Alright, so here’s the deal with the “CARA Run For Their Lives” thing I did. I saw this event, the 11th one apparently, and I thought, “Why not?” It’s for a good cause and all, helping out those rescued animals at the Carolina Animal Rescue and Adoption, a no-kill shelter. Sounded good to me, a solid way to burn some calories and help some furry friends.
First, I had to decide whether to do it in person or virtually. I picked the virtual option. I mean, who doesn’t love the idea of doing something good without actually having to go anywhere? Plus, they had this “sleep option” where you could just donate and sleep in. Tempting, but I chose to actually run.
So, I picked August 24, 2024. I went online to find out more, saw they had different distances: 5k and 10k. Since I’m not exactly a marathon runner, I went with the 5k. Seemed doable, right?
Now, for the training, because you can’t just jump into a 5k without prepping a bit. I started with a mix of walking and jogging. You know, walk a bit, jog a bit, and repeat. I found this tip online about starting with two minutes of walking and one minute of jogging, repeat that a few times. Felt pretty good, not too hard.
Then, I slowly upped my game. Moved to two minutes of walking and two minutes of jogging. Kept at it until it felt easy. Also threw in some other exercises, like swimming and cycling, just to mix it up and get a bit stronger. They called it “cross-training.”
- Started slow: Walked for two minutes, jogged for one.
- Increased jogging: Moved up to two minutes of jogging.
- Mixed it up: Added swimming and cycling for cross-training.
- Kept at it: Did this until it started feeling easier.
Running’s not just about getting ready for the event, though. It’s got all these other perks, like making your heart healthier, helping with blood pressure, and all that jazz. Plus, it’s good for your muscles and bones. And let’s not forget, it releases endorphins. I felt way more energetic and positive.
On the day of the run, I picked my own route since I was doing it virtually. I just ran my 5k, tracked it on my watch, and that was that. Felt great to finish and know I did something good.
The Wrap-Up
So, that’s my story about the CARA run. It was a cool experience, mixing fitness with helping out animals in need. The whole training and running thing was pretty rewarding, and hey, I got a decent workout out of it. If you’re looking for a way to get active and support a good cause, this is definitely something to check out.
