My First 5K – First Race Link Up
| January 27, 2013 | Posted by Carrie under 5K, Biggest Loser, Running |
I got to thinking last week after watching the Biggest Loser and cheering on the contestants who ran their first 5K. I remember my first 5K. It was August 2010, a trail race close to my home.
It was a challenge. We ran on horse trails, it was hilly and dusty. I knew exactly where I was having grown up riding a horse on those same trails, but running them seemed to take forever.
As I rounded the last turn, my family was standing there cheering for me. I welled up with sappy tears of joy. I did it! It was such a huge feeling of accomplishment. There were many times during the race that I had to give myself a pep talk and repeat over and over “you can do this”, “just keep going”, “you’ve got this”.
Every time I think about that race, I’m reminded of how awesome it feels to set a goal and to accomplish it. Unfortunately, I ran that race just weeks before I started blogging, so I don’t have an ‘official’ race recap. But the memories are right there, vivid in my mind and they keep me going in the races I still run. I’ve since run that same trail race in 2011 and 2012. Each time it’s still challenging and I still have a tremendous feeling of accomplishment when I finish. It keeps me coming back for more.
I know there are many runners and walkers out here in blog land that do have blog post of their very first race. I wanted to open up my blog today to everyone to link up those first race posts. I know many of you it’ll be a 5K that you blogged about. But, for others like me, maybe you started blogging after your first race and your first race recap is a different distance. Whichever it is – I would love to read everyone’s first race experiences. I’m linking up the recap of the second time I ran that trail race.
I’d also love to inspire anyone out there who is thinking about signing up for a race – do just do it! Don’t feel pressure to beat a time, or win an award. Get out there go.
Link your first race recaps here…. I’ll keep the inlinkz link up open for a while to allow the word to spread and lots of posts to be shared. Please spread the word and then come back to get inspired.
My first race was a 10k this past fall. It was killer, but felt so amazing to finish. Thanks for the link up!
Sylvia @ Frolic Through Life recently posted..LosingIt!
Wow! You started with a 10K, I’m impressed. Thanks for sharing.
My first race was a 5k I ran solo…I can still remember seeing my dad at the bottom of a HUGE hill which led to the finish line!!
I love the image of you seeing your dad. Thanks for sharing.
Great idea! and what a source of inspiration for so many!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Just Breathe
I love the line RUN YOUR OWN RACE so so so true.
now I need to sign me up for a race
Miz recently posted..Leave margins.
So much gorgeous territory near you – so many options – - go!
Great post – we were watching that episode too. And call me a pansy – but my wife and I both got a little emotional as they crossed the finish line. So awesome. There is no greater feeling than accomplishing your goal. I think that’s what I love most about running, it’s very rewarding.
Jim recently posted..Thanks, A Sell-Out, & A Good 45 Miles
Biggest Loser may not be the answer to all our obesity problems, but there are so many good things about the show and so much inspiration. I love that they ran a 5K and did it early in the season instead of the marathon at the end. This way people can see that you don’t have to be in amazing shape to get out there and run a 5K.
I wish could find the pics from my first 5K. Sadly it was before the digital age. My first race after my mastectomy and recovery was the most important to me. It made me feel like I was starting over again and make an amazing start to another chapter in my life.
Andrea @ fromfltond recently posted..A Smoothie and a Giveaway!
That would be a wonderful memory. What a great way to open a new chapter. Congratulations!!
What an awesome idea, Carrie!! I started running years before I started blogging, so i don’t have a recap to link up, but I’ll help spread the word!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast recently posted..8 Tips for New Runners
Thanks Laura!
Linking up to my very first half!
I started blogging when I started prepping for my first fitness competition
Kierston recently posted..Defining My Strength…
Congrats on your half and thanks for linking up!
My first 5K was also before blogging, but I’ll never forget it! I ran with my sister and one of my good friends. After that race, I was hooked!
Erin (Running Tall) recently posted..2013 Goals – Personal
It’s like good crack, huh? I love the excitement at the starting line.
Fun! My first race was a marathon in 2004, so no bloggy recap for me:( Didn’t start blogging until many years later:) Great idea Carrie!
rachelle q recently posted..I Have a Confession and Perky Pecs!
Seriously? Another first race marathoner? Wow!! What made you do that as a first race?
My first race was a 15k. It wasn’t a big race with lots of sponsors, so there were no shirts or medals, but crossing that finish line felt amazing! After that race, I decided I wanted to do more, and I have since done a half-marathon and a 10k.
Thanks for hosting a link up!
Tempie @ The Texas Peach recently posted..5 Things I’m Loving Right Now
Thanks for linking up. I’m so impressed with the stories of people running their first races at longer distances than a 5K. Wow, 15K is a pretty big commitment.
My first 5k was so long ago that I would never find anything on it – in my 20′s.
Yes, I love my weights but way back then, I did them but more cardio & actually ran 5ks for a bit & did OK… Now I just do what I do that is best for me & no more races here… 
Jody – Fit at 55 recently posted..Comment on Gratitude Monday & Hubby’s Gratitude
How interesting to see how your passions have evolved. You still do some running, though? Just not racing.
My first race, the Mayor’s 5k in Abilene, Texas on April 10, 2010, was the start of an amazing journey that I didn’t even know I was starting.
You see, I weighed around 350 pounds then. I was incredibly out of shape, but I knew I wanted to be healthier. The race was hard. My joints were in severe pain. I thought I was going to die. But I pushed on. I felt awesome.
This was the seed that was planted within me that maybe I could lose weight and be healthy. However, that seed remained dormant until September later that year. I finally decided it was time to make a change. I started eating right, I started exercising, and I started my blog. More than two years and 125 pounds later; I am healthier than I have ever been, and I’m running in my first half marathon this weekend!
Sufficed to say that that episode of The Biggest Loser hit home. I cried tears of joy for those contestants. They have planted the seed, and it’s starting to grow.
Nathan – you are inspiring. Thank you for sharing your story. Good luck this weekend! Your first half marathon is a huge thing. Awesome job!
I love this idea, too bad I didn’t blog when I ran my first in 2002. My first was DIsney Marathon, yep I jumped right in!
Jen recently posted..Food & Running: Stir Fry & A Hill Workout
Wow! A marathon was your first race!! That’s amazing.
What a great idea – just linked my report! It was a 5K after completing a couch to 5K plan – I remember such a sense of accomplishment when I finished!
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted..Winter doldrums
Thanks for linking up Michele. I’m so surprised at how many people started blogging ‘after’ they started running. Maybe they go together?
[...] are linking up a few days late to Family Fitness Food’s My First 5K – First Race link-up. But we love the topic so we still wanted to [...]
What a great idea! I wasn’t blogging when I ran my first 5K, which was at least 10 years ago. Gosh, maybe more like 12 or 13. I really don’t think blogging was invented then. LOL I took a 6-7 year break from running though…I should look to see if I have a recap somewhere of my first 5K in recent years!
jan recently posted..Ghosts
When was blogging invented? Now you’ve made me curious.