My first 5k!!

I've been reading Runs For Cookies for several years. Katie has lost and maintained a huge amount of weight, is an accomplished runner, and has even appeared on the Doctor Oz show! She is very real on her blog, which I love. All in all, I'm a total fangirl. She's organized a virtual 5k on her birthday the last few years, and I was finally able to participate this year!
My goal on the entry form was to finish in 40 minutes or less. When I first began to dream of becoming a runner someday (around 250 lbs or so) I remember thinking I'd be thrilled to finish a 5k in 45 minutes!!! And actually, when I got back to running after breaking my ankle this fall, I was running very slow 15 minute miles.
When I ran 3 miles last weekend, I did it in a little over 39 minutes, which told me I could step up my time goals for the race. I didn't really have a specific number in mind, I just knew I wanted it to be faster than 39 minutes!
I decided to run on the treadmill (my physical therapist suggested I use the treadmill, especially during longer runs, since it's lower impact than road running), got my music fired up, and started running!

 It was pretty uneventful considering I was inside, but nearing the end, I decided to really push myself to see how fast I could finish. Thinking I was almost there, I basically sprinted and then realized that I was at 3.01 miles...not 3.1.

That last .1 mile was the most difficult part of the entire run.

My miscalculation totally paid off because I finished in 38:15, with a pace of 12:18.68888888888888 (or 12:19, I guess)!!!!!!

I am thrilled that I was able to pull that pace off less than 6 months after breaking my ankle and having pins put in (and with an extra 50-ish pounds on board)!

I love that my first 5k was virtual because I was able to do it on my own time without the race day stress. Because I made my goal, I was able to enter a drawing for a Garmin Forerunner 10 running watch, which incidentally has been on my Amazon wish list for several months. Fingers crossed!