Theresa - Day 9...Imaginary race with a stranger for 3 miles!

I can't believe it...I did 3 miles tonight! That was my plan as I left my house, "I'm going to try and do three today." Well I left "try" at mile 2 and was feeling great! My couch to 5K iPhone app ended just into the start of mile 3. My mojo slowed down a bit as I frantically fumbled with my earphones, iPhone and arm strap to get more music pumping in my ears as fast as possible! This new found energy and excitement was not going to flee...I would not let it. 

As my foot crossed the 3 mile ending point, I took a deep breathe and smiled...REALLY big! 

(I probably looked like a crazy person, but if anyone knew the celebration that was going on in my noggin, they would have understood. I ran 3 miles people!)

While I type this entry I can't help but ponder what made this run so different. Here is my list of why:

• I had my amazing experience with Laura on Saturday.
• I had to work at a health fair all day out at Disney. As I drove there this morning, passing all the Disney exits, I envisioned that it was the morning of the race. I got so excited and began daydreaming about what that day is going to be like and how unbelievably overwhelmed with emotion I will be.
• I thought about my run all day at work as I sat at the health fair surrounded by insurance companies, emergency clinics and health food stores. 
• I wanted to achieve my goal of completing 3 miles.
• As I was running, I was very aware of my posture, my breathing and my steps. I felt very relaxed and my body responded well to that felling. 
• A girl who was about my size was speed walking in front of me. We alternated taking the lead, as I was doing my walk/run intervals. She would take the lead, then it was my little mission to catch up to her. Then she would pass me as I did my 1-minute walk and so on. It was amazing because I forgot I was running and was just trying to stay in the race with a stranger who didn't know we were in a race. 
• And lastly…I truly believed I could do it!

So, as I sign off of this entry tonight, I have a new found excitement for this training, a confidence that I can do this and a humbled spirit that I am able to do this.

13.1…it can be done!