My alarm went off at 7am (race starts at 8am about 15-20 minutes away). Perhaps I should have woken up earlier but I thought that being half-asleep when the run began might actually be an advantage for me. The first thing I thought when I woke up was, "Huh," (I said that part out loud) "I was hoping I would feel more like running when my alarm went off." I've never been a morning runner (it used to make me sick to my stomach) but, golly, it's hard to find a 5k event in the afternoon or evening. Also, I had a crick in my neck when I woke up. I took that to be a bad omen.
I quickly got dressed, ate half a banana muffin, drank some water, and googled directions to the race. Then I told Chris to wish me luck and keep his phone on in case I passed out or something and headed out the door. On the way, I decided that I would put no pressure on myself. I ran 5k on the treadmill back in April but I haven't run that far since then. I get so bored on the treadmill though..... Anyway, I was basically only running this 5k to check it off my 30x30 list and I had already determined that running 5k on the treadmill in April plus running/walking a REAL 5k in September would be enough to allow me to check it off my list.
So anyway, I got lost but eventually made it to the registration area and started my trek up a huge hill toward the starting line. I guess I'm thankful that running up that huge hill wasn't part of the 5k but, WOW, that was a pretty intense warm-up! I had about 5 minutes to mill around at the starting line making small talk with people that I didn't know and didn't plan to ever see again (always weird) before they blew the horn.
As the race began I was happily running with a large crowd of people thinking, "If I keep up this pace I'll be finished in no time!" and then realizing, "Um, Stefanie, there's no chance that you can keep up this pace -- SLOW DOWN!" So as hard as it was to let people pass me when I had so much energy, I slowed down. Good thing I did! About two minutes into running my legs started to burn and feel completely spent. I know what this is -- it happens every time I'm on the treadmill too. I always tell myself that if I can make it through the first five minutes then I can basically run forever. Not really forever....but basically. But this time the feeling really scared me because the huge hill HAD already worn me out some and I almost panicked thinking, "I can't stop running NOW! I've only been running for TWO MINUTES!" And that's when I found my running buddy.
At first it was awkward. I ran behind her for a while, decided I liked her pace, and thought I would just follow her for as long as I could keep up. I'm certain she could hear me and wondered who was 5k stalking her but I didn't really care. Eventually we ended up running side-by-side but not really acknowledging it. Still awkward. But finally roadkill brought us together. Seriously......it's a 1.5 mile stretch of road -- couldn't someone have cleaned up the dead animal carcasses before the race??? Ugh. Gross. I should have added one more entry to my 30x30 list: "Run 5k -- CHECK. Jump over dead raccoon bits -- CHECK." My running buddy and I exchanged words about how disgusting it was thus breaking the ice and taking our relationship to the next level.
We ran the entire 5k together. She was 45-years-old and had just moved here from Louisiana. Her daughter was joining the Air Force soon and she was helping her train for it by running 5ks with her. She was a first grade teacher and knew tons of the other runners because of her involvement in the community. I'm pretty sure she's the reason I was able to run the whole thing. And God too -- I was doing a lot of praying before and after this 5k! He's probably the one who sent her to me. My very own running angel. Okay......this is getting weird.
ANYWAY, we ran along the Smithville Lake Dam so the views were spectacular.
There were two uphill sections but it was mostly very flat. And the end was DOWN that huge hill that I had to walk up to get to the starting line. FABulous! Every 5k should end downhill. My time was 37:30 -- not spectacular but I was expecting to do it in 50 minutes so I was pleasantly surprised to see the time at the finish line.
And yes, I was a dork and took a picture of myself at the finish line. Not pretty, but you know what they say, "If you look pretty after exercising then you didn't do it right."
And yes, there were pancakes at the end! All-you-can-eat pancakes! So basically any calories that I burned running in the 5k were immediately replaced with the pancakes. Hopefully I broke even.
When I saw Flora and Scout at church they asked me if I won my race. I told them, "YES! I did!" Then Flora asked, "How did you get all the other people to stop running?" She was onto me.
Oh well....I still think I won. Yea me!
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