Fresh starts. I am the Supreme Imperial Majesty of Fresh Starts. Back in school, I was the girl who believed all my academic shortcomings could be solved by a clean and organized binder, a shiny new pen, or a purple backpack. Studying never occurred to me; the fresh new angle to the problem was enough to solve everything. (Spoiler alert: it wasn’t; I dropped out of college in my junior year.) I might be the granddaughter of one of the greatest generals in the history of the United States Army, but I did not inherit his work ethic. Grandaddy does not have a procrastinate-y bone in his body whereas my entire body is made of procrastination. Awesome.
Fresh starts, though. It would appear I *did* inherit Grandaddy’s “nevah quit” attitude. I mean, aside from quitting school. I totally quit that. But everything else? When one fresh start doesn’t work, I create another. And another. And another.
Fresh starts. I registered for my first 5k. Did I tell you that yet? It’s on. May 20th. Like, THIS May. Like, I will be running five k’s along Alki Beach. I’m so excited, y’all. And a little scared. Because this means I need to avoid all fresh starts between now and then. I can’t quit running and then start up again the week before. I have to move forward, running forward, every day until I’ve met this goal.
When I first set the 5k goal, I felt good about myself for exactly 11 seconds. Then I panicked. Hard. So I texted my friend Will and begged him to run this 5k with me. Because one of the weirdest things about me (and something I’m working on, honestly) is this: I can let myself down; I cannot let down a friend. Cannot do it. So I texted Will so I would have someone to hold me accountable.
And Will isn’t just any someone. Click his name, y’all. This dude is an ATHLETE. He’s training for an Ironman, which is all the running/swimming/biking in the WORLD. He’s hardcore. So he’s essentially slumming it with me, to help me meet my goal. But he gets it. He gets that the most important milestones start with one fresh start, the one that takes, the thing that pushes you to keep going until you get the job, cross the finish line, until you can jump up and down and dance your ass off in celebration. He gets it. So maybe he’s slumming it with me that day. Maybe he already has a 16-miler on his training schedule for May 20th. Maybe he also is supposed to swim 2.1 miles. This amazing man decided my goal matters enough to fit into his already crazy athletic and demanding day.
He’s a good friend. He bought me a birthday shot (liquid cocaine: Jager, 151, and Goldschalger) that knocked me on my ASS. Plus, he speaks my love language: high fives. Please to see how we sealed the deal on our 5k plan:
So this is happening. This is the time for doing, not the time for a new fresh start. One foot in front of the other. Step by step, mile by mile, one day of running bleeding into the next, and the next, and the next. This is happening. And there is nobody with whom I’d rather run my first race.
What fresh starts have you made lately? Any tips for a first-time-5k’er?
Pantsless in Seattle 
Fun post! 5k’s are such a good first race and you have plenty of time as long as you stick with a running schedule. I am not expert but try and run a few days a week, 4 at most since you will be doing shorter distances at first. No matter the distance, allow your body to rest at least one day. Try and mix up your routine, if you do a flat run the first week then try mixing in a little bit of hills the next week. Since you have an iPhone already (your pic gave it away), I suggest downloading the Nike+ GPS app. It’s .99 I believe and it will track your runs for you so you can see your progress, routes, calories burned, pace etc.
I noticed we have a similar mentality, you said “I can let myself down; I cannot let down a friend. Cannot do it.”. I actually wrote a sentence pretty close to that in my last post. Use it to your advantage, find a friend that wants to run and commit to each other, accountability partners are fun and useful.
Have fun, Alki Beach should be a beautiful run in May!
Thank you so much for your support! I spent some time on your blog today and I like it. I’ve added you to my reader. 🙂 I’m excited to meet this goal and to see what other goals come after. Looking forward to reading more of your words!
You? Are going to rock that 5K. I already know.
You? Are one of my inspirations. You have been amazing in the last year and I know you started small, just like me. One run at a time. 🙂
Wooo!! I am so excited for you :]
!!!! Maybe after this one, you and I can do a 5k together?
Maybe I should plan a trip to WA to watch you cross the finish line on May 20!!!
I love this idea. And I would LOVE to play tour guide.
I’m so proud of you. I hate running. 🙂
But you are an amazing dancer, lest we forget my Great Zumba Freakout. (PS: I’ll be returning to Dance Underground soon. We can dance together!)
Good luck! You’ll do great! I was also hoping to run my first 5K after I got the hang of running last year, but then I screwed up my knee and even walking long distances is a bitch. Happy knee thoughts to you!
Thank you for the happy knee thoughts. I’m begging my body to cooperate because we need this, Body. We need to make this happen.
5Ks are tons of fun. They’re short enough that they’re not complete torture, but long enough that you feel like you’ve really accomplished something when you finish.
I know it’s sooner than May, but the St. Patrick’s Day Dash is my favorite 5K of the whole year. People dress in all kinds of crazy costumes and there’s beer at the end! And it doesn’t feel as competitive as other 5Ks I’ve been to. It’s just a really good time.
So nice to see your face on my blog, lady! Have you heard of the Color Run? You end the race painted rainbow. It’s the weekend before the West Seattle 5k. If I weren’t busy that weekend, I’d be there. It’s on my list for next year. 🙂
Good luck! Before you know it, you’ll be doing a 10K. Then a half-marathon and a full marathon! And after each race, you will say it was so hard, but you’ll keep signing up for more! (It happened to me).
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