10K Happiness = Fun Rewards!

I like to offer rewards and incentives for myself, especially when it comes to fitness and exercise.  In the past, I've based these motivators on my weight, even though I've never been much of a "weight watcher" and know weight doesn't mean everything.  However,  I was obsessively weighing myself every day, and if I met my weight goal, I'd allow myself to buy the reward I'd decided on ahead of time.  A few months ago I almost earned new running shoes-- bought them anyway-- and then made myself pay the consequences of not meeting my goal.

I'm dumb.

And once I set a new weight goal and was fluctuating between a few pounds up and down, I realized that I needed to stop focusing so much on pounds and pick a different goal.  Even though I just bought shoes a month ago (Brooks Glycerin 9),  I've been wanting to get another new pair to alternate with, and then both pairs will last me for a good year or so.  I already knew I wanted to get Saucony Kinvaras, which I almost bought the first time around, but decided I needed more sturdy, cushioned shoes.  Hence the Brooks... which took a few weeks to break in but now I really like them.  

So my new focus was a time goal for the Pioneer Classic 10K in Provo (July 23rd).  

2 years ago I ran the 5K and I was pretty darn slow and not really in shape.  It was one of the first main races I did that got me into the running groove.  Crystal, Cassity's sister, told us about the race, and Jaide (Crystal's daughter) joined us as well.  Races are so much more fun with a group of friends!

Last year this same race was my first official 10K, which was exciting.  It took me 1 hour and 4 minutes, and I was just pleased that I finished and still enjoyed it.  

A few weeks ago I ran a 10K on the 4th of July and my time was 1:03:21.  

New goal to earn running shoes:  Beat that time!  

I usually run about a 10 minute mile, and anything faster than that is an accomplishment.  So a 6.2 mile run should naturally take me a little more than an hour if I keep a steady pace.  I was mentally prepared, but physically I was stiff and sore from doing the batting cages the other day.  My whole back was knotted up and sore, but I had to just suck it up and get this run over with.  

The beginning of the race was a gradual uphill the first mile, and suddenly you turn a corner and it's this intense, ridiculous hill where 90% of the runners walked for most of it. They call it "Goliath Hill."  I tried to run even for just 30 seconds at a time, but didn't want to strain myself when I still had 5 miles to go.  Needless to say, at the 2nd mile marker I was at 22:25... way behind my proposed time schedule.  By mile 3 I was at around 31 min., so I had shaved off almost a minute, and by mile 4 (after a lot of downhill near the Provo temple) I was at 40:56.  Almost back on track!  Once I passed the 5th mile marker, I was at 50 minutes and realized if I just maintained a 10 min. mile pace, I would be right on schedule and definitely beat 1:03:21!!  It was exciting, and although I was wanting to take it easy and slow down a little I kept pushing harder and stayed close to the runners I was pacing myself with. :)

As I neared the final turns to the finish line, I remembered the race last year, when my family was on the corner cheering wildly, and my dad ran with me down the road for part of the last stretch.  It was a priceless moment!  So I was kind of re-living that in my head and enjoying the memory, when all of a sudden I turned the last corner and Crystal was there yelling, "Push it Bree!!  Push it!!"  I glanced up at the huge red numbers of the time clock and it showed 59:04.  What?!  I could finish in less than an hour!  So I sprinted the rest of the way to the finish line and finished at 59:12.  I felt good, totally put together, and didn't want to barf or anything.  I was all smiles!  My mom was there waiting at the finish line, as well as Cassity, Crystal, and Jaide, who ran the 5K, and it was a happy reunion. And although I realize I'm not super fast compared to other runners out there, this was a huge accomplishment.  Almost 5 minutes faster than that same race last year... and 4 minutes faster than my best time.  

 This was the first time I ever wore a "tank-top" while running.  Definitely a fan.

(This is my absolute favorite.  There was a man standing there and he was laughing at us.)

And the best part is... I met my goal!!!  I earned my shoes. :)

So right after the race we all went to Runner's Corner (my #1 choice) and I told the sales guy I knew exactly which shoes I wanted-- I just needed to decide on the color.  So I had my girls with me as my support team.  It was between bright pink, bright orange, or a bright blue.  Drum roll please...

CRAZY BRIGHT ORANGE!

Saucony Kinvara

I really had a hard time deciding, but when the sales guy finally said, "Just do something crazy", I knew that orange was the answer.  I am totally an orange person, only these are super bright, like a hunting jacket. :)  But I think they'll be fun, and probably satisfy my heart more than the other colors would have.  Most importantly, they're comfortable and super light and I've heard so many good things about them.  

So now I officially have 2 great pairs of running shoes that I will alternate on my running days, and I'm excited for the adventures we'll have together! :)