I started training to run a 5K back in mid January. Mid-January I went from being pretty much sedentary, to getting my body moving.
During my training I learned all about pace, heart rate, strengthening your core, etc. I worked hard, lost weight, gained energy and confidence and felt better about myself than I honestly could ever remember. Running made me feel strong, competent and mentally tough. I was happier, more focused, my marriage was strengthened and I became a better mom…all because of running.
I ran my first 5K race on April 14th and again… as much as I can’t believe this is me saying this… I loved it. I loved the feeling I had when I was done. I loved being able to say I finished and ran the whole way. I loved the sheer amount of emotion that overcame me as I gathered together with hundreds of other people to do something good for our bodies, minds and souls. I, at that moment, loved running.
2 weeks later, my trainer I had been working with left the gym I was going to and I broke 2 toes on my foot. I felt a bit lost without my trainer and the toe breaking thing was a major setback. I obviously couldn’t run, so what did I do? I stopped exercising and being active all together. Since April 14, I have ran 4 times… and it’s been hard. I’m not loving it. I’m not able to run as far and as fast as I was, but I remember how good it felt to be able to say “I’m a runner” and to have the strength and endurance to do this. I want to feel that way again.
The fearless Red Faced Runners in our Super Hero socks (not in order pictured): Cindy from Once Upon a Loaf , Dara from Cookin’ Canuck, Amy from She Wears Many Hats, Bridget from Bake@350, Lori from Recipe Girl, Katrina from In Katrina’s Kitchen, Robyn from Add a Pinch, Carolyn from All Day I Dream About Food, Krista from Budget Gourmet Mom, Shawn from I Wash…You Dry
I have been so blessed to have found my virtual running team through a silly little comment I left on Twitter one day about being a “Red Faced Runner”. Other “red faced runners” came forth, and over the last few months, we have found strength and support in each other, even though we are all thousands of miles away from each other. Each of us is at different stages of running, run different speeds, have different running goals… but the most important thing is we cheer each other on and support each other. Something, I believe, you definitley need if you are a runner.
We want to pull YOU into our fold. Are you up for it? Let’s train and run a 5K together! I would love to have you join us.
On September 8th, we have all chosen 5K’s in our own towns to run. We’d love to encourage YOU to run with us! Pick a 5K in your hometown and let’s train together to do it! Are you in? Good!! That makes me happy!!
To find a 5K race where you live visit Running in the USA or Active.com. Once you’ve chosen your race, will you please come back and tell me which one you are doing? Also, please share your progress as you go along and I will do the same. We’ve created a Red Faced Runners 5K Challenge hashtag… tag any photos or tweets with #RFR5K 🙂
I am so lucky to have bumped into Cindy from Once Upon a Loaf during my journey to running. She is a brilliant, kick butt runner who is all about helping the rest of us get to the level we want to be. If you are a running newbie or as experienced as they come, I guarantee you can learn from Cindy! She has shared a GREAT post over at Dara’s site (including a training plan) that you MUST go read. In that post she hammers out her top 10 tips for running and shares incredible bits of wisdom for runners at all levels.
Please leave a comment on this post if you plan on joining our challenge. I’d love to keep in touch and keep tabs on each other throughout! I know it’s scary and you are probably thinking of all the reasons you CAN’T, but trust me… you CAN!
It’s all about support… I’m glad to have yours and can hopefully be a source of support for you as well. Thanks all and happy running!!
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SO proud of all of you girls!! You can do it!! xoxo
Thank you!!
Such perfect timing! I just completed week 1 day 1 of C25K today!
I’m so excited to get support from you guys…….I need to get moving!
That *is* perfect timing! Glad you’ll be joining us!
i am starting my 3 day of c25k today, its great to actually do something for myself and not for my family
Yea!! Me too; I’m doing day 2 today. This is probably the 3rd or 4th time I’ve started it, but I’m determined to follow through to the end this time!
Okay, I love that you have Cindy’s tips listed in the notebook. They are definitely points to be committed to memory. I’m so glad to be doing this challenge with you!
