Last weekend, I did my first 5k walk/race. It was a benefit
for Pug Rescue of New England (PRONE), which is one of my favorite charities.
When I signed up for the walk a couple of months earlier, I had happy thoughts
of walking along the beach with my husband Mike and our three pugs on a
beautiful sunny day, surrounded by hundreds of other pugs and pug owners. I
thought it would be a nice family activity as well as a great way to motivate
me to start exercising again. I would also get a free t-shirt with a pug on it!
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| Here we are before the walk began. My t-shirt is the photo from the holiday card that Mike created last year. It has all three of our pugs on it. |
Unfortunately for me, although last Saturday in Boston was
sunny, it was also blisteringly hot and 93 degrees, even at 9:00 in the
morning. We left our pugs at home, in air-conditioned comfort, and headed for
Carson Beach, the race site. The runners started first and the walkers lined up
behind them. I walk my dogs twice a day, and though we don’t walk far, I
thought that walking three miles on a flat surface wouldn’t be too difficult.
Did I mention that it was hot? Yes, very hot. Seemingly no
sooner than we had started, the first runner was already circling back,
sprinting by us towards the finish line. He finished in 17 minutes. My husband, Mike, took my picture at
Mile 1. We had already stopped for a bathroom break, and my feet hurt. I
noticed that the crowd was thinning and that we were in the back. When we reached the midpoint, I drank
one cup of water and dumped two cups down my shirt. At Mile 2, I suggested to
Mike that if we turned around now, we would probably finish in the middle of
the pack, and we could go get some ice cream. We walked on…
Although I finished in LAST place with the deplorable time
of 1:30:01, I still had fun and I got a new pug t-shirt.
Now I need to buckle down, start a regular walking program, and start training
for next year. I only have to finish second to last to beat my own record.
Summer is a great time to be outdoors and enjoy lots of
activities. When I’m not training for my next 5k, I enjoy gardening. Mike and I
also plan to walk the Freedom Trail in Boston and maybe do some hiking with the
pugs in the Blue Hills.
What summer activities do you enjoy? Do you enjoy being
active? Where will you go on vacation?
Have a great day!
Pugs and kisses,
Nancy
I'm impressed that you walked 3 miles. Good job!
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