Ready to Run

Well, I did it! Yesterday’s St. Jude’s Fun Run 5K was a blast!

I think this was the perfect first race for me. There were probably 200 or so people participating – making it exciting, but not overwhelming.

I was so anxious to get started (see nerdy photo above), that time seemed to be going in slow motion. When we first got there (a little after 8), it was chilly and I couldn’t decide if I wanted to wear my sweatshirt or not. I’m glad I ended up taking it off, because the sun warmed up quite a bit just before our 9:00 start. The weather was perfect for racing.

When they gave the big “go”, I have to say that my legs felt a little funny. I know it was probably the excitement and adrenaline, and I was proud of myself for not sprinting too quickly. I started faster than my usual pace, but not too much. It didn’t take long before the crowd thinned out and I was pretty much running on my own. There were of course many people ahead, and also a bunch of people behind me. At once point, I turned around and it seemed that everyone behind me was just interested in the “walk” part of this Run/Walk. That was a little demotivating. I couldn’t let myself be the last place runner!

But I kept on and just tried to stick with what I’ve been training myself to do. At about the halfway point, I noticed a few people ahead of me were slowing down and resorting to walking. I understood their pain, as I have been there many times, but no way was I going to spend any part of my first race not running.

I did pass a few of those folks and found myself running right next to one girl for about a quarter of a mile.  I think she was probably thinking the same thing as me, “This is the girl I’m going to beat.” She did sprint ahead of me for a few steps, but quickly ran out of gas when we were about a quarter of a mile to the end. I had plenty left in my tank and stepped it up a little, easily passing her.

When I rounded the corner to where I could see the finish line, I also saw my buddy Ann, who had finished her awesome 5K run about 5 minutes before me. She came up and sprinted with me to the very end. It was so much fun!

Ann crushed her goal time, and I’m happy to report that I handily beat mine too. 

I finished my first 5K in 32:17 (a 10:22 pace)!

Here I am a few minutes after finishing. Excited, happy, and relieved to have gotten my first race under my belt.

Post-Race Glow

It was such a fun time, and we were both so proud of ourselves. I can see how this racing stuff can get addicting!

We can’t wait for our next adventure, the Run for the Warriors on May 16.

Ann and me Before the Race