And when I moved to California- I didn't need to walk to work, I had a car, I slipped into exercise videos and 5 yrs ago- when my mom died...I stopped even that. Life gets busy.
But I still wanted to do the 5 k. This year is a big year for me. I AM 40. Its been 5 yrs since mom passed, and I REALLY WANT TO GET INTO SHAPE. So in April I picked a 5 k a month out - The Susan G.Komen on May 7th, 2011 and did the first step-TOLD EVERYONE . A lot of people said great good job, GO FOR IT! A few even said they would run with me! YAY! One faithful, brave girl decided to TRAIN with me. Actually Nellie isn't just a girl. She's my running angel. The first day I forgot my inhaler. And almost passed out.Literally! Nellie chose a great trail path that is paved and runs around lovely grasses - we even saw a coyote a few days ago!!! I saw those grasses wave and lurch...oh geez am I outta shape I thought! I barely walked a mile. I thought I was crazy. I knew I was crazy. The rest of the day I wheezed like an old cat and coughed up phlem...and remembered my inhaler the next day. Yup . I went again. Additionally, I kept going. I was not fast at first. I walk almost every 1/2 mile - STILL. It is a goal to maintain speed consistently, and get to running the whole way...step by step, I keep running...jogging..pushing. I started counting 1...2...1...2...little Riley- Nellies daughter has been imprinted so much she counts like that when she pushes HER STROLLER .....poor baby...cute though! And we ran. Two days I ran by myself . Once I ran with my husband. And our best timed day was two days before our race....but that really was only part of it. I am here to say that part of the training was getting to finish that 5 k, but part of me began to change...in my head. I crave the run now . I look forward to it. I still do not run perfectly...but oh how I love that feeling of accomplishment I get when its done. So many times I have cried big fat tears on these runs. I have cursed and yelled at Nellie- to her credit she yelled right back..shes actually more like running angel warrior....The big day loomed and everyone dropped their race plans with me except Nellie. Our babies stay home with their daddies so we could be warrior women.
THOUSANDS were scheduled to appear . We decided to be true go getter types and got up SUPER EARLY to get there before 6:15 . We beat the crowds . And stood around and waited. and watched There was the zaniness of the breast cancer awareness groups and then there was - all the professional runners in their cute little outfits and tight little bodies and precious little mercury speedy type shoes....doing crazy mantra type poses that I couldn't even do for seconds- much less for long MINUTES. I admit I was envious of their skill...I would love to be somewhat like that someday. We got asked if we were doing the walk. Nope we are here to run...we may not be like the "gazelles" (pro runners) but we were going to be part of the timed RACE. So Nellie said we are stay alivers..I like it. We are. We stay alive. We keep moving . We show up each run day and suck in some air and sweat and get all red faced and we ROCK THAT RED FACE! Something about Miss Nellie. We have been in the same Church congregation for 4 years and I have just gotten to know her through running...and it should have been sooner...she is awesome. We have many similarities and maybe because she is so very nice, we get along.We all know I can be a bit too much at times ;) And and added bonus our two gorgeous daughters play very nicely together! here are the pics of the race!
nellie and i are so cute pre race- all naive! look at our happy smiles! 
nellies grandma
yup thats some of the 22,000!!!(we are in the front!)
we so did it!
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