That notebook is my brain and those tips need to be in my brain, for sure!!
You are so inspiring, Dara!
Gary Spruill would be so proud of you!
I hear him screaming in my ears when I’m out there running 😉 Kidding. Yes, he would!
Oh, girl you know I’m ALL over this. See you at the finish line!
Yay!!!
Hi! i am on week 3 of c25k and just came across your story. my sis-in-law and i are both doing it and we are going to run our first 5k in september, Meatball Madness 5k. kudos for getting fit and inspiring others!!! count me in!
Oh my gosh – perfect timing! I am so glad you are finding inspiration in others (and have a partner like your SIL to keep accountable with!). How have you liked the C25K so far?
i love the program! it really is for beginners and pushes me just enough. i am getting stronger every day and that is exciting! i also have added some yoga and pilates dvd’s for the off days.
I just started my second week off the Cto5k today…this post is a perfect fit. My goal is to run the Freedom Run on Sept. 8th.
Yay! Congrats on week 2! How do you like it so far? It is such a great program for people like us!
I love how you wrote out Cindy’s tips, too! 🙂
Reading your post really made me remember the emotions from my 5k. Right now, I’ve been running while cursing the heat & humidity. I need to get back to that JOY that came with the 5k.
Love our little RFR group!!!
It was such an emotional day, wasn’t it? I need that high everyday! 5K a day challenge? 😉 hehe
This is so perfect since I just started getting back to running. I’m in for sure. 🙂
So glad to have you in!! I’ve enjoyed your running pics on Instagram. They are so motivating!
This is so great! Congrats to you all! I got back into running Jan 08 thanks to all the wonderful blogs I read. Now as a former “I’m just not a runner” I have completed 4 halfs, something I never dreamed possible. I’m still slow, but completely hooked on that race day feeling. I’ll definitely be running some races this fall and will begin using the tag. Love those socks!
Oh my gosh, Lori! That is HUGE. 4 halfs since Jan 08 is amazing. I’m very proud of you!!
We’re so happy to have you join us!
I LOVE this challenge, and I am SO in!!
Woo-hoo! So happy to have you as a part of our group!
This is so fun. What a great group. Very motivating!!
Thanks, Cassie! Will you be joining us? 😉
I am thinking about it!
Ok this is wonderful.. I just finished my first week .. great inspiration!
Maddie
Oh good! Perfect timing then. Will you be signing up for a race? We’d love to have you join us!
The other Naomi says I’m out for doing the 5k challenge, but will be following along with you guys as I get back into shape for a 1/2 marathon in September!!
That totally counts – a 1/2 marathon! Wow! Dara is training for a marathon. I can’t even imagine either of those at this point!
I will likely NEVER be a full marathoner. I just can’t see myself doing ANYTHING for that long (outside of being on an airplane for a flight!) — 🙂 Y’all should hook up with the AMR group (Another Mother Runner) … they are awesome women that started it (Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity) and the community they have begun is inspiring. http://anothermotherrunner.com/
I just registered for my first 5k!! I am on week 1 day 5!! and yeah…I’m more in the “almost dead to 5k” kind of runner but the first day…I was HOOKED…I am so excited (and very much a red faced runner)!
That’s how I was, Mandy. Almost dead to 5K! In fact my trainer said if I could run a 5K by the end of our 8 weeks he’d train me twice a week for a year for free. I thought I was going to be getting free training 😉
Glad you are joining us and welcome to red faced runners 🙂
I seriously love those Wonder Woman socks! I think I may have to consider those for a race in the near future. Someone once told me that running was the easiest thing to get into the habit of doing and the easiest thing to get out of the habit of doing. On days when I don’t want to run, I think about that. It’s a discipline. Congrats on getting back at it. I’ll begin to train for my first half this fall. It’s just too hot to run farther than a 10K in the south in the summer -IMHO. Good luck to you!!!!
Aren’t those socks awesome?? I would love to get a whole group of people together to run in those socks!!
