The 5K

I am so bad about remembering to take pictures. Unfortunately this is the only one I have and I look terrible in it. At least Jenn looks cute. This is Jenn and I just before the race started, taken with my phone.


Here is my 5K experience in all its glory.

I didn't sleep well the night before, I kept dreaming about racing old ladies. Why everyone at the race in my dreams was an old woman I will never know but they were. Also, I must have been worried about sleeping in because I woke up every 20 minutes from 5:00 on. It was kind of a relief to have the alarm go off so I could get up and get ready.

Jenn(ifer) and I carpooled to the park for the race. When we first got there we wondered if we had gotten the wrong day or were the only ones signed up because there was no one there. Fortunately as we drove around a little longer we found where we needed to go. We waited around for an hour for the race to finally start (it started about 15-20 minutes late because there were so many last minute registrants). When the race did finally start we didn't realize it at first. I didn't hear a horn or a whistle or anything so it wasn't until people around us started moving that we realized what was going on. The race was a little over two laps around the park with two major hills we would have to conquer twice. We started on a downhill stretch and then it was right into the first hill. We hadn't done any hill training for this 5K and Jenn was having a harder time recovering from them so she let me go ahead. I don't run with music even when I run alone so it was easy for me to just keep going and settle into a rhythm. I tried to keep my pace steady regardless of whether I was going up, down or flat. I actually felt really good even with the hills. I have to say I was kind of annoyed with a couple running by me. To quote MamaNut they kept playing "tortoise and hare" with me. They would run just long enough to get about 10 yards ahead of me and then walk until I passed them, then they would repeat it again. This lasted until the the first hill on the second time around. I kept my pace steady as I ran up and didn't see them again until the finish line 7 minutes after I crossed it (yes I am gloating!) The rest of my run was pretty uneventful I just ran at a steady pace and tried to enjoy everything around me. I finished with a time of 38:15. I know, not exactly Speedy Gonzales but it's a great starting point that I hope only improves with future races. I felt really prepared for this race which was so invigorating. I felt like a runner, I felt like an athlete. It was fun and I honestly can't wait to do it again.

So what did I do to celebrate this fantastic accomplishment? Jenn and I went to breakfast at The Original Pancake House. Mmmm it was fantastic food and I ate more than I should have but it was good and I am not going to feel guilty about it.