Random catch up post

In an effort to keep up with my blog, my good friend Mende and I have decided to hold each other accountable to staying caught up with our blogs. I hope to not just "review" my week, but this week has been so crazy, it's all I can do to keep up!!  I imagine I'll be posting many catch up posts for the things that are going on in our lives.

Two weeks ago, I ran my first race, it was only a 5K, but for me it is the start to a new chapter in my life.  I started running last summer with my sister-in-law in an attempt to try to get into shape.  I have never been a runner, never enjoyed it, or actually ever even tried it.  So Betsey encouraged me to get out with her and start running...we started with a "shuffle" and then upped it to a slow jog/walk routine.  As the summer wore on, I was up to about a mile (I know, not much) and then I hurt my foot. 

So I took a break until January of this year when I went to Dallas with my Mom on a business trip; we woke up early each morning to get to the exercise room to be the first ones on the treadmill.  I thought I was doing great running each morning at a whopping pace of about 4.5 on the treadmill...insert laughter.  I returned to Wheaton and convinced Jeff that he needed to add me to the couple plan at the Wheaton College fitness center and started going each morning to the indoor track.  Soon I graduated to the treadmill and then before I knew it, the winter was over and we were headed back to MN.  I ran off and on throughout the summer and then hurt my foot and back again and was out. 

We came to Peru the middle of August, and finally the end of September I was able to start up again...I really never knew how much wear and tear your body takes from running, it seems I just get into a routine and then get hurt...such is running.  Finally, on October 30th I ran my first official race, the McDonald's 5K.  It was so much fun!  My goal time was to run the race in 30 minutes or under...my official time was 30:36!  Just 36 seconds off my goal.  I now know what to expect, what it feels like to race, and how to better pace myself.  One of the highlights of my experience was that I started the race and ended the race with friends!  Some of the teachers in the boys' school were also running, and now we've set a new goal for ourselves, we are all going to run "La Vuelta a San Isidro 8K" next month!!  Viva Peru!