Run for Congo

In March I attended the Bloomsbury Lise Meitner Conference, where I met a woman from another chapter who was organizing a run to benefit women in the DR Congo, a war torn country where women are systematically tortured and raped and families are torn apart by death, poverty and slavery. She told us all about a 5k she was organizing to take place in June. Inspired by her activism and wishing to participate, I made the decision that I would run the entire race.

Thus began my journey training to run a 5k (and spawned my ultimate goal of being able to run 5 miles).

The race was this past Saturday. I was optimistically hoping to complete the race in under 33 minutes. I finished with a time of 30 minutes and 1 second (though I feel comfortable shaving off that extra second since I didn't cross the starting line until after they started the clock). I was in disbelief.

Here is proof of my participation. When I picture myself running I imagine a stream-lined, fit woman cutting across the pavement in athletic glory.

The pictures shatter that illusion, but, oh well. They can't take away my time.

Where's Joni? Look in the middle. (Black visor)

Not as hard to find in this one.

The pear in pants in the background. Make that the running pear in pants in the background.

One of the best feelings in the world.

I was actually so doubtful of my time that I went back to the site of the race and walked it with a GPS to make sure it was actually a full 5k.

It was.

On a related note, I'm participating in a weight loss competition right now, and I not only lost all three of the pounds I gained in Orlando, but I lost one more in addition last week. I ran 9 miles in 7 days (on top of pilates, weight-lifting, walking and hiking!). If you would have asked me a year ago if I could ever make that claim I'd have vehemently exclaimed it was impossible.

Upward and onward.