Friday Fit Club: Completing a 5K

This past weekend I 'ran' the Run For Your Heroes 5K sponsored by the Raleigh Policy Department.  Although everyone seems to think I can run, I can verify (and past posts will back me up) that I am not a runner.  However, I would love to be a runner and be able to just go out in the morning for a run.  So, several weeks ago I joined a Couch to 5K program through the Cary YMCA.  A group met every Tuesday with a running coach and several running mentors.  Slowly but surely I was able to increase my distance until I was able to consistently 'run' a 5K for about 3 weeks straight and on race day I finished with my personal best time!

The run was not easy.  It was hard to maintain my personal pace with everyone passing me.  It was also hard to see little kids sprinting past me.  But with my headphones in and my playlist going I slowed myself down until I got to the halfway mark.  I then picked up my speed a bit trying to get a good time, but also trying to make sure I would not burn out too fast.  When I turned the corner and saw the finish I began to sprint I was so excited... I quickly slowed my pace when I realized I could not maintain that through to the finish and then picked it up again when I was about 4 blocks away.  Crossing the finish felt really great and I was able to pass people on my run to the finish, which sort of felt like redemption for the start of the race.

I need to disclose that I am a very slooooow runner, but at this point I am just happy to have completed the race.  The next hurdle will be the Lawyers Have Heart 10K in Washington, D.C.   The good news is that I 'ran' 4.5 miles earlier this week and felt great.  I will also continue training at the YMCA on my own.  My goal is to just finish the run without walking, which I have never done in the past and even though I know some of those 'fast walkers' will be passing me, I will just turn the headphones up and run my own race!

Fashion: Let's Update my Look

I recently began receiving subscriptions to Cosmo and Elle magazines and I am following Rachel Zoe on twitter. These influences, along with the fact that I feel pretty good about myself these days has led me to want to update my look. The problem is that I have had a lot of trouble finding trendy clothes that look good, fit well and are age appropriate. Banana Republic, J-Crew and Ann Taylor can only do so much and are not as trendy as I would like. Express and Limited are ok, but in my head I am looking for the cover of Elle! So, in an attempt to expand my boring wardrobe I tried to shop at the department stores. The problem is that I am finally admitting to myself that I am too old to shop in the junior section (well, let’s be honest… those shorty-shorts really did the trick). So off to the ladies department where I found many older old ladies shopping for frumpy outfits. I then proceed to mope around the mall in the hopes that I will find something, anything that I sort of like. I did see a shirt on a mannequin outside of Hollister that I really liked. I entered fearing that I would be laughed at, but under cover of darkness I am not sure anyone could really tell my age. I quickly found the shirt and grabbed one two sizes up from normal (since there clothes are intended to fit Barbie, and not a girl the size of Barbie, actually Barbie). I proceeded to hold my breath and find my way to the register – victory… one shirt. Hasn’t everyone seen that 30 Rock episode, #true.

After declaring the mall a complete waste I felt defeated. I thought I would have to buy everything online and then deal with returning everything when it inevitably did not fit until… I decided to try out the local boutique. I pass Gigi’s Boutique every time I go to the grocery store. I always like the clothes in the window, but for some reason I always felt a bit scared of boutiques. I think I have been scared that I would not be able to afford the clothes or not be classy enough and the salesgirl would peer down at me like a child. But with the realization that I can no longer shop in the junior departments equally came the realization that I am no longer a child. I also realized that the department stores are not inexpressive! Encouraged by these thoughts I entered the boutique to find a very friendly salesgirl who helped me fill my dressing room. I tried on pretty much everything and left with several outfits. Mission accomplished!

If I want to buy relaxed or inexpensive clothes I will stick to the outlets or Old Navy, but for everything else I am going to skip the heartache of the mall and head straight to the boutiques. Hopefully I can hit these boutiques when traveling and build an ‘awesome’ wardrobe that Rachel Zoe would approve of (for me anyway).