Our first family 5k
We ran our first 5k as a family on Saturday night.
(Sweaty and triumphant! Except for Liv, whose face is like, “Ew, mom”)
I wasn’t sure if I’d have the gusto after a full day of teaching, but when a friend at work told me she’d be running the 5k, I couldn’t help but think it would be a ton of fun. Liv could come with us, the people-watching was guaranteed to be supreme and even if we took it easy, it would be an enjoyable Saturday night activity.
I got home from work, packed some essentials for Liv, and we headed downtown.
I was shocked to see so many people at the race. It was a huge event!
We watched the kids’ mile and got ready to start in the very back of the pack. Even though it was a scorcher of a day -it finally started to cool off when the sun went down- my sudden burst of energy surprised me as we waited to race. I think the race atmosphere alone invigorates me — it’s been way too long since I’ve ran one! While I’ve completed quite a few 5ks, this was my very first race with a jogging stroller… and it was intense.
The first mile was extremely challenging. It was absolutely packed, we were in the very back, and it was nearly impossible to pass people with the stroller. (We run with the Bob Revolution SE and LOVE it.) A few times, I found myself stuck behind a straight line of power-walkers, with no room to pass on the left and no space in between. Eventually the Pilot started to run slightly ahead of us to make a path so we could break away. The front wheel of the stroller was locked for safety, so I used a lot of energy lifting and rotating so we could make the small turns.
The cheering stations were by far my favorite part of the race. People cheered in their front yards, played music and sprayed the runners with yard hoses. The water felt AMAZING. Liv was happy as a clam during the race; I think she liked watching everyone. We gave her a toy and water in a sippy cup, and she was a great running buddy the entire time. It makes me excited to do more races with her in the fall… I think we’re at the point where it’s too hot now.
The Pilot and I took turns pushing the stroller during the race, which helped a ton; there was no way I could have ran the entire thing without him. After mile 2, my body started to remember everything else I did that day, and part of me wanted to quit. At the same time, I really wanted to finish strong since we didn’t have much farther to go. We crossed the finish line at 30:01. Not my fastest 5k, but the most fun by a landslide.
We parked the stroller at the nearby park so we could watch the remaining runners finish, and Liv could shake her legs out after riding in the stroller.
(Can we take a moment of silence for baby athletic gear?)
She quickly found two little girl friends . They played together and walked around, the three of them holding hands. <3
My little running buddy:
I hope to show Livi that fitness is a way of life, and it should be something you enjoy. I can’t wait to see what activities she grows up to to love.
Have you ran a 5k? Fellow mamas, any tips for racing with the jogging stroller? Do I need a horn or bell? Haha.
Hope you’re having a wonderful day! Don’t forget to enter the Stitch Fix giveaway.
xoxo
Gina
Summer Shape Up friends, be sure to check in with today’s steady state workout! Tweet me (@fitnessista #summershapeup) or leave a comment to let us know what you did and how it went!
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Oh goodness, dying over the family pictures. She’s grown so much and I adore her athletic gear. Why can kids look super cute in anything!
Sounds like such a fun family event for you all to experience, it also makes me appreciate how fast kids can make friends, as adults we could learn a lesson from kids in that. Instead of being judge-y we could just try and make friends like we did as kids.
Okay, enough of that spiel;)
Liv is starting to look like such a little girl and less like a baby… she is too cute. Love the sassy/trendy baby athletic girl 🙂
Love the family 5k! I did a 30 minute run this morning… felt good to shake out my legs after an intense pilates class last night (tower, which is killer on the legs!).
OH my gracious that baby workout wear is precious!
You are raising your daughter in a healthy environment, showing that food and fitness go together. I am certain she will grow up to have a healthy outlook on life. Bravo!
I love this! Such great family activity and a perfect way to show Liv that being active is fun. We have a 6 month daughter and every night when we are cooking dinner and preparing the vegetables my husband and I do and little dance and sing, “Vegetables are FUN!” We are hoping so show her that being healthy is a good thing! 🙂
I’m going to be a week behind SSU (I’m getting my workouts this week doing house renovations), but I can’t wait to join everyone!! The first week of workouts looks great and grueling!