I’m totally going to put that quote up on my wall, for sure! Thanks for sharing and thanks for the luck 🙂
I don’t want to run, I hate it with the passion of a thousand suns…I have tried and tried to like it! I have run 5ks, 10ks, and one triathalon and hated it all.
But do want to say that you should get in the pool while you have the broken toes. It’s a great way to keep up on the exercise without having to put stress on your body. And with summer here there has to be a ton of water aerobic classes out there!
Good thinking on the water aerobics. That would have been a smart, non-lazy way for me to get off my butt for sure!
Let’s do it, Kris! After all I fit rather well in that red-faced runners group. 🙂
Yes!! For sure! I need to figure out a race for that day / weekend!
Kristen, you would laugh if you saw me run. I literally get tomato red in the face. I am the epitome of a Red Faced Runner! And I am so glad that we’ve all be able to keep you going in the absence of your trainer. How are those toes doing?
You bring me joy. I seriously love “running” with you 🙂 And how adorable is it that you wrote Cindy’s tips on a journal page…LOVE!
Great group! Good luck and have fun! I would be all in if I was pregnant.
So fun, Kristen. I really need to stop being so sedentary myself. As a former runner, I know that high of finishing a race. Way to take charge of your body.
Oh I love this! Go girls!
I know the “I love running” feeling and I’ve been truly missing it.
Woo hoo! Hoping one day we can run side by side with our funky socks.
Keep up the good work – it’s so cool that you guys are encouraging fitness both in the kitchen and out.
I posted about a week ago about my entry into the world of running – also via C25k. I’ve been at it for about 8 weeks, although I’m on week 7 of c25k ’cause I had to repeat week 3 when the jump to week 4 was too big. I’m a wee baby, weeny, SLOW runner. Rockin’ a 16-minute mile. 😉 ha.
I have signed up for 2 races – Aug 25 and Oct 6. So I’m in.
I use the app RunKeeper, and you can join friends’ street teams and cheer each other on, see workouts and encourage each other there, and via FB.
running post: http://my3boybarians.com/2012/06/oh-hello-there/
I’M IN!!!!! Last year I started running & went on to run a bunch of 5ks, 10ks & started training for a half. Then was hobbled by plantar fasciitis in November. Since then I’ve ran maybe 5 times. & I miss it. Just like you said, I feel all lost & miss that whole “I’m a runner!” thing I had going there for a while. Thanks for this!! So happy to join in!!
I also went from being a “I am not a runner” to completing my first 5k via C25k two years ago. I loved being able to consider myself a runner! Last summer I broke my arm and quit running and haven’t gone back to it. You gals were just the “pull me up off the couch” I needed! Getting started tonight! Now to go look for a 5k nearby in September!
Kristen,
LOVE this that you guys are doing!! I’ve jumped around 3 blogs so far reading all the BUZZ!! Remember I told you the running history my hubby and I have when we were in NYC? He was inspired watching me cross the finish line of my first 5K (back in 2004), and he went on to complete the couch to 5K as I had done. I was super proud of him as then he went on to 3 marathons, several halfs and a half Ironman triathlon.
Well guess what!? After 4 years of a running hiatus he and I are back at it…this time TOGETHER. We are on week 6 of C25K, and it’s been so great actually training together….finally we’re at the same level at the same time. We’ve even been going on our runs together with our iPhones on, earbuds and each listening to our own C25K app on the same running day.
We are running a 5K August 18th, and this will be the first time we run the same race!! I’m SO excited!! It’s been so nice getting out together for 30 minutes 3x a week….a mini-date. It’s so nice now that our oldest is old enough to babysit for us (this time around!)
Back in 2004 I had my eye on a 10K and a half marathon. I got up to 8 miles in my running. 😉 I’m thinking about those goals again, but not sure about the half…definitely can see a 10K in my future though.
SO excited to join in the FUN with you guys when I saw the first post this morning. Now maybe I’ll have to find another 5K to do on Sept 8th.
