Couch to 5K Graduation/Seacoast Rotary Club Turkey Trot

Popping my head in to note that I've completed two more goals on the 29 before 30 list. On Thanksgiving, I graduated from Couch to 5K and ran my first ever 5K with my sister Renee and my two friends Chrissie and Anna.

Me and Renny before the race

Me and Chrissie crossing the finish line. Chrissie looks like a radiant fitness model and I look like her buck-toothed redneck cousin, HAHAHA! (Must've been mid-sentence).

I had not run much the week before the race, so the last half mile or so was giving me some grief. Chrissie pulled out the inspirational pep talk and said "Hey, just think, a year ago would you have ever thought that you could run 30 minutes? You can make it a few minutes more. You can do this!"

I pushed on - we rounded the last corner and my friend Meghann and my dad were there to cheer us on. When we crossed the line, the announcer shouted out, "Now coming through Chrissie Penney and Sarah Duclos!" He even pronounced my last name correctly (which people rarely do). Chrissie and I high-fived! We clocked in at 37:33, meaning that we ran about a 12:05 pace.

Found this online somewhere. Original source unknown, but I love it.

If you had told me a year ago that I would be able to run three miles in under 40 minutes I would've laughed in your face. I would've said something snarky like "Is the apocalypse in a year? Will there be zombies chasing me?" since those are the only circumstances that I could've imagined me mustering up the energy to run.

I've lost weight, I feel good about myself and one of my chronic dance injuries has nearly disappeared (capsulitis in my right middle toe). I feel motivated to do more.

In fact, I think I'm going to pop out for a run.

I hope that all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. There is so so much in this world to be thankful for!