I completed Workout 1 last night and loved it! Instead of today’s scheduled workout, I’m doing Crossfit and yoga. They’re both free so I couldn’t pass them up!
Ahhh gosh, I LOVE the baby fitness apparel!! Where did you get it?
Great job on the 5k!
I loved workout number 1. I was all sorts of sweaty, and completed it very quickly. I was going to do a zuzka for my hiit, but opted for the treadmill instead. I went to the gym last night pretty late, and had the group ex room to myself. ‘Twas glorious! I will do my steady state cardio later. 😀 So excited for Summer Shape Up.
Liv is so cute in her workout clothes! Your family is an inspiration to all.
Way to do a family 5K! I love how you’re making fitness a fun, family event. It will give her such a healthy perspective growing up!!
I’ve been racing for about 5 years. My two teenage sons just started running with me this year and we’re having a blast. They’re both athletes but not big on running so we choose local 5k’s and invite all their friends. They like to dress up in silly outfits have fun with it.
omg baby fitness gear is too much to handle! I think a polite “excuse me!” and perhaps a funny sounding bell to get laughs would work. It’s kind of rude to walk in a straight line blocking the path.
My steady state today was a brisk walk on a path by the river pushing my little buddy in the stroller.
The 5K looks like it was a lot of fun!
I love Liv’s little pony – her hair is getting so long!
Did HIIT yesterday morning (35min bike trainer ride), workout 1 last night (sweaty mess!), and my steady-state this morning (2.76mi jog). Feeling great!
How fun! I can fully appreciate the extra effort it takes to run with a jogging stroller, that’s no joke. My little one has the same funning outfit in blue and pink. It’s so stinkin’ cute all she needs is a sweat band 😉 I bet Liv loved the cheering stations, she probably felt like she was in a parade.
My steady state was going to be on the elliptical, but all were full so I hopped on the tredmil and ran a a nice pace… I actually upped my speed towards the end because I felt like I had more energy than normal! I’m thinkin all the HIIT intervals are making my usual pace stronger!! Yay:)
So fun!!! I love this post. It made me smile from ear to ear!!
I’ve ran a bunch of 5ks with our BOB.. Mostly small 5ks on base, which are A LOT easier than the larger races. Most recently my pilot and I ran the Navy’s Coronado Bay Bridge Run with the BOB; a 4 mile race up and over the bridge in San Diego. It was intense with the hill up the bridge and 10,000 runners! We had the same strategy if one person pulling ahead to make a path.. But solo, I haven’t found many good strategies.
Ah mini Fitnessista! Too adorable! Would love to run a 5k with my boyfriend. Somehow I will try and convince him!
Congratulations on a fantastic family race and completing it within 30:01 with a stroller – woohoo!
The family photos are adorable and even better is the memory you’re creating for Liv. <3
too cute! i am saving my steady state for later in the week, but just got back from an awesome vinyasa flow class. super sore from yesterday’s SSU workout!
So cute! I did my steady state today- 40 min. on the elliptical. (I’m not sure if this is where to check in or if the other post is, but oh well!)
I think all baby clothes are adorable but baby activewear may just take the cake in cuteness! I went for a nice 7 mile bike ride this morning. My body has that perfect soreness feeling from workout 1. I can tell I worked it yesterday but am not limping around work. Score!
Love those Liv pix…she is adorable! Sounds like a fun 5k!
I’m surprisingly sore form workout #1 yesterday…especially my shoulders and upper back…yikes! Thanks for the fun, Gina 🙂
That is sooo fun! Looks like a great time, though I could imagine how annoying it would be to be blocked running with a stroller!
seriously, had to pause for that cuteness of athletic clothes for liv!!
i ran 3 miles today…nice and steady.. have my half marathon on saturday!
Too cute! I run with our Bob all the time but have yet to do a race with it. I’ll have to find one that allows jogging strollers. It’s getting a bit hot for it here in Texas, too, but soon for sure!
Oh and where is the baby athletic gear from? I haven’t found any small enough for my 14mo old yet.
Ha! You made me almost just want a baby, just to put her (it?) in baby fitness gear! Oh my god!