I’m in! I started C25K in August last summer. I had never run other than when forced in organized sports and I found out I love it. I feel so great after finishing a run. I’m addicted. I ran all winter and spring and was doing between 20-25 miles per week. I was running 5 miles 3 times a week and then doing an 8-9 for my fourth day. I had set my sights on a half and was doing so well. Then last month, I developed runner’s knee and it has really set me back. I’ve had many other aches and pains and have run through them but the runner’s knee has really made it tough. So yesterday I started a strengthening/stretching workout each morning in addition to my cardio in the evenings to get my legs back to feeling great. Super excited to be a part of the group.
Oh and I forgot, I am definitely a red-faced runner. Have always turned bright red with any exercise. Glad I’m not the only one.
I did really good running 3x a week for about 6 weeks and it made me feel so much healthier (mind and body). Then I got sick, then traveled, and again, and traveled, and got sick again, and again and then moved. I’ve completely lost all the endurance I gained. I’ve been wanting to start back up again now that we’ve moved to a place that is gorgeous outdoors (I prefer to run outside), but it has been so so hot. 104 today and still hot in the evening. The whole thing is making me very discouraged. I printed off the training program and hopefully it won’t stay this hot all summer so I can get started. Thanks so much for sharing this!
Also, not only am I a red faced runner…I am a heavy breathing runner. Some people just look so light and easy and effortless when they run. Ha! Not me! I am hot, stinky and dirty!
Kristen!
You are such an ENCOURAGER!!!!
Yeah!
I started the c25k the other day inspired by Amy and Bridget!
Would LOVE to be part of this challenge!
The Athleta Iron Girl 1ok/5k Race is here in Seattle on Sept. 9th!
How does that sound!
I’d be a day later than you girls!
xoxoxo
YEAH!
Thanks for inspiring!
So so sad about your broken toes. Ouch!
Oh!
Where can I get those CUTE socks?
Must have!
I’m in, signed up for the Warrior Dash, August 18th. I downloaded the suggested app for my phone and I’m going to start tomorrow. Thanks.
There aren’t any races here on September 8th! What a bummer! I’m looking for 5ks around that date to sign up for. I’ve been running since January and have been making very slow progress. I ran my first 5k earlier this month in Colorado (where we were visiting at the time), but it seems that the heat of Arizona (where we live. ugh!) has zapped my running! I definitely need a training plan and the support of others to keep pushing myself! I bought the socks and can’t wait to join in the fun!
Yay for running! So proud of you and all of the red faced runners! I will have to sign up for a race in September…and maybe run with Caleb:) Pushing the stroller is a whole new ballgame though, especially up the hills:)
This is awesome! It’s a week before, but my best friend and I just decided to run the Rock n’ Roll mini-marathon (5k) in Virgina Beach on Sept. 2. We’ll be stalking the Red Faced Runners for inspiration! 🙂
Fine! I will do it! I need to get my tooshie in gear. I’ve been thinking about this for a while, but I really need someone to keep me accountable. I already have running shoes from my last attempt, but I need to get the C25K for my iPhone since I don’t have my droid anymore. It’s so hot hear…I might be running at 3am to beat the heat. LOL!
Thank you so much for getting us motivated! We are ready to take this on, but we will need support! 47 and 45 never felt so old. Please tell us we can do this! : )
I signed up for two races and I am so excited!! I have never ran a race before and have always wanted to. This is just want i need. I am so excited.
Yay! I’m in!
… I’ve been in need of and looking for a running support group 🙂
Cheers!
I love to run too. It relieves my stress and it keeps the weight off! I am up to 8 miles and I’m hoping to get up to a least 10 miles. Exercise is so important because it keeps your energy up and boosts your mood!
I signed up for the Iron Girl 5k on 9/9. I’m so excited!!!
http://www.active.com/10k-race/seattle-wa/athleta-iron-girl-seattle-womens-10k-and-5k-2012
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Interesting article, nice training tips, good read and informative.