Health: My First 5K Marathon

I did it! I made it to the finish line for my first 5K marathon.

It was not an easy 5K. I have to run/walk and modify my breathing technique so as not to feel the 'side stitches' and to keep up with most of the runners from all ages.

The first few minutes were grueling. I had my mind set that I would finish the race in 1 hour 10 minutes maximum since I've been practicing running the 5K loop in the gym and the results are not that good. Well, what more can I expect? I wasn't sure if my legs/feet can carry all 76 kilos of me. But my leg strengthening exercises at the gym worked. Weeks before this, I tried to add more time doing cardio and leg exercises. If I was doing 50 kg at the seated leg press, I changed it to 75 kg, from 3 reps of 12 to 3 reps of 15. My elliptical training level changed from level 5 to level 9, just to intensify and strengthen my legs. My problem that time was how my legs would carry all my weight all throughout the 5K run. Then came vertigo.

I had a week long vertigo attack and that was a week before my 5K run. It bothered me more because I want to participate in the marathon and challenge myself to finish the said race. I was even thinking that I won't be allowed to run because of this. A few days before April 18 and days after that vertigo attack, I tried to do another 5K loop at the gym and see how bad was the damage. I can barely finish 5K without getting dizzy and worst, my average speed was 13-15 minutes per kilometer. But the stubborn part of my being didn't allow anything to be a hindrance and I'm glad I am somehow(?) stubborn.

Finishing my first 5K marathon is a big deal. It means I am getting close to achieving my goal of shedding off these fats and make myself feel MUCH better. From 36.4 BMI, it went down to 33.7 and it's all because of (very) hard work. Next mission is to lose more pounds, lower my BMI and to run another 5K come May 2.