it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
So tonight we did something exciting. And I didn’t tell y’all about it before hand because I wasn’t sure.
For the last 2 years, we’ve walked the 5K at Southern Lights. It’s awesome. All the Christmas lights are out. Just awesome. And for the last 2 years, we’ve said that the next year we’d run it.
Nathan has a problem, though. He gets very focused on running. I’ve passed him on the other side of the street before, waved and yelled, and he hasn’t noticed me. So we had decided to walk the 5K again this year so we could enjoy the lights. But a few days ago we decided to run after all.
I was full of nervous energy all day. I tried to think of food as fuel. I thought about what I would wear and how I would pace myself and everything. I was ready.
We pull into the horse park and were greeted by lights!
The run was neither easy or even fun. Lots of rolling hills. My legs were like lead. We kept playing leap frog with these girls who would walk up the hills and then run really fast down them. But I didn’t walk a single step. And I cut a minute per mile off my usual pace. (I’ve gone back to see my best time and I don’t know how I ever managed that.) We finished at 36:59.
We walked around for a while – looking in the gift shop and such – and I finally stopped feeling physically crappy and was very proud by the time we got back to the car.
Here’s my number!
And here we are after!
Now it’s time to lather myself with my Lush massage bar and watch Grey’s.
but, just cause I love ya, here are moments from past Southern Lights 5Ks.
2008 it snowed and was beautiful! It was also much colder last year. (Isn’t his hat adorable?)
2007 -I don’t guess I wrote about it. But he still has his winter coat. And he was wearing contacts that year. No link for you. I’m bummed. Sorry.
We are also going to run another 5K on Thanksgiving morning. T-shirts are first come. Entry fee is a can of food. I think it should be flatter. I’m excited.
I think I can call myself a runner now!
Krissie! Congratulations!!!
That sounds so great to run with the lights! My husband and I are running a race together on Thanksgiving – Turkey Trot 5K. I’ve run two 5K’s this summer, but my husband has never run one and doesn’t really run. He’s in good shape and will probably smoke me, but I’m excited anyway.
I have to say I was excited to hear your time. I’m just barely starting to think of myself as a runner again, too, and that’s really close to what my times have been on my 5K’s. If we lived closer together we could be running buddies and we’d run about the same pace!
Anyway, I wanted to congratulate you and say I’m glad you guys got to do that together. I don’t have anything important or pithy to say…. just that.
Have a great holiday season!! Keep up the awesome work!
You are such an inspiration!!! You go!!!!!
Girl, LOOK AT YOUR FACE in those photos. Talk about seeing progress right before your eyes! You look ten years younger, and I know you’re feeling awesome. Go you!!
Krissie you look FANTASTIC, you can really see a huge difference in the photos. Congrats to both of you, a great accomplishment!
Wow you look great! Congrats on the first 5K. I’m getting into running recently too, though no 5Ks anywhere in my near future!
Wow. I feel inspiration whispering at me…no, it’s practically shouting. Now if I could just listen….!
Great job:-)
Krissie! Congrats girl! and you look fab!
WAY TO GO! :)
I leap frog almost all of my races these days for the same reason you do. I run EVERY STEP even when it sucks a lot…and I will pass people that are walking and then running later. Sometimes I feel like I’m not making any progress – or maybe it’s that in those times I feel especially slow.
All I know is that when I run every step, I feel so proud of myself when I’m done.
I am very proud of you (and Nathan!) for running the whole thing! :)
Oh! And I’m running a Turkey Trot too! :)
Congratulations! That is a time to be proud of too, especially on a hilly course!
How completely awesome for you! Your accomplishments in the past year have been nothing short of amazing! May I say that I follow (anonymously) a number of blogs and think that yours is, by far, the most down-to-earth one and inspiring to read. You come across as an “everyday” kind of person and when you see results – well, it inspires me to do the same. I love the fact that you find such joy in the simple things in life!
Thank you for taking the time to share your life with us. Your determination to be healthy is what keeps me going. :o)
Agreed with FB–your face looks so different! You can really see your progress. I like all the nearly-identical pics you and your hubby took each time; you guys are too adorable!
Congrats Krissie, looks like you had a blast and your time was awesome! :)
Way to go, Runner Girl!!
Just wanted to say that you are showing great consistency with your running lately and it’s paying off! Looks like a great event, I wish I had something like that here to kick off the holiday season!
You are for sure a runner! And you and the hubby are incredibly cute. Sounds like a great race!
You are so freaking awesome! Go you!!