From 0 to 10K

I did it!

Remember that run I wrote about a few days ago? Well, after exchanging a few emails with one of the runners who is doing the 240 km (I still can't believe it), he finally convinced me to just give it a go.

So I thought to myself - ok, let's do this. Ever since deciding, I tell you, I have been a nervous wreck! I was just filled with so much fear about not being able to do it even though I wanted to try so bad.

I set 3 goals for myself:

1. Finish. Even if you have to crawl. Just finish.

2. Try to finish within 1 hour 40 minutes.

3. Try not to come last!

I guess my main goal was #1 - just finish no matter what. The other two would have been bonuses for me.

Before I tell you how it went, let me just show you what kind of day it was weather-wise. (I hope the sound is ok in the video.)

It rarely rains in Kuwait -- but of course, today, it was pouring down! I mean, non-stop stormy rain ... for a while it looked like the run wasn't going to happen ... but it did ... and ...

I finished!

I completed the 10 km (6.2 miles) in 1 hr. 27 minutes (so within my goal time).

I didn't come last! (mega grin from ear to ear!)

The whole task was a challenge for me. It's easy to do 10 km on a treadmill in the gym when you're there on your own time ... but this involved putting myself out there - running (walking/jogging) in public, with a group, on Gulf Road - OMG - talk about anxiety!

Plus there was also the mental battle with myself - trying to jog a little further than the last time, maybe a little faster too. Telling myself that I could do it and that there was no reason to give up ...

When I think about where I was early-December - the first time I was able to go back to the gym post-surgery - it was good to feel like I've come far, especially because I've been so down lately. Anyway.

I did it! Now to keep on moving forward and striving for more!

A few pix:

The six amazing runners approaching our starting point -- at this point they have just finished 120 km out of their 240.

The group of us before starting the run. (I'm in the front with the pink NY Yankees cap on.) [Organized by Aymstrong.]

Me in the RunKuwait t-shirt (I'm so glad I had 4 layers on under there - it was freezing!):