The opportunity presented itself while at the 2010 Ladies Golf spring kick off dinner. Karol asked if anyone was interested in the 5k walk/run. I immediately jumped on it because I knew that it was on my list, and the other gals were a bit more reluctant. You see, Karol is a more dedicated runner than the rest of us.
The next weekend came and went along with the registration. The day before I realized that I had not registered, and that the team of 4 was rounded out with Jessica, another great runner. My enthusiasm for the 5k was waning as quickly as the race was coming. How can I get myself out of this....accidentally oversleep? Well, since it didn't start until 9:30, and I am usually up by 7:30 on the weekends, that wasn't going to work. Trey got called into work? Well, he didn't. Alright...I'm getting the message...I'm still in.
When I woke up the sun was shining, it was a comfortable 53 degrees. By the time we got to the registration it was clouding up, temperature was dropping, the wind was picking up, and the rain clouds were getting closer. Why couldn't I have overslept?? We warm up by walking a few laps on the inside track and then get lined up for the race. Really, why am I warming up? I don't have a clue what I am doing. Don't you just go out there and start runing....push through the pain...right!?! I mean the furthest I have run in the past 6 years is 1 mile and now I am attempted 3! What was I thinking!?!
The race begins and we are off. Karol and Jessica, as expected, take off with the pack while Val, Dana, and I remain just a little further back--who am I kidding--ALOT further back, but moving along at a nice pace. Uh-oh...that bowl of cereal I ate is causing a cramp. What was I thinking eating that much this morning? I was thinking that I needed some energy and it was an hour and half before the race.
There is an older gal jogging right in front of us at, what I think, is a slow pace. (If I think she is slow...how slow are we!?!) We finally get past her and the next thing I know we are at the 1 mile marker and they were offering us some cups of water. Well, sure...who am I turn down some nice hospitality (and an opportunity to walk and catch my breath). We are off running again, but the breathing is getting a bit harder. Ok, so it feels like my lungs are going to explode and that my body is severly lacking oxygen. I finally have to slow my pace to a brisk walk after the 2nd mile marker. I didn't get much resistance from Dana and Val with this suggestion. :)
We walked and chatted for about 3/4 of a mile, but I had two goals in mind--I did not want to walk into the finish line and I definitely did not want that slower gal at the beginning of the race to pass us! We picked it up for the last quarter mile of the race and finished strong at 35 minutes! WHAT!?! 35 minutes! AND we ran 2/3 of the 3 mile race. None of us had run much more than a mile before this in any recent past.
Karol and Jesscia finished up 12 minutes before us. Jess took 2nd place and Karol 4th--they were awesome! I have no idea where I placed, but I finished and I finished strong! High-fives all the way around, pats on the back, some stretching and then, I don't remember who it was, says....there is another 5K next Saturday! Uhhh.....Let me get back to you after tomorrow!
The best part of the day, though, was coffee, pastries (or a breakfast sandwich smothered in cheese) and good conversation. Oh yeah, and another item completed on my list of 101 things. Thanks gals--it was a ball!
No comments:
Post a Comment