Today I did my very first 5km run. Most people might think that it is not a big deal. Well for someone who used to weigh 260 pounds. It’s a big deal. I really didn’t have much training. I just ran on the treadmill in the winter. In the month of May and June I started running outside. Only because I knew that I was running this 5km run. The first time that I ran outside. I thought that I was going to die…it was ALOT harder then I thought. So I gave up. Then one day I went back at it. I found my pace, and I was in LOVE with running outside. Yes I wouldn’t say I am addict or anything. So pretty much just kept running outside by myself leading up to the race. It’s hard when you have no one to run with you because you can easily not go one day. There is no one to motivate you or to encourage you.
RACE REPORT
My goal was 35 mins.
I asked my sister’s boyfriend if he would run the race with me, I knew he liked to run so I knew that he would do it with me.
As my first race, I didn’t really know what to expect. Especially at the beginning weaving in and out of people until you got away from the crowd was a challenge for me. I didn’t want to waste my energy on that part of the race and I didn’t want to run fast so that I could past people and then I would have to take a walk break. So once we broke away from the crowd a bit, I found my pace. I think that I was running a bit faster then I wanted to but I felt great. I didn’t need to take any walk breaks which I thought that I would have to. Did I mention I hadn’t ran in almost 2 weeks?
The first 1km took forever to get there, I actually didn’t think that they weren’t going to have any markers because I thought for sure we had past 1km by the time we came by.Then the 2km came up and I felt pretty good. Still didn’t need to walk just kept running. Around 3km we had a turn around which was really motivating because you got to see all the runners that were in the lead. It kept me going, just watching them pass me on the other side. The sun was so hot during 2-3km, it was just hitting us so hard but we managed to get through it and drank the water as they past it out. Then we hit the 4km mark and it was a shady part of the run. I looked at my watch and I thought well I am not going to make my time. But I just kept trekking a long. I could hear the guy the microphone so I knew I was close. Getting closer my sister’s boyfriend sprinted the a head but I just kept my own pace. And then finally I crossed the line. I think I had a tear in my eye.
I actually did it!!! And I took no walk breaks at all. I felt great throughout the whole race. I really surprised myself how I felt throughout the race.
My watch said 35:40 but I have to await the final chip time.
Some thoughts on the race:
* lots of people who ARE runners, lots of people who THINK they are runners, and lots of people who Can't run at all were there.
*strollers should not be on the course
* running is very competitive
* hearing people encourage you on the race really does help you get through it.
Here are some pictures
Gavin and I pre race!
