FITNESS FRIDAY: Signed up for a 5K

Yesterday, I made a simple but bold decision. I signed up for a 5k taking place next March. Yes, four months away. My job, among many many other things, is to coordinate my organization's participation in the LA Marathon and 5k. This will be our 4th year and the first time I will actually race.

Why is that a bold move? Because I have been told by many specialists including my rheumatologist and my cardiologist NOT to run. I fall easily and I have heart problems. Also, when I trained for the full marathon in 2010, I fell and tore a ligament in my right ankle 1 month before the event and never got to run.

My first love will always be yoga because it creates a peace and stillness inside of me that I badly need. But there is a competitive part of me that wants to train, wants to challenge myself and put myself against others for fun. I'll probably never complete a marathon - not sure my heart can stand the endurance it requires - but I will be happy with a 5k medal.

So why am I doing this? Because I can. Because I am in better shape than I was when they first gave me this morning. Because I can walk the race at my own speed. Because I never got my medal, and I want that sense of accomplishment. Because i am taking a stand for friends who are too severely impacted by this disease and say that the status quo is unacceptable. And because I'm doing it for charity.

My awesome husband has agreed to do it with me and we're looking for folks to join our team.

If you're in LA, want to take part in the 5k or full LA Marathon, and want to raise funds and awareness of Lupus, a disease that has impacted my life severely and the lives of some of mu dearest friends over the last 5 years, please consider joining Team Reyes. Visit Lupus LA to sign your commitment form today and plan on your winter training.



Drop me a line to let me know that you're joining the team at AMoreConsciousE at gmail dot com, as I'm also the person in charge of the whole team so I'll know how to process your commitment form and you'll get a special Team Reyes introductory letter.

If you're not in LA and still want to support, you can join our team as a virtual member and raise funds that way, or just donate to our page. From there you'll click JOIN NOW which will take them through the process of REGISTER > JOIN A TEAM > CREATE A PAGE.

I'm going to run my race with my pink shoelaces because #imagreatist and I #sweatpink.

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