Food & Fitness

Race Challenge: Success

One year ago I ran because of depression. Because I was hurting.

This year I ran because I wanted to challenge my mind and body. Because I discovered that sometimes, I really love running.

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Pre-race

On Saturday I completed my Run A Race This Summer Challenge: a 6.5k trail run.

Time: 34:23

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Post-race

I placed 45th out of 101 runners, 9th out of 36 in my age category. My friend Richard placed 28th overall! It was invigorating and fun and hard. Running on a muddy, hilly trail is so much different than running on flat city pavement.

Yesterday I decided to begin the two hundred squats challenge as a celebration of having completed my Run A Race challenge. I did the initial test to see how many squats I can perform consecutively with good form (using a mirror and everything to ensure I wasn’t getting sloppy), and I did 210. Beginning and completing a challenge in one day has to be some kind of record for me! All in all, it was a pretty good weekend for fitness.

You. Can. Run.

33 Comments

  1. Lance

    Sagan – you ROCK!

    This is completely awesome – what a great time you had, you should be very proud of yourself and what you accomplished…

    …followed by 210 squats! WOW!!

    Fitness superhero…that’s you!

  2. MizFit

    CONGRATS SAGAN!!

    Not on the running so much as the amazing change in the reason WHY you are choosing to run.

    what a difference a year (and a lot of work) makes huh?

    now about those squats–what is this challenge of which you speak? 🙂

    I need to check that out…

  3. Crystal Johnson

    Great job on the run, girl! You look beautiful and the post-race pic makes it look like the race was a cake walk for the two of you.

    Squat challenge…didn’t know about that one. I may try it out. It has to be better than the push-up challenge.

  4. Sagan Morrow

    Annabel- you’re a sweetheart 🙂

    Mia- today is day 81 of the burpee challenge… only 19 left! Need another fitness challenge for sure.

    Lance & Crystal- Squats are SO MUCH EASIER than push ups. I think my arms still ache from the push up challenge last summer, hehe.

    MizFit- so much changes in a year.

    Hanlie- yeah! Running can be fun.

    ttfn300 & Just_Kelly- heart the challenges.

    RickiRae, VeggieGirl, Dr. J, Lori & Matt- thanks tons!

    Charlotte- heh, I hadn’t noticed that. Must be the sweat plastering it down? 😀

  5. Cammy@TheTippyToeDiet

    You’re so awesome! Kudos on meeting your challenge!

    Thanks to your posts on your challenge, I’m *almost* ready to give running another shot (my semi-annual attempt), but I’m going to try it on asphalt & trails this time. Maybe that won’t bother my knees so much. (They’re not liking the 200 squat thing right now.*G*)

  6. liz

    Fantastic news, Sagan – well done! And it’s wonderful that you can look back and see how far you’ve come in the last year. It’s also obvious from the photo that you are in great condition – when I get back from a jog my face is the colour of that car in the background.

  7. Anony-mum

    Yay for you! And you didn’t even mention the greasy (but delicious!) burger & fries your mum and sister scoffed down with the you the night before the race at the Winnipeg Fringe Fest…..that lump of grease sat in everyone’s stomachs all night, but you still managed to put in an awesome performance while looking absolutely adorable! Clearly, you rock.

  8. Sagan Morrow

    Cammy- definitely go for the trail running. It’s easier on the knees AND it’s way more fun!

    Liz- hehehe. I powdered my face to hide the redness specifically for this photo (kidding)

    Gena & the Bag Lady- I do love me some quality challenges.

    Danielle- um… well… I MAY have signed up for a 9k. Eek.

    Anony-mum- oh, that’s a post for another day. Check back tomorrow and you’ll hear aaaalllll about the grease 😉

    Marta, Spring Girl, Dara & Diane- thanks all!

  9. Meg

    OMG YAY! I can’t tell you how much this simple post moved me. I got chills reading it because, YES, this is where I am. Running to beat depression, running to challenge my mind and body, running because I *can*.

    Congratulations on the successful challenge!

  10. Holly

    Congrats, Sagan! What a huge accomplishment! You have to be incredibly proud of yourself. What an amazing finish time, and you’re just beaming with happiness. And, um, why don’t I look that cute post-run?! LOL.

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