I think if you take the stress out of fitness and keep it fun, it becomes a much more normal routine part of life.
You ready for her to start taking your Zumba classes? 😉
i can’t wait for her to zumba with me 🙂
thanks again for the workout this am!
xo
The mental picture of you and her Zumba’ing together just made me go “AW!” out loud. How freaking cute! <3
We did a 5k with our 4 month old on Memorial Day night. It was SO much fun. My husband ran ahead with a friend of ours who was doing his first 5k. I walked the baby in the stroller (she’s still too little for a jogging stroller) with a friend who had her 9 month old in a backpack. It took us 48 minutes – but we enjoyed ourselves – even the killer hills. Who put them there? Our last mile we got very competitive and kicked it in to power walking gear. I hope to instill the idea that fitness is fun to our Olivia as well. And I can’t wait to see what activities she loves. Oh and she wore the cutest Puma jogging suit. I love baby fitness gear!!
Aw I love this post! It makes me excited to have a family and run with them some day! My parents raised me on fitness too and I think it worked out pretty well 🙂 My dad used to bike a lot with me and my bro in the buggy behind him! Also, you and Liv are adorable in that last photo – your eyes are exactly the same when you smile 🙂
I just started a lunch time ladies run group – we did a 5k today, the perfect afternoon pick-me=up 🙂
LOVE the pic of Liv!
elle
I have that lulu top and i am so in loooove with it.
also liv in athletic gear is adorable.
congrats on the family 5k!
Liv’s workout clothes are the cutest!!!
Did a 45 minute run this morning! Even though it was chilly and overcast it felt great to get outside!
Even cuter than her baby athletic gear is the little pony in her hair! And NOTHING beats sweet little girls holding hands! I die!
I’m dying over the toddler workout clothes!!! Gahhhh! So cute!
Liv is so cute! I’m running my first 5k post pregnancy on July 4th. I haven’t decided if I’m going to push Oliver in his jogger or do it solo yet!
PS, did workout one with the 20 min HIIT.. got nice and sweaty!!!
Oh my goodness, your daughter is the cutest thing ever! 5Ks have become more of a fun time event for my family and I, too. My mom, sister, and I did a Women Can Run 5K on Mother’s Day weekend this year.
I did a 4 mile run for my steady-state cardio this morning! And I’m still sore all over from Workout #1!
Sounds like such a fun race…Livi’s active wear is so adorable! It’s so great that you’re teaching her to appreciate fitness at such a young age. I try to always schedule kids’ group fitness classes at the library where I work to introduce it to them as something fun!
Definitely looking forward to the steady state workout when I get off tonight!
You and Liv have the same squinty right eye in that last picture- TOO CUTE 😉
haha i’m not sure what to think of this.
That’s amazing, Gina! Not only does Liv look totally adorable in her mini workout gear, but it looks like the whole family had a great time 🙂 I’m all about the family friendly fitness, so double kudos to you guys for starting early!
I miss starting Summer Shape Up yesterday. So I did HIIT with Workout #1 today. It was pretty hard for me! But hoping to see improvements throughout the next month!
Any tips on a good HIIT treatmill workout? I did 45 seconds hard, 30 seconds rest. It takes too long to adjust the speed/incline to an easy pace. Is that OK to do rest versus walk/jog?
Day two of summer shape up was great ! Did steady state on the elliptical and some stretching!
I did workout #1 today to switch my days up, thanks to work. Steady state yesterday was a cardio dance class on FitnessGlo! I love shaking my groove thang!
Liv is too cute! And sitting through a whole 5K is amazing!
Opted for an intense 45 minute steady state cardio session since I felt up to it this morning (and my toddler and newborn were cooperating 🙂 Might pay for it mañana but it sure felt good to shake out the legs with a little running.
I ran 3.5 miles myself this morning with the jogging stroller! 30 minutes 3.66 miles, I’ll call it a day! PS. I think my son (15 months) needs some baby athletic gear now!!
So awesome! Looks like you all had a ton of fun! Did Workout 1 late last night–it was killer! Looking forward to some steady state after work today 🙂