Saturday, May 4, 2013

We did it!

Chris and I ran our very first 5K race last night!

We joined a local 5K training group back in February. I was intimidated at first, but everyone I met was really nice, and we all had the same goal. We even met two ladies who live in our neighborhood! We run with them on the weekends sometimes, now.

We trained for 12 weeks, and let me tell you, there were days when I really really wanted to stop. Shin. splints. stink.

We started out running 1 minute and walking 3. We finished our 12-week session running 5 minutes and walking 2.

Now then, I figure I've rambled enough. It's time to let you know the results!

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I ran 5/2 intervals with another lady in my pace group. We ran a lot faster than our training pace (around 11:00-12:00/mile vs 13:00/mile), and our intervals got a little off toward the end. We ran 7 minutes and walked up the last small hill so we would have some juice left for the big finish.

I ran my very first 5K race in 41:15! I placed 8th in my age group. 

My goal was to finish in under 45:00. My previous personal best for a 5K distance was 43:59 during training.

I'm really happy! As Chris tells me, I "shattered" my previous personal best! I thought I would be wiped out after the race last night, but I ended up feeling really pumped up for the rest of the evening. Gotta love those endorphins!


Now for Chris. I'm so proud of him! He has never really been in poor shape like me, but I dragged him along in this training program. I simply informed him we were doing it, and I'm not sure that he realized that I meant we are actually doing this! I'm so grateful to him for his support. I don't think I could have done this alone. (Surprisingly, to me at least, we were one of the few couples who did the program together.)

Chris trained in a faster pace group than I did. He and one of his coaches ran the entire race together. (I saw him running back down the course towards the finish when I was about, I don't know, just past the 1/3 point? Speedy Jones, right there.)

Chris also ran a personal best in his first 5K race. I think his previous personal best was around the same time as mine, since we train together on the weekends and he accommodates my pace when we run. 

Chris ran his very first 5K race in 30:43! He placed 3rd in his age group and won a prize!

It was the Cinco de Mayo 5K, so his prize was salsa. (It's a perfect prize since Chris loves salsa!)

Today, I'm stiff and a little sore, but I'm so very happy. Back around New Year's, I thought to myself that I would like to run a 5K, but I didn't tell anyone because I figured this resolution, like many others, would fizzle out. When I saw the 5K training program online, I almost decided not to do it. 

I'm so glad I did. 

Moreso than getting in better shape than before, this program reminded me that I can do things when I set my mind to it. 

I had forgotten that.

Of course, I'm signing up for the next session to improve my time. My next goal is to run a 5K in under 40:00. 

It will be hot. 

I will gripe about it. A lot.

But it will be worth it.


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

In Between

Well, this week is the week! Friday is our first 5K race! Chris and I have been training since the beginning of February. I'm so glad he let me drag him into it.

It's been rough at times. Surprisingly, it isn't asthma troubles but shin splints that are holding me back. But no matter what my time is, I will finish Friday's race!

As far as crafting goes, I've made another little owl, and I plan on making a third to complete the set. They're just so cute.

I sliced my finger open pretty badly last week, and I'm just now where I am able to knit again. Trying to hold out an index finger really throws off your form. Who knew?

Our green beans are really taking off, too!

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But we're supposed to have another (!) freeze this week! And we all thought it was going to be decent from the last (late!) frost out. I guess I'd better get some tarps. The blankets we used last time didn't seem to help the yellow peppers much. They've got some brown streaks on their stems, although that didn't pop up 'til this week, so I'm not really sure it is from frost... so much to learn!


Sunday, April 28, 2013

Felt Fun

I found some really cute felt at WalMart recently.

Lookie lookie!
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Cute, huh? I can't decide which of the bottom two is my favorite.

When I bought my knitting pattern books, I also ordered one with felt projects: Happy Stitch.

I decided to make the owl on the cover first. There are templates for the projects in the back of the book at reduced size. You're supposed to scan/copy them and blow them up, but I just traced the pattern as it was printed in the book so it would be a good Christmas ornament size.

Pre-stitches


Mid-stitching


Stuffed and Stitched

I changed my mind about the buttons.

Hanging up
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There lots of other cute patterns in the Happy Stitch book. There are patterns that are actually supposed to be ornaments, but making the other patterns in a smaller version opens up a lot of options for these patterns.

I think I'll make a few different sizes of the owls in different felt combinations to make a set of ornaments. They'll make a cute ornament set for a present or for our own tree.