Race Day! (5k)

On February 8, 2014 I accomplished a goal for ME! Since you've read the post about it HERE when I ran the 5k in our neighborhood I was even more excited to run it on THE big day! This was the day I was waiting for since 4 months ago. This was the reward of it all. The original plan was to run it with Jennifer and Josh but Jennifer decided to switch to the 15k (since she's running her first marathon in April) and so I was going to run it with Josh. With a lot going on, Josh chose to wait and attempt it another year. So that meant just me. Alone. Running with no one beside me to distract or encourage. Talk about leaning on the Lord! As my flesh was trying to anxiously make me a nervous wreck the only passage I could think about was Hebrews 12:1. Run with endurance that God has set before me. God is with me. He is always there. He's trained with me the past 4 months. God is SO good. Keep going. The Lord enabled me to do this and will provide my strength and peace. 

Can I just say...He IS SO GOOD! He did. He ran WITH me and I had SO much fun! There were so many others running and it went by so quickly that as I saw the Finish line I couldn't help but have these crazy all over emotions. I wanted to cry (which I quickly had to shape up bc it might have sounded like I was going to have a heart attack with my breathing), smile as big as the crescent moon, jump with excitement that I DID it, search to see my family waiting for me (in the freezing cold!), and I can't even explain the rest. It was completely and totally worth it! Race day WAS the reward of all the hard work! It was a day I never want to forget!

Me and Jennifer before the race! 

 In my Corral (c) While the family was inside staying warm as long as they could before I finished I was glad Jennifer stood with me on the sidelines to cheer me on and get me going. I'm telling you, it makes such a big difference when someone is encouraging. What a great reminder for everyday life and who the Lord places in your path to lift up.

It was cold waiting but perfect running weather!

Here we go! (Behind the pink jacket)

 Flexing my awesome muscles before I started! ;)

Thank you Mom and Dad for coming to support me!! I'm so proud you were there! And for the sweet and thoughtful flowers! 

Notice my hot chocolate bowl. Yep, it's empty because it was delicious and had to share. ;)

Beautiful flowers from my parents

The BEST family that supported and loved on me the whole day! 

And thanks to my Mom and Dad, they are SO thoughtful and bought me this bracelet as a little reminder that I can accomplish anything I set my mind too. I love it! A bracelet with a charm engraved 5K and on the back it has the date. The beads look black in the picture but they are actually purple (my birthstone color). So now I don't have to sweat in my new jacket all the time! Just kidding! ;) 

And I also need to thank Jimmy and Becky for coming! (Josh's parents) I'm so thankful that they were there to support me and cheer me on. I can't even explain how special I felt to know all of my close family was there to support me and congratulate me on something that means a lot. We even went to lunch afterwards as one big family and it brings much joy to see our families together.

Thank you to everyone who made this day extra special!!

Not a bad place for my 1st time! ;) For some reason I thought I ran it faster than my previous 3.1 in the neighborhood but I guess having a lot of people around me slowed me down and telling myself to take it slower so I don't burn myself out too quickly. However, I ran the entire thing and didn't come in last! ;)