I did it!!!!!

03 Oct 2010 2 Comments

by Mel in Uncategorized Tags: 5k, cardio, exercise, fitness, goals, good days, running, training, triumph

I did it! I did it! I did it! I did it! I did it!

I ran my race!!!! And since I’m sitting here typing this, it is fair to say that I did it WITHOUT DYING! That’s the most important thing.

Friday night, I met up with Becca and her boyfriend, Chris, out in Fairfax for some quality Chinese food and some minor shopping. I decided I wanted a runner’s belt after Helen, my friend slash race organizer, told me there would be a water stop only at the half mile point. (There was a concurrent one mile “fun run” for the kids and organizers wanted them to be able to get water too). I knew from my training that I’d need a lot more water than that. But I also hate holding things while I’m doing anything active. Solution? Runners belt with a clip for a water bottle. Win.

What did I come home with? A runners belt with a water bottle. And a new pair of Nike running capris (wearing them right now. Uber comfy). And a cute Nike shirt that says “I’m so official, I don’t need the whistle.” And running socks. The belt was $10. My other impulse buys totaled $95. I’m normally very fiscally conservative so I’m justifying it by saying that I’ll use them a lot, thus bringing the cost-per-use to almost 0.

Because honestly, it’s not how fast you go. It’s not whether you finish. It’s about how cute you look doing it.

Starting the race was great. It was a charity race to benefit my church’s school (of which I’m a graduate of), so our pastor offered a blessing over the racers before the gun went off. I’m definitely not a holy roller, but I felt a lot better knowing God and some extra angels were running with me on the road that morning.

And it was cold. I didn’t pay attention to how warm it was going to be at 6am when I listened to the weather report. It was habit. Normally I’m snuggled deep under my awesome comforter at that hour. I was way under dressed to be just standing around in 45 degree weather, but once I got running, it was perfect. I think I created enough heat to power a large industrial complex or two, but the coolness of the air made me feel room temperature.

The first mile totally sucked. My body completely protested to even moving that early. The water station was right where Helen said it would. Mile 0.5.

You are fucking kidding me. I’m only at half a mile? I was in the middle of the group starting out, and it seemed like everyone and their brother passed me. I refused to look back to try to orient myself. The race is against you. Fuck the rest of them. I turned up my iPhone so I couldn’t hear the other runner’s footsteps and just focused. I lost myself in the Carbon Leaf blaring through my headphones and ran.

Coming down to the finish line is a feeling that I don’t think I could even describe. Helen made sure there were plenty of volunteer cheerleaders to root for any runner coming across the line. Hearing the cheers was great. Two of my choir buddies, Helen, her husband and their two kids were standing next to the lane barriers to watch me finish.

Not gonna lie, as I ran towards the finish line, I totally imagine a montage in my head. Slo mo and chariots of fire style. I looked fabulous in it, too.

Crossing the line was the best moment of my life so far. I worked so hard this past year to get the weight off and keep it off. It’s been slow going. I have fought for every single damn one of those pounds. There were nights when I cried myself to sleep because my muscles hurt so badly. Because of those down moments, the highs are euphoric. It took everything in my power not to tear up.

I finished the 5k in 37:23, which comes out to exactly a 12 minute mile. I had been running 11 minute miles the week before. But I didn’t run in the five days before the race, and rarely run outside where there are the bitchy little things called “hills.” So I’ll take the minute gain. Gives me something to work towards later.

Helen and I might be running a turkey trot together in November!

In an effort to engage any readers I may have—do you have a first race/competition story? Comment to share!

Advertisement