started to set heads. We aren't really sure we'll get to eat this given how hot it's gotten and given that cauliflower, we now know, are cold season veggies. We'll keep our eyes on these girls though and maybe we'll at least get appetizers even if we don't get full grown mama cauliflowers.

So for me and S, it's more running and more veggies. Pass the cucumbers Martha; we're organic, healthy, and getting better looking every day!

=]

7 comments:

meg said...

Look at that gorgeous garden! I haven't been able to get started yet this year, so I have major garden envy.

And congrats on running 5K!

Linda said...

Well done on reaching the 5K target, thats fab! I used to run but injured my foot so can't do it anymore. I have to cycle, which is good though!

Carrie said...

Congratulations!!! I still don't think that I've run a whole 5K, it's quite an accomplishment. Great looking garden, too--you're way ahead of our Northern climate.

Anonymous said...

Your garden looks fantastic...congrats! Like meg, I am having major garden envy, and wasn't able get our garden started up this year.

Congrats on the 5k, too!

Ally Jay said...

Well done. It takes a lot of effort to reach such a goal. Be very proud of yourself.

Anonymous said...

i am so impressed with your running, and your garden!! we've had a few weeks without much rain here, but only one of them was warm, now we're back to cold winds... i tried to put out some courgette plants that i started in the house, but one after the other just died outside, not sure what's wrong with them. the stem gets pale and thing and then the whole thing just shrivels up... maybe it's still too cold. some of the pumpkin and cucumber plants that i planted into soil rather than pots are still alive though. must go out today and take some pictures!

Macoco said...

Congratulations on the 5k!!!!! I am a total convert to the couch to 5k program too. I never thought I could run until I found that program.
You should be extremely proud of yourself!!!