running

I ran in my first race on Friday night. It was my frirst official race. Of course I don't count the races we had when we were kids. You know the ones...when you run and run and feel like your legs are going to fall off, arms flailing in the air, heart pumping so hard you thought it just might beat out of your chest because you had to beat your friend. And I don't count the runs in high school sports either. For field hockey, we had to run 2 miles (I believe) and I came in second a lot of the time, only to see my lovely friend Christiana come in first every time. One time I was beating her and was so bent on coming in first for once that I smashed my knee into the guardrail and only stopped running because people were telling me I was bleeding.

Even though I don't count those races, they hold one important factor: I am actually a bit competitive. In board games, I am all about fairness and hate trash talkers like my husband. In life, I am always about sharing. But running...I am feel the competitive spirit boiling up in me.

So back to the 5k....all the runners are standing there, huddled together, waiting for the official start. I look around and there are runners from all walks of life: older and younger, tone and not so tone, some listened to music, others preferred to listen to their own breathing and the cheers from the crowd. I wasn't nervous at all, which is not like me. I run 3.5 miles almost every day....BUT, it is a slower run...may even be classifed as a jog. But at the time, I wasn't even worried about how I would place in the race. I just didn't want to be last.

And then the race started......FAST! Everyone just jumped out of their shoes practically and started booking down the street! I was winded after the first 2 minutes! I had two friends ahead of me and one behind. But then as everyone found their stride and settled in, I did as well. And then I was on fire. My competiveness just took over and I ran at a steady pace the whole time. None of this jogging I do during my normal runs. I took long strides, let my music push my pace and let my mind push myself. It was exhilirating seeing the families that came to cheer on their loved ones. I felt so cool when there was a water tent and the people would hold out a cup of water for you. Not for me, thanks! I am on a roll! Most runners who did take the cup threw it in their own faces anyway. I was passing people left and right, it was awesome!

It was two laps to the finish and as I was completing the first lap, I was thinking I could be in the top 20 in this race. And then I saw it. About a minute after I finished my first lap, I saw runners passing me on their way to the finish line....THE FINISH LINE! I was JUST starting my second lap out of two laps and they were finishing! Sooooo, then my thinking changed. Ok, mayyyyybe I was not in the top 20....I was then trying not to be in the bottom 50!

I ended up coming in 120th out of 321 with a time of 23:50. I was happy with that. The best time was 14 minutes! I cannot even fathom how fast he had to run to get that time. But now I have caught a bug...they were handing out fliers for the Turkey Trot, a 5k on Thanksgiving morning around the Downingtown Golf course. I like it. Anyone want to join me? :)