Resolution No. 16 done in 42 minutes

I finished my first 5K this morning. It's something I've always wanted to do, but I've never entered one because I think I had some concerns left over from my really nonathletic days in high school when I used to be the last one to finish the mile in PE.

So when I added a 5K as one of my resolutions (No. 16) in January, I planned to enter one in July so I would have six months to train. I started out doing 10 minutes on the treadmill and my plan was to add three minutes a week to build up my time and endurance. But about six weeks ago, my mom's coworker mentioned the Wildflower Run in Morgan Hill. It sounded like a good run to start since it has a flat surface and a place that is cool in the mornings. But it was four months ahead of my plan. I immediately amped up my training. The first week I ran two miles on the treadmill. The next week I ran 30 minutes, or about 2.5 miles. Then the week after I went for 3.1 miles just to see if I could do it. I reserved my running for Friday and Sunday, but never got around to running outdoors.

I had two people tell me that running outside is a lot harder than on a treadmill. I haven't run outdoors since I was in college and the main reason I stopped was that my allergies really act up outside. One person said she thought it was easier to run outdoors because you get into a rhythm more easily than when you try to stay in the center of a treadmill.

I eventually worked my way up to 3.1 miles in 40 minutes and I've been doing that on Sundays, with a 20 min. run on Fridays. I felt well prepared for the morning run/walk. I made a mix of fast tempo songs to help pace myself and keep me motivated during the trek. I skipped the gym this morning, but warmed up with a mile walk with the dog at the park. I had a bottle of water to keep hydrated.

At 9:15, the 5K started and I encountered my first issue with running outdoors. For some reason, my yoga pants kept slipping down for the first 10 minutes on the run so I kept having to hike them up. Eventually they started staying up on their own. I have to agree with the people who said running outdoors is harder than running on a treadmill, since I had to stop a few more times than when I run inside. And my nose started running thanks to allergies. The mile markers were helpful to keep track of how far I had left and as I came up to the finish line I tried to pick up my pace. I didn't notice what time I crossed the finish line, but it was some time between 42-43 minutes - just a few minutes off my 40-minute goal.

After I finished, I walked back the way I came to meet my mom who was walking the 5K. She wasn't far back, about 10 minutes behind me. The best part of this run is the free Jamba Juice offered at the finish line, along with the oranges and trail mix. And, of course, I have my green "finisher" ribbon - perhaps my first "award" for any athletic event ever.

I am ready to sign up for the next 5K, maybe one at the end of May. Now that I have a time, I can set a goal to improve it a little with each run.

Scrumptious eats

Food Network started a new show for the summer season called, "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." The half-hour show consists of network stars, chefs and other foodies sharing their best of the best in the category of the day. So far the themes have included barbecue, bacon, pizza and a few others.

I've been taking notes for a few places that are actually within driving distance of me, like Nopa in San Francisco where I was supposed to dine in a week but my friends couldn't get reservations. The RSVPs open one month in advance, and this time booked up in less than two hours. It was featured on the bacon episode for a flatbread pizza.

Though these places have never been featured on the Food Network, I know a few eateries that make my best thing I ever ate list. It starts with the pastrami pizza at My Pizza in Morgan Hill. The pizza parlor is a little hole in the wall place in a shopping center along the back roads to San Jose. The center is mostly filled with little Mexican shops, and the pizza place is easy to miss. Now I know a pastrami pizza sounds bizarre, but for some reason it works. The crust is a thick, chewy one with herbs cooked in. Then there is a mayo sauce, thick layers of mozzarella cheese, pastrami, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, mustard and diced pepperocinos. It's an amazing mix of flavors, but for those who are less adventerous there is also the standard pepperoni, combo and other varieties that taste anything like standard pizza.

Another of the best things I ever ate is also in Morgan Hill and is something I discovered a few months ago. The Cupcake Shop in Morgan Hill has a little storefont on Monterey Road, but their cupcakes pack in big flavor. The Amardillo, their name for a red velvet cupcake is the moistest, best-tasting cupcake I've ever had. Delicious. The shop has a dozen flavors that are in regular rotation, and each day they come up with a new flavor. Some of the experimentations include a rootbeer float cupcake, a banana split cupcake and a pumpkin spice.

I can't get enough of these places, so luckily they are a 20 minute drive from my house or I would be tempted a lot more often.