My Journal of Running Events

The Gayla Pink Apple

 

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My Journal of Running Events

 

My journey to running started because I needed to be active for my health. After surviving breast cancer in 2005, I knew part of my future would include some form of exercise. 

Walk / running on the treadmill at the fitness center began several years ago.  After a while, it gets kind of boring, but, I manage to get it done. I find myself alternating between the treadmill and elliptical - but still gets mundane.   Being in the fitness center is not fun for me - it is not an environment I yearn to frequent. But, I felt I had no choice. So, a friend helped me work myself into a comfort level. 

I thought if I could run / jog on the treadmill for a long time, and I had worked up to quite a long time, surely I could run the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure 5K (3.1 miles.)   I walked the event every year, 2005 - 2010, as a breast cancer survivor.  Deep down inside of me, though, I really wanted to run that event - just one time! 

God must have heard my little secret wish because one day in August 2011, an email pops in my inbox from the SGKomen-Arkansas affiliate inviting me to attend their 6 week training program to get ready to walk or run the upcoming SGKomen 5K that year.  After much conversation with myself, "you can do this - you know you can" - "go on, sign up, what do you have to lose" - "if it doesn't work out, just walk it."  So, I registered for the "Train for the Cure" program at War Memorial Stadium and showed up for every session, plus I added my one weekly run on my own, as instructed. 

I ran my first 5K - the Susan G Komen 5K in Little Rock in October 2011.

I used to say "oh, I'm not really a runner" and I'd say that because I was so slow.  But, if you run - you are a runner!  A mile is a mile, whether it's a 7 min pace mile or a 13 min pace mile - A mile is a mile!

I am a runner! !  - I am a slow runner!  But, I run!

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
I run,

Gayla

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The list below are my events, to date, and significant runs, in descending order.

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13.)     Soaring Wings Half Marathon

October 25, 2014

Sybert Relay Team - Soaring Wings Half Marathon

October 2014

(an official event)

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12.)     Susan G Komen Race for the Cure 2014.  The year I ran as one of the competitive runners with a time chip. 

 October 4, 2014 - SGKomen Race for the Cure

(an official event)

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11.) Little Rock Marathon 10K (6.2 miles)

March 2014

Blair and Me - LRM10K - March 2014

(an official event)

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10.)     Jingle Bell Run (Arthritis Foundation)

Hudson River, New York City

 Blair and Me - December 4, 2013

Jingle Bell Run - NYC

(an official event)

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9.)     Little Rock Marathon 10K (6.2 miles) 
          March 3, 2013
             My First 10K                                              

Little Rock Marathon 10K (6.2 miles)
Little Rock, AR  - March 3, 2013

My first 10K -- at age 57
an official event 

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8.)    Light Up the Night 5K 
        Honoring Jennings Osborne
        December 8, 2012

Light Up the Night 5K

Honoring Jennings Osborne
Little Rock, AR -- December 8, 2012
(an official event) 

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7.)    Brooklyn Bridge Run
        New York City
        September 21, 2012

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, September 21, 2012

( Not an official 5K - but a significant run to me)

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6.)   Greater New York Susan G Komen 5K
       Race for the Cure - Central Park - NYC
       September 9, 2012

Susan G Komen Greater New York 5K

Central Park, NYC, September 9, 2012
(an official event)

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5.)    Golden Gate Bridge Run
        San Francisco, CA
        June 10, 2012

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, June 10, 2012

( Not an official 5K - but a significant run to me - 3.4 miles)

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4.)    Women Run Arkansas
         Conway, AR
         May 12, 2012

Women Run Arkansas 5K, Conway, May 12, 2012

(an official event)

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3.)    Little Rock Marathon 5K
        March 3, 2012

Little Rock Marathon 5K
Little Rock, AR  -- March 3, 2012

(an official event)

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2.)    Light Up the Night 5K
        Honoring Jennings Osborne
        December 10, 2011

Light Up the Night 5K

Honoring Jennings Osborne
Little Rock, AR  - December 10,  2011
(an official event)

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1. )                           My First 5K

Susan G Komen Race for the Cure 5K

Little Rock, October 22, 2011

My First 5K (3.1 miles) - at age 56
an official event

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P.S. As I run other events I plan to update this blog post - it will serve as my record of events. 
Originally posted April 2013
Updated November 2014