Time to answer that all important question that literally nobody has asked “What have I been up to since SoBe Tri other than avoiding my blog?”. Quite a bit actually….

BAA 5k

After my victorious (last place) race that was the glory of the SoBe Tri, I had another race I was really looking forward to a couple of weeks later. The BAA (Boston Athletic Association) 5k on the Saturday of Marathon weekend has quickly become one of my favorite races despite the fact that I’ve only done it once before. Patriot’s Day Weekend is my favorite weekend in Boston and I always try to go back for it. The 5k gives you all the excitement of the Marathon but you don’t have to run 26.2 miles! Last time I did this race there was a lot going on and tho I didn’t have a fast time, I definitely loved every minute of it. This time I was more prepared. I ended up getting a PR! and I can’t wait to do it next year. It was a fun race! and I totally deserved the two donuts after.

everyone stops for selfies at the finish line! the 5k finish line is another 1/2 mile down the road

The Longest Mile

May found me heading to Texas to support a friend who was doing an Ironman. An Ironman. That’s doing a 2.2 mile swim, then a 112 mile bike and THEN run a marathon. 26.2 miles. after doing all of that! what?! I can’t even imagine it. I can imagine climbing Everest. Without oxygen. In flip flops more than I can imagine myself doing an Ironman. So kudos to those people! (btw, my friend killed it like it was nothing. Jerk face). One of our stops on the way to Texas,  I found myself having to do a run. It’s funny what being around someone who was so utterly prepared to do an Ironman does to your own psyche. If I were on my way to do an Ironman I’d be curled up in a ball softly moaning. Just moaning? Well yes, I’d be all cried out, vomited out, pooped out by the time the race was that close! I’m sweating a little bit now at the thought of it! But my friend was just all chill and though a little nervous, it didn’t really show. He carried himself mostly with an “yeah, I’ve got this” attitude. And it rubbed off on me just a little. I headed out of the hotel with my run/walk plan in mind and started running. And then I just kept going! and going! I ran a whole mile! was it fast? hell no! was it easy? hell no! Did I want to just run into the Buffalo Wild Wings whose parking lot I was running through and shove some wings down my gullet? Hell YES! But I didn’t. Suddenly I just thought of my friend doing his Ironman and I kept going. It seems so silly given how long he’d be running (after swimming and biking insane distances) but I was so proud of myself. And I cried (such a dork). This huge milestone was completed. Only took me like 3 years but whatevs. and then BAM, I ran a marathon! just kidding. I just gradually (and I do mean gradually) just keep building on that. Some days are for sure better than others!

so not a good picture lol. but that’s the picture that happened. sweaty, freckly, wrinkly, HAPPY me.

so, my mile is done. It’s been almost 4 weeks. I’d like to say that it’s gotten so much easier and I’ve run SO much further. But that’s not the case at all. Some days are good, some days are bad but I just keep moving forward. One awkward step at a time 🙂 Hey, maybe I’ll even do an Ironman someday….(oh god, I need to vom)