Bella Vista 5k

A family tradition, we just added a new member to our family and it was great way to kick off Labor Day weekend. Hurricane Issac decided to blow it's way into our area which meant lots of rain but it turned out to be more like misty rain. It rained all day long on Friday and all night long. When we got up this morning to get ready to go to the 5k event. I wasn't sure if it would happened due to the weather. It was cloudy, blowing hard wind, plus it was raining like crazy but sure enough right before the race was about to begin the weather decided to clear up. Thank goodness, miracles still do happened!

 

I'm almost 11 weeks postpartum, I finally decided to start working out again about two weeks ago. All three of my older kids started school and it was the perfect time to get my butt into gear! I spent the first week walking around Lake Bella Vista. I didn't want to injured myself, because I'm prone to hurting myself especially my knee and feet! So, this week..I decided to keep walking but I added one running day to my workout rotation. My walking buddy's are like special grandma's to my kids. Eunice and Jo were on stroller duty. They walked around the lake with the baby while I went for a run all by myself. I did three miles around the Lake Bella Vista in about 45 minutes. I felt really good after the run and decided that I would attempt running the Bella Vista ward 5k community event. This will be our 3rd year running this event as a family.

 

Logan expressed interested in running a 5k back in May when the kids ran in the Bentonville Gold Rush 1k/5k race. Logan really wanted to run a 5k but I wasn't really sure if he was being serious or not! You know how wishy-washy he can be about things. I decided the Bella Vista 5k would be the perfect time for him to see if he likes running or not because it's FREE! Well, it wasn't the greatest experience for him. He didn't not train for this event. My friend Regina caught up to him at the race, she stayed with him for the last mile which I really appreciated. She was worried about him, running on the main hwy back to the finish line. He was running all by himself. I thought, I would run next to him but he was too fast for me. Logan kept complaining to her about how it felt like the race was a 100 miles long. He couldn't of been happier to get it over with. I'm not sure if he will run another 5k but I'm glad he gave it a try. Plus, the biggest reason so he could earn two tickets for screen time.

 

Landon is a natural when it cames to running. He did a good job as well. His finish time was 29 minutes, he ended up with a side cramp which made it hard for him to finish the race. His last race back in May he came in under 26 minutes. He was a little bit bummed about his 5k time but it's a super hilly course. I'm so proud of Logan and Landon!

 

Here comes, the poor me story about me just having a new baby and running my first 5k since having baby Leilani! Originally, I thought that I would run the race and push the baby in my jogging stroller but the weather was super crappy outside. At the last minute, I had to find someone to watch Leah and Leilani. Sure enough, I found someones husband to watch my girls. The baby just felled asleep and I told Leah to sit next to her and watch her for me. Soon after the race started, Leroy was able to make it to the race after all and he took over watching the girls. I was so worried during the race that the baby would wake up and be a nightmare but it worked out. She didn't wake up until the end of the event. It all worked out perfectly. The course was hard, super hilly. I couldn't physically run up the hills. I'm way too weak. So, instead of giving up...I suck it up and decided to walk all of the hills. I thought for sure I would be the very last person to finish the race but I wasn't. I could of other people finished after me. I did beat my time which I set out for was to finish in under 45 minute. I came in around 41 minutes. This was probably my worst running time every but you know what I'm still proud of myself. I think most people wouldn't even try to run it but I did it! It's not about the time you get but crossing the finish line. It feels good just to do it whether your the first person or the last person to cross the finish line. I'm hoping to start running in more races, hopefully by November I will be running a half marathon.

 

If running the 5k wasn't bad enough. Leah wanted to run in the 1k for the little kids. She wanted to run with her. It wasn't easy, my legs felt like lead but I did it. We finished together at the finish line, well she came in before me. I'm so proud of her.