My first 5k! Yea me!!

Aug 27, 2012

I'm not going to lie... it was HARD!!!  And 36 hours later I'm still sore.  I didn't train as much as many would have recommended but... I didn't care!  I just wanted to do it and I did.

I finished 586 out of 587, with a time of 1:07:42. 

Crazy part of it is that no part of the race did I enjoy.  I started crying 100 yards into it when I realized I was already at the very end, with only my best friend by my side.  Less than a mile into it I was so embarrassed that I'd subjected myself to it - and abundance of negative self talk.  None of which verbalized to my best friend for fear of her ridicule. 

But... I stay focused on doing what I had to do.  One foot in front of the other.  One step at a time.  Every race monitor we passed I thanked them for being there and jokingly told them to make sure the folks ahead of me didn't leave me.  I was thankful for the rain when it began to fall.  I was thankful for the wind - even if it was in my face and not at my back.

As I started encountering runners - who'd made the turn and were on their way back - THEY were cheering ME!!!   When I started thinking "this is so hard" & I'm all by myself, my best friend turned her iPhone music on and I was able to pick up the pace.  When I passed the two mile mark, the guys at the water table started doing a cheer for ME!  Sure they'd been doing the same cheer for the 585 that crossed their path before me but at this point... I was the only one (+ my best friend) and I absorbed their enthusiasm for all it was worth. 

In the moment, one foot in front of the other... I did not ever think "wow this is so cool, I want to be Forest Gump and run Forest run!"  But the day after, and today (36 hours later)... I'm so very thankful for the accomplishment.  Most times in life you do what you HAVE to do, so that you can then do what you want to do.  I WANT to be healthy.  I WANT to give my kids a run for their money.  To get there... I HAVE to workout.  I HAVE to exercise.  So if that's what it is... then sign me up baby!  I'm ready to begin training for my next 5k, although I think I'll do some weights today and save the treadmill for tomorrow (or Wednesday!  hehehe)

Two of my favorite pinterest pins are 1) the one about "here's what you think you look like and here's what you actually look like and 2) no matter how slow you are, you're still lapping people sitting on their couch.

(The 587th finisher was an extraordinary woman who ran the whole race despite having cerebral palsy!  She was born with her challenges and no surgery is going to bring her to "normal" in 12 months.  I pray I never forget her determination and strength.)

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