Chapman 5K...

So I know I'm nowhere near what some people are doing in the world of active-ness right now. My GAWD. I read some of my friend’s updates and blogs and my mind is blown. Triathlons, Ironman Races, Hell one of my co-workers placed 1st in the Chapman 5K for the women. HELLOOOO!!!!!!
So, I need to tell myself, what I'm doing is good for me. Just me. Its ok Jami, you’re not going to be doing any 80 million mile bike rides anytime soon. I'm so very happy I'm not as competitive as I used to be. Now I'm just inspired. It's truly amazing what these friends are doing. And I have quite a handful of them too. (I know at least one of you is reading this Ms. Kickass). But seriously. Insane what these folks have accomplished and just keep friggin going. I look forward to more blogs and updates and news on them probably running/biking around the world at some point here soon. Keep it up my friends - you all are fucking amazing.
But let's come back to me.
As you all know from my past blogs, and those of you who just know me. Yes - I'm athletic. Yes I'm pretty fearless. Yes I like to sign up for the weirdest shit. But no, I'm not in the most amazing shape. And yes, I'm very broken/busted. The tumor on my foot is extremely painful and we all know my knee woes. (Although I'm starting to wonder, if when I do get surgery, maybe a robo knee will be like a superhero thing!!!) Plus my awesome back injury likes to throw its opinion into the mix quite often. But that doesn’t stop me. It does slow me down though. Alot.
I'm smarter now. I know when not to over-do it. (Ok most of the time, not all of the time). My accomplishments are baby ones and that is probably what work best for me right now. I mean hello - not too long ago I was quite the partier, smoked a pack or more a day and exercised when I felt like a fatty that usually lasted about a day or two. Then I'd overdo it and completely fuck myself up. I also loooooved to eat at about 2am. Now I'm a little better. Yes, just a little. I've quit smoking (a feat in of itself), I eat sort of better, I exercise regularly and I drink...well I still drink, but not like before. My party days are now what I like to call grown up party days. On a school night with few exceptions I'm in bed at a decent hour, and I curb my drinking to just a couple of glasses instead of a bottle.
But I've completely gone off the subject. I'm supposed to blogging about the Chapman 5K. I'm realizing I may write another "working on life changing" blog later.
Chapman 5K.
I signed up for this only because I work there, it was free and I'm trying to be more involved there. I also figured I'd just walk with some Chapman peeps and call it a day.
Well, as the day came closer the people I was going to walk with slowly started dropping off. I've made more acquaintances there, but alot were actually going to run it so they were out. The ones that were going to walk with me were either now working check in, or bitching out altogether. So the day came and I had no buddy.
When my alarm went off in the dark of morning - do you know when this is??? The time before the sun comes up when your body is saying "Why the fuck are you getting up at this ungodly hour on a SATURDAY??!!". I'm not gonna lie - I about bitched out myself. It was free, who cares, I had to work the beer garden from 1 to 5 anyway, grumble grumble. Well - I did it. I got up, showered and headed over in the dark.
It was bustling with people and excitement, so I found one of my running coworker friends and chatted with him while we stretched and got ready. I have learned to use Pandora on my scary phone, and had this little arm thingie that could hold it. So I told myself - "You did most of beach palooza alone, this will be a nice test to do it completely alone". So I did.
I stuck in my ear buds and zoned out the people around me. The race began and I heard faint cheers as the herd started to move. The start line was shooting off white confetti in the air as we ran through. It was awesome. I did jog this 1st part, mainly to get away from the crowds. We ran thru the Orange Circle and into the neighborhoods. We started to space out, and at this point my knee started to scream, so I fell into my very brisk power walk. I ended up in a great rhythm that I didn’t stop. I had on the Flogging Molly Pandora. Can I say how perfect this is for this little Irish Girl to power walk in my own little world to?! Especially when they sing the warrior crys!
We hit the 1st mile and I started noticing that I was passing alot of people. Including these little tiny bitchy college whores in their little bitty shorts who pranced passed me earlier. Now they were all tired and dragging. HA BITCHES!!
Sorry. Catty moment.
There were random people along the route that had wandered out of their houses to watch or cheer us on. Not many, but a few. My favorites were a group of about 8 women in their 50's-ish with mimosas cheering us on. Another was a little old couple standing on their porch, and as I neared, the little man whipped up a trombone and was playing little tunes. That was a little bit of awesomeness right there.
As I passed the 2 mile mark, I was floored at how many people I was passing. I know I walk faster than the average person. I can’t run for shit without my foot or knee acting up, but dammit I can walk the shit out of races!! I was quite impressed with myself that I didn’t let up. I was focused, in a nice little zone and trekking along.
When I hit campus we rounded the corner and there was a whole crap load of peeps cheering and what not. I got excited thinking I was at the finish line, so I started to run again. Bad idea. I sailed thru campus, but we turned back onto a street. My knee started to swell and pretty much gave at that point. I fell back into my walk, but as per usual when I did finally spot the finish line, I had to run across it. So I did. Yes I was limping, yes I probably shouldn’t have, but I did push myself a bit too much. I high fived our Panther Mascot as I stumbled over the finish line.
My knee was swollen and screaming and my foot was starting to throb. But I felt great. Busted or not I felt fantastic. I grabbed my oatmeal and juice, shot a pic with my co-worker and headed out to clean up before coming back.
It was interesting how I felt. I know I'm never going to 1st, or probably even in the top, but I'm doing great for me. I'm steady. Slow and steady wins the race right? I like these baby steps. I'm trying to find ways to handle more. My therapist wants to kill me, but she works out my scar tissue and has kept me out of surgery thus far. I have ortho things in my shoes now that are hopefully going to quiet down the fiery tumor. I'm also noticing I can last longer, and heal better. Grant it I had to opt out of my boxing class tonite due to alot of pain waist down, but I'm learning how to slow down and not kill myself. I also did the race in 38 minutes. Best I've ever done! I do walk pretty damn fast! :)