Running: My journey so far.

Happy Easter everybody! Sorry I have been MIA for the past few weeks. Blogging has just taken a backseat to...well, life! I'm back though, and here is my running story.

I did it.

I ran 3 miles, without taking a single break to walk or rest.

I loved it.

Two months ago, if you would have told me I could run a 5k I wouldn't have believed it. I had written it down as a goal- but that's all it was. A goal, a dream. When I signed up for my first 5k and began the Couch 2 5k plan, I couldn't run half a mile! WOW that program works. I used the C25k app up until week 6, and then since it was just running miles, I decided to (loosely) do the same thing on my own. 

Only went to Week 6 on the app.... But I did the rest on my own (;

I ran up through Week 6 on a treadmill at the local YMCA. It was just way too cold in the Illinois weather (and sometimes too snowy!) to comfortably run outside. I highly recommend starting on a treadmill! While it is boring, you can watch TV or get some reading done during the early weeks of the Couch 2 5k program. It is also nice to know how many miles you did-so you can brag to all your friends (;

For the past week, with temps in the 40's, I've gotten the chance to run outside. WOW, it's a little bit harder! However, I discovered, much to my surprise, that I love road running. I love smiling at people, feeling the breeze, and the sense of accomplishment that doesn't come from the treadmill. I see why people call it the Dreadmill now...

When I ran those three miles, I pushed past the little voice telling me to slow down or walk, to cut out the last part of my run, and I just did it. I believe they call the feeling I experienced a runner's high. I felt like I was on top of the world. When I looked down at my ipod (I have been running with nike+) and saw 3.02 miles and 28 (TWENTY EIGHT!!!) minutes, I was ecstatic! I have never run that fast in my entire life. I had beat my goal pace for the Mother's Day 5k on the very first time I ran a 3 miler!

I think you can say that I have officially fallen in love with running. (:

My running shoes!<3

My first official 5k is the Sprint for Spastics and it is a week from today- I am so pumped.
I'm hoping to come in under 30 minutes, and that 3 mile run makes me very confident in that goal (:

Wish me luck!!

-Emily

Goals.

Sorry I have been MIA for the last week or so. I was having crazy sugars and had to adjust some things with the pump... I was high enough to throw up a couple times, so I've been focusing my time on my numbers and then getting caught up at school. #teenagediabeticprobs.

Anyways......

I have always looked up to those people who can run for miles and miles just because they love it. I've always wanted to be one of those people, but I've never really.... done it. Now's my chance. Things with school are slowing down a tiny bit (without marching band) and I'm antsy to DO SOMETHING with my life. My blood sugars had been way off for about a month, when I finally made the switch back to the pump and started really putting the effort in to care about my body and my numbers.

A great number! I'm doing better! (:

I've decided that I'm going to run a 5k. I'm doing this to prove to myself that my body isn't broken, and to show others that I'm strong despite having a difficult disease. 

I'm using the Couch to 5k plan, using the app "C25K free" on my iphone. 

I'm working out at the YMCA three times a week. I'll run a 5k (or 10k if I'm ready) in June. 

However, I don't want that race to be the end of my journey. My ultimate goal is to run a half marathon in September of 2013. 

I'm looking into the Indianapolis Women's Half Marathon. 

When I run the half, I will raise money for the American Diabetes Association through their fundraising site. 

I'll be blogging about my running journey over the next couple of weeks (:

Have you ever run a race?
Do you have any helpful tips for someone just getting started?

What has been your favorite race, and why?