First 5K and New Favorite Store

First 5K result..... 24:06! I'm totally okay and thrilled with it due to the lack of training and Bruster's Bulge. :) I knew it wouldn't be o-m-g worthy, so as to not let myself down like I did the recent 10K, I set the goal in my head to be 25 minutes. 24 < 25 = happy CheetahGirl! The humidity was terrible. At the end of the race I seriously looked like I had just gotten out of the pool, except the wetness was not bathing suit worthy! (ewwww) All in all, it was fun! I would love to train more for this distance and be able to kill some time. I was extremely upset when I found out a 10 year old and a 13 year old had beaten me. Really?? LAME. So yes, I am now determined to smoke them...next year.

I've only run in 4 total races, and it's pretty cool to see how much better I've gotten:
Dollars for Scholars 10K 2008- 1:00:19 (65/111) top 59%
Mercedes 1/2 Marathon 2009- 1:55:48 (821/2954) top 28%
Dollars for Scholars 10K 2009- 55:02 (60/311) top 19%
Cotton Row Run 5K 2009- 24:06 (136/1677) top 8%

So I'm gradually creeping up...haha. (does that make me a 'creeper'?!?)

Before the race, I had a magnificant discovery that will forever change my running....FLEET FEET! I fell in love as soon as I walked in. Runner's paradise! I learned so many things within the short hour I was able to stay.

Lesson of the Day: There are different kinds of running shoes. You think I would know this by now...nope! I have had two pairs of actual running shoes, some Asics which I got because they were cheap at the store, and the Mizunos I'm currently pounding because...they were pretty. I had never been videotaped to figure out my protonation or advised about which shoes to buy until last Sunday. Apparently I overprotonate, and the shoes I've been wearing are neutrals. I ran on the treadmill (which was kind of awkward in jeans and a not so loose-fitting shirt infront of customers who STARE), and discovered I also run in a straight line. So straight that the guy had to watch it a total of 3 times, because my foot kept covering up what he was trying to look for in the other foot. He told me he had 'seen nothing like it before' and showed interest in youtubing it. I hope he was kidding..(!)
Lesson Learned: Not all shoes are made equal.

I was also lectured on the importance of special socks. It seems as obvious as the newly acquired shoe knowledge, but is something I've never actually thought about. Two pairs of amazingly cushioned walking-on-cloud-socks for $20? Check.
On the back wall of the store was Nike Tempo Track Shorts HEAVEN. They are my absolute favorite and this place had one in every color imaginable. CheetahGirl's next 5 paychecks spent? Check.
The last coolest thing I saw were all the GU's and powerbars I have read about from other runner's blogs but never seen in real life (haha), so it was really neat to finally see and know what they were. Saved money due to ability to hold back no $ left from shorts and socks? Check.

Okay, that's all! I plan to incorporate speed workouts/intervals to try and improve my speed... any suggestions?? What training do you do to help you become more cheetah-like??? :)