GOLDEN 5K.

we ran a 5k this weekend! besides that, i worked out twice and hit two miles each time, which brings my weekly mileage to a not-impressive, but not-bad-for-me seven miles.

one of my 2012 goals was to run five 5k races and we only have one more left {a christmas-themed one in late december}. this saturday we knocked out the kooky, spooky 5k in golden.

it was 20 degrees when we left the house at 7 a.m. and only got colder as we drove further into the mountains. once the sun came out and we started running, though, we quickly worked up a sweat. the course was really beautiful, and we even had an audience: a cow and her baby. she was loudly mooing the entire time.

official times haven't been posted yet, but we think we ran it in about 41 minutes. this is actually pretty good for us, at least in mountain air. when i make jokes about the lack of air, it sounds funny, but it is true! it's especially frustrating when you're trying to be active. you literally can be breathing as intense as you can and still cannot get enough air. i have a coworker who moved from south carolina and she promises that after a full year you can finally feel yourself adjusting.

and hey,.. we are only three months away from being in denver for a full 365!

DROP YOUR DRAWERS AND RUN 5K.

on friday, we did a 5k that raised funds for kids who need basic necessities, like underwear. it was approximately 100 degrees at 6 p.m. but, look at that view from city park.

and, we're off! and sweating.

a mid-race shot.

have you ever seen a sky so beautiful? it's definitely one of my favorite things about denver.

can't stop/won't stop with the ring pose. this is obviously post race, as evidenced by the pink shade of my skin.

afterwards, we got free entrance to the zoo!

this seal was ready for his close up.

scary monkey looking down on us.

and a cheetah, smiling! she was totally ready for a belly rub. 

we also got to see the elephants {in their new habitat, so nice!}, rhinos and a ton of wild peacocks. from the zoo tour to the free champagne, this is one 5k we will definitely do again!

running.

i am not a runner. i have ran. i have participated in two 1/2 marathons. proof:

with peeps at the 2009 country music marathon.

with my sweet roommates after the 2010 1/2.

i ran that 1/2 marathon back-to-back in '09 and again in 2010. i was signed up to do it again this year.

but i didn't. probably by spring, when i should have been up to 4 miles a day and distance on weekends, i realized that it just wasn't going to happen this year. and so, i didn't do it. i.... quit? i thought i was being realistic, knowing my limits, saving myself pain and trouble.

but then, i was talking with a friend at an event last night, and she mentioned that she was in week 1 of training for a fall 1/2 marathon and had injured herself. i was immediately encouraging, "some people just aren't built to be runners! i'm not! we don't all have to be runners!" but then i wondered, is that an excuse?

clearly, it's bothers me and has been nagging at me since this spring.

what do you say? is it realistic to know when you're not good at something? or is it quitting?