Heavy Girl to Healthy Girl: My February 5K

It's FREEZING! but ready to GO!

As you know, one of my goals is to run at least one 5K a month for the year 2013. My February 5K was on 2/2/13 - The NYCRUNS Riverside Park Hot Chocolate 5K at Riverside Park in Manhattan, NY.

I must confess that this race was even more challenging than my January one. Two things factored in:
1. It was colder - It was 11 degrees with the wind chill factor, ran next to the Hudson River, and it was very windy.
2. Lots of hills (4 to be exact)

As a newbie runner, I am learning a lot. I was amaze at he fact that the weather, hills, and many more things can affect your run and your pace.

Nevertheless, I STAND PROUD. Just got the OFFICIAL results from the NYCRUNS. Here is its:
My official Finish Time: 31:27--- 10:09 pace/m

Placing me 125/289 runners, 57/161 females, #4 overall in my age group, and #1 female in my age group. Yes!! you read it correctly No.1 female in my age group. Yaah!!! for me.

Race Official Results

As I got to the site, I saw a sea of runners, about 500 of them. A little intimidating I must say. Some of them were doing the 10K run, but we all started at the same time. You can tell that some of these runners have been running for a long time. Making them a PRO in my book.

The winner of the 5K was a 48 year old man, and he ran it in 18:04. I think that is an insane time, but he did it. Not to say that 48 is old--by no means,-- but it shows that no matter how old you are, you can do whatever you set your mind to do.

This race I dedicate it to Ketsy Santiago, my teacher, my trainer, my friend, a mentor. An icon in my new life.

I couldn't have chosen a better one to dedicate to her because it was challenging--and it's what she says to me all the time- "Challenge Yourself - You can do it."-- And I sure did Ketsy!!!!!

I did it!!!!

I will be doing two virtual 5K's in February:
February 14 - I Heart Running - Dedicated to Freddie Casa, my hubby.
February 17 - I Run with Heart - Dedicated to Rudy Murillo, my brother.

I am dedicating all my runs to someone or a cause, in no particular order-- This will make these runs more meaningful to me. You can see the dedication wall HERE.

If you want to see a schedule of my runs-- Just click HERE

"Nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. It's a strengthening of his powers of accomplishment". ~ Thomas Carlyle