2013-03-23: Mom's 5k

For the better part of a year, now, Mom has been working with a trainer, Ivan, on general fitness. She has really noticed dramatic improvements in her abilities to run, hike, bike and just play. Her strength and endurance are hugely improved, and perhaps the largest benefit has come in the near-complete elimination of knee pain for her, even when exercising. Of course, side effects of changes in her body composition have been dramatic, as well.

Ivan has a real talent for keeping things interesting and motivating, and Mom's competitive nature dovetails very well with his style. Dad looks forward to hearing the stories from each week's training session report. They usually begin with something along the lines of "That man is going to be the death of me".

This past couple of months, they have worked particularly on running, toward Mom's goal of completing a half marathon, targeting the Park City event in August. Today brought one of the fruits of all that labor: Mom's completion of her first 5k race! She ran the Running of the Leopards race, from This is the Place State Park down to East High School. Mom's knees had bothered her somewhat during the earliest weeks of training, but have improved enough for this event to be doable without discomfort until afterward, and manageable then.

The whole family is very proud of all Mom's work, as is Ivan. Dad and Nigel cheered Mom on at around the halfway point of the race, before having to leave to get to Nigel's soccer game. Grandpa and Grandma M. saw her off at the start, and also managed to make it to the finish in time to see her cross the line. Aunt Blaire came down and met Mom after the race to congratulate her, and all the rest of Mom's family sent congratulatory messages.

After the race, Mom came over to Nigel's (indoor) soccer game, which Dad was coaching, and Grandpa and Grandma M. decided to do so, as well. After the game, Nigel and Dad presented Mom with a medal they had made for her: gold, with a pink number five on the front (Nigel's choice of color, of course), and a striped ribbon to go around her neck. It was a very proud day for the family.