Last week, on Super Bowl Sunday, I SUCCESSFULLY ran my first 5k. That’s right folks, I ran the WHOLE WAY THROUGH!  Now, if you had told me a few months ago, that I would eventually be able to run 3.1 miles without stopping, I would have laughed in your face. Actually, I laughed at myself a few times during the beginning weeks of my Couch 2 5k training program. I DID NOT believe that I could do it.  However, somewhere between weeks 5-7, things started to change. I started to believe in myself.  I started to get the confidence I needed to take me to that next level.  My body was starting to feel different:  Strong.   Lean.  Proud.  

I remember the first time that I was able to run for 24 minutes straight – It was week 7. Holy Shit.  Did I just do that?  I don’t know if it was my Gatorade Pre- Fuel drink or my Eminem playlist blasting through my headphones that got me through it, but I was certain about something. Regardless of the fact that I felt like I was going to barf, I felt AMAZING. That day, I KNEW I was going to run the 5k straight through.  I had only one more week of training. The race would be here in the blink of an eye.

On race day, I woke up with a pit in my stomach.  It was snowing and with the wind chill, it was about 5 degrees.  Ugh. Chicago, why are you being so cruel? As we drove to Soldier Field for the race (http://www.chitownbiggame10k.com/), I told Costa that I had felt the same way the morning we drove to the hospital for me to give BIRTH to Sophia. It was a mixture of anxiety, joy, and dread. 

By the time we got to the parking lot, I was feeling much better.  I looked around as people got out of the cars. Laughing, joking around, some in silly outfits.  “This is going to be fine” I told myself.  I noticed people from all walks of life and people of all shapes and sizes.  I saw a woman who looked to be about 50 years old with an extra 20 pounds on her frame. “Ok, if she can do this, so can you. Get with it Sara!”

Everyone lined up at the START line. I stayed towards the back with the other novice runners.  I looked around. We were all there for the same reason- to add our first (or another) 5k to our list of accomplishments.  Here we go. Go time.

As I ran, I tried to stay in the moment.  This was my first 5k after all and I wanted to remember everything.  I remember how cold it was.  How the snow fell on my eye lashes and melted as soon as it touched my cheeks. I remember how my legs felt like there were disconnected from my body. They had a mind of their own that day. They were there to move; to finish this thing in all of its glory. I remember seeing the back of Costa’s neon green shirt as he ran ahead of me (I felt so proud of him). I remember the girl who was running in front of me and what she was wearing (put on some pants girl! Shorts in February is just cray cray). I remember the point when I rounded the back of the McCormick Place and could see Soldier Field in the distance. “Ok, I am getting close. It’s gotta be less than a mile now.”  I was losing my stamina.  “Keep running.  Whatever you do: DON’T STOP. You trained for 8 weeks for this. PUSH YOURSELF! You got it! ” The internal dialogue in my head was my biggest cheerleader that day.  

Finally, I saw the finish line.  I saw people with cameras taking pictures of me and all the others who were approaching that glorious line.  I saw Gatorade and water waiting on the other side.  I saw family and friends waiting for their runners. 

I saw my feet cross the finish line and lastly, I saw my end time: 37 minutes.