5k: A Huge Accomplishment

*This post has nothing to do with anything I pinned, but it correlates with my earlier posts about fitness and my goal to run a 5k.  

I did it!  I ran in my very first 5k today.  My mother's breast cancer group, Lifting Hearts, hosted the race today for breast cancer awareness.  My mom is a survivor of 3 years.  This was definitely a worthy cause to run for.  All women should make sure to get their mammograms and do self checks.  It could save your life!

For the last 2 weeks I have been going to the gym and trying to get my poor, post-baby body in some semblance of shape so that I could run this 5k.  My goal was to finish in under 40 minutes and to not have to take my inhaler for my asthma.  I am pleased to announce that I accomplished both goals.  YAY!  

There are no words to describe how wonderful this experience has been for me.  I accomplished something I never believed I could.  When I was a little girl I had severe, aerobically induced asthma.  I was nearly hospitalized many times after some pretty scary asthma episodes.  My asthma always made me scared to run as hard or as fast as I could.  I still have nightmares about being chased and not being able to get away because I have an asthma episode. I tell my husband that someday after I die and my body becomes perfected I am going to run a mile and say, "So this is what being able to breathe feels like."  

This 5k run was meant to be about beating breast cancer, but for me it proved that I can do anything--even conquer one of my biggest physical limitations.