Best 2/14 ever? Maybe.

So Thursday.  February 14th.  Valentine's Day.  This year?  Loved it.

I can't remember when I've had a better day than I did yesterday in a big picture kind of way.  Shall I elaborate?

I got some huge, awesome health news.  I've had irregular paps for the last four years, and that has resulted in multiple colposcopies and biopsies, and seeing my OB/GYN 3-4 times a year.  I FINALLY got a test within normal range, and based on my last exams I've been released to go back to normal, once a year exams.  HUGE for me.  Huge.  Four years of this, and now I'm back to being normal in that regard.  I attribute this change 100% to my new fitness and diet changes.  I really think it made a significant impact on this, and it is just one more motivating factor for me!

I got two Happy Valentine's Day texts from nice guys I consider my friends.  I got a Valentine's Day card in the mail from my mom, and a Facebook message for the holiday from my grandfather. 

I got really lovely blonde highlights put in my hair at my appointment yesterday, and they are awesome.  I got a relaxing blowout and got to come back to work for the afternoon feeling like a million bucks.  I got a small box of chocolates and a note of appreciation in my chair from our General Counsel, whom I work with on a regular basis. 

I met up with a new girlfriend after work for a drink and a little food.  We'd never hung out solo before, as we'd met through another friend, but we got along swimmingly and had a great time talking about work, dating, and life in general. 

I went to Pentagon City after work and got two fantastic new shades of nail polish from Sephora, along with a new Clinique Chubby Stick (love those things, especially the new bolder color ones).  I got an adorable, swingy black skirt, two shirts, earrings and a bracelet. 

While I was shopping, E texted me.  He warned me that thanks to his training session, he may not be able to move his arms for our date.  I told him how sad that was because I really like his arms.  :-)  He said that maybe they would make a recovery for me. We talked about details of timing and the like for tonight, and then we were talking about the 5k I've agreed to run at the end of March with my trainer.

I've talked to E about this before, and he was very encouraging to me about it.  Last night, he one upped himself.  I was expressing concern about if I could get ready for it in time, and he offered to run and train with me.  I told him that would be awesome, and that it would be nice to have someone to do that with.  He likes to run and often runs in 5ks and 10ks.  I then warned him that if he trained with me for it, I would want him to run the actual race with me.  He responded that he would run it with me with no hestitation.  The run is March 24.

He gave me tips on a good pace to aim for as a beginner, and I told him I felt all motivated and full of restless energy, and that I was going to go to the gym that night and just see how much I could run.  He was super encouraging and got me even more motivated.  We wrapped up our conversation and I did as I said, heading to the gym to run.

I got on the treadmill and I ran for 36 minutes straight without stopping.  Never, ever, ever in a million years did I think I could do that. Ever.  Disclaimers:  It was at a slow pace of 4.5 for 29 of the minutes, and at 5.0 for 7 minutes.  I ended up running a total distance of 2.72 miles in that time.  A 5k is 3.1 miles, and at the goal pace of 12 minutes per mile, that ends up being 36 minutes to run that distance. 

When I finished, I was stunned.  I'd not even intended to do it.  I'd gone in thinking I would just try to run for 12 minutes and see if I could hit a mile at that time.  But I ended up covering all the indicators because I didn't want to be distracted, and when I hit 12 minutes I thought, ok, let's try for 15.  Then 18.  Then 20. And then I  said, okay, I'll just run for 30 minutes.  But when I got to thirty, I only had those six left, as I'd set the time of running for 36 minutes.  I finished.  I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT.

E's motivation was gigantic in this.  The happiness of my day, and of my weeks in general was huge.  The confidence in my body and how much more in shape I am now than I ever thought I could be was huge.  I truly think this was the most shocking, awesome thing I've accomplished in the six months I've been training and working out. 

I know to a real runner this is nothing, but to someone like me who for years has proudly declared that I'll only run if being chased, who could never finish the mile run in high school without walking, who used to get winded going up a flight or two of stairs....this is such a momentous accomplishment.  I ran for 36 minutes without stopping.  I ran 2.72 miles.  Warrior Bluemoon has landed, and she is only getting better.

After the gym I came home and I was wired.  I cleaned up and then painted my nails with one of my new colors.  I called my mom to brag on my achievement.  I watched some DVR while my nails dried, and eventually I went to bed.  My body was spent, and I was mentally exhausted from what felt like an insanely long day...but a brilliantly good one.

This morning I woke up, put on one of my new shirts, got a smoothie on the way into work, and immediately got two compliments on my shirt.  I told my co-worker about my run, as she's a runner and appreciates my efforts.  And now I'm here, bubbling with accomplishment and energy, while also feeling like I could sneak a nap because all I do is run around like a crazy person lately.  But I can say with no uncertainties that I cannot remember the last time I have been as happy as I am right now. 

Happy Friday, indeed.  :-)