First race of the year and gearing up for the fall.

I'm a wimp in the cold, but I'm starting to get better.  Michigan winters can be rough so I usually wait until spring to run my first race of the year. I started running in 2013.  In 2014, I ran a Mind Over Matter 5K in May.  In 2015, I ran the Cork Town Race in March.  This year my first race was February, I think being a mild winter helped too.

I usually start training a month before a 5K race.  I was increasing my mileage and doing well.  My third week I got sick and I got one run in.  I was bummed because I thought I would have to miss the race.  I already had it paid for and really wanted to run it.  After taking a Z-pak and time off from work I finally started to feel better.  The week of the race I eased back into running and I would run about a mile and need a walking break.  I knew I wouldn't PR, but I felt okay enough to do it.  I'm still breaking in my new running shoes, so I went with my old shoes for the race.

Yesterday, went better than expected.  I thought I'd have to walk most of my race and my time would be around 40-45 minutes and I ran the whole time!  My average pace was a little slower than normal, I'm just happy I did it.  I ended up getting a custard paczki at the finish line.  Hamtramck is the place to go for them!  Lazybones has a maple bacon paczki, they are amazing too.  I'm getting sidetracked on food... oops.  

Anyways, I finally realized to not be ashamed of my running times.  I know I'm not the fastest runner and some people would probably put me in the jogging category, but who cares.  I'm a fast walker normally and if I'm going faster than my walking pace then I am running.  I would like to beat my best 5K time: 35:29, it will happen eventually.  I know running isn't just about beating your time every race, its about having fun too!

This year my focus will just be keeping a consistent pace for races/ running in general.  I know a person's 5K pace is faster than a 10K, half marathon, & marathon pace.  If I break any PRs for shorter distances, great if not I always have next year.  For my first full marathon, my main goal is to just finish the race.  The Grand Rapids Marathon has no time limit, but they want you to keep moving.  I may need walking breaks but I'm going to try to run the majority of the time instead of a run/walk technique.  For now I'm just working on my base miles and some fun races before I start doing intensive training at the end of June.  

Next month I have two St. Patrick's Day races.  Last year I wanted to bring my dog to the Cork Town race, but she was spayed and I didn't want to rip her stitches.  If I would have been able to take her running with me before the Paczki run, she would have came with me.  One of my goals this year is to take my dog to run a 5K race. She loves other dogs and running.  Don't worry, I'm not one of the runners that just leaves her dog's messes on the ground,  I always have dog waste bags on me.