#58: Do a 5K

 About 2 months ago I started running.  I started at a mile.  My goal at first was to complete a mile without stopping.  I did it the first time. I did it again the second and third time.  The fourth time I decided to go for a 1.33 miles.  I did it and then the next time said, how about 1.5 miles. Done. NO problem. 

Then about a month ago, my roommate tells me about this inaugural 5k downtown.  I think oh we will definitely be ready for it in a month - lets do it. So we sign up.  We continue running regularly 1.5 miles, then we bump it to 2miles. Never running over 2miles. 

I decided to drive the course one day after work and well, umm since when was FL hilly?  This course is nothing put uphill, downhill, uphill, downhill.  We've only ever ran on flat ground. Not even a gradual incline.  Now I'm starting to freak out.  Will I be able to do this? 

My roommate and I decided we better at least walk the course once before the race, just so we are semi-used to the hills.  Then it starts to rain, and rain, and rain, and rain.  Our plans of walking the course before the race were crushed. I was kind of freaking out.

But... we had a plan of attack.  We'd stay with each other - we'd encourage each other to push it and if we needed a break to walk, we'd break to walk. This was just our first race  - we were just getting our base number our goal to beat next time. And there will be a next time.

Last night we went and picked up our bib number, t'shirts and random other items.  Since we had never ran in a 5k before, I went online and researched proper etiquette (yes I'm that girl).  I found that you shouldn't wear the race t'shirt the day of the race or you look like a rookie.  You should stay towards the back if you don't know your pace so you aren't in the way of the faster runners, and I also learned how to properly take water from a volunteer (though I didn't practice it today). 


We woke up bright and early this morning and set out for the race.  We warmed up by running up the first hill - but the time we reached the top I was done, so we changed our focus and decided to walk the first hill, run, walk the second hill and then run as much as we could the rest of the time. My goal was to just run across the finish line no matter how long it took me to get there.

All in all the experience was amazing. I ran in my first 5k. There is no stopping me now -I'm a runner.  This time last year I couldn't say that.  I am so proud of myself for even trying.  I look forward to the next 5k (which just so happens to be next month) Time to beat 42.44.  Wish me luck!