Can I Get a High 5 for the 5K Runners!

On Saturday Jared, his mom Sharon, and I participated in the Utah Valley 5K (yep, for all those of you thinking that Lani and running don't really go together in the same sentence, apparently they do)!

My original plan for the 5K was to just have fun, walk and talk with my sisters, and get a t-shirt.

But things didn't really go according to plan.

I should have realized it earlier when not one sister signed up for the walk, but I didn't.

The morning of the 5K, Jared and I arrive and I look around. And do you know what I see!

People running, jogging, and WARMING UP in the parking lot. RUNNING and JOGGING and the "walk" hasn't even started!!

Then Jared looked at me and asked me what my "goal" was. Goal? What? Umm... I'm sorry I thought this was a fun little walk for charity! I told him I didn't really have a time in mind since I wasn't planning on being timed and that at this point I was just hoping I didn't finish last!

So, after Jared attaches the TIMER to my shoe (see-- in a fun walk you're not TIMED) and I recovered from flashbacks of running in PE class-- I just sat, looked at Jared, and told him I wasn't getting out of the car until I saw someone who looked like me getting ready to do the 5K!

Luckily, a few Lani clones started to appear and although I was still unsure I decided to get out of the car. We met Jared's mom at the starting point and got ready to run the race! As we were waiting Sharon told me she was nervous and I thought SO AM I!

My FABULOUS HUBBY finished 6 minutes under his goal! He even backtracked to take pictures of his mom and ran with her a little of the way to encourage her. Isn't he the BEST!

And guess what?! I actually finished. I had a really great time and would most definitely do it again!

The whole time I was running (okay, so more of walking really fast with a little running in between) I kept thinking of things to keep me going.

I thought of my sisters-in-law Tracey and April who run marathons and I thought, what do they think about for over 26 miles!?? I thought of Sharon running behind me and how inspiring she was running a 5K at 63!

And speaking of Jared's mom, Sharon was AWESOME!

Her goal was to come in under 1 hour and she did!! Her official time was 55 minutes and 24 seconds.

She actually jogged the entire way. THE ENTIRE WAY!! How amazing is THAT!!

It was fun cheering for her as she crossed the finish line. She is 63 years old and running races. Too cool.

After the race they post all your stats and your time. Sharon said her goal for next year was to come in FIRST in her age group! I'm so impressed with her determination!

So until next year!!!