Since the spring of 2009, I have only run 3 races, all 5Ks. My running has been intermittent due pregnancies and other life craziness, until recently when I have finally gotten some consistency with my running. So I was a little nervous when I hit the enter button for the 10K portion of the Freedom’s Run in Shepherdstown, WV.
The race is in less than 6 weeks which doesn’t give me much of a margin for error in my training. A 10K at the end of October or in early November would be more reasonable, but I can’t pass up the opportunity to run this gorgeous course at a beautiful time of year. My husband ran the half-marathon here a few years back (being 7 months pregnant, I skipped that one) and it was a great time. The next year, I had no fitness level and couldn’t dream of participating. The year after that, pregnant again. Finally, this year, I’m in.
There is a 5K option but I want to see as much of the course as I can and I want the pressure of a 10K. I can run a 5k tomorrow with no problems. It might not be fast but it would be pretty easily handled. A 10K is going to take some training, but I have no doubts I can do it. I ran 4 miles on Monday with minimal walking (less than a minute total) and I have 5 more weekends to add two miles to that. Worst case scenario, this race is walker friendly and I can walk those last few miles in. But I want to run. 
So I have my training plan mapped out, 4 runs a week. And for the next 6 weeks I need to get focused on my calorie intake. I don’t think I can drop 20 pounds by race day but even 5 pounds would be nice. Imagine running with a 5 pound sack of potatoes versus without. I must quell the night time snacking monster that dwells within me. He is my saboteur.
37 days of focus. I think I can, I think I can.
*Photos from Freedom’s Run website. http://www.freedomsrun.org/Course.aspx
fat mom gets fit 