I have never been much of a runner. I find it boring and hard work on my body. Even in high school I never really enjoyed running but was fit enough to do it. This past year, I’ve wanted to become a runner and today I feel like I finally did.
Now I’m not only an athlete but a runner. That brings me great joy.
This morning I ran my first 5K. I do not run normally other than in my classes at the gym. I knew I could run a mile without stopping but I never even tried running 3.2 miles before today. I signed up for the Fit for Fire run in Washington Park. I know it seems crazy to sign up for a 5k without training but I wanted to use it as ‘baseline data’ for how fast I could run/walk a 5k. I choose this one because I attended as a bystander last year. My friend Kelley had invited me last year to hangout in the DJ van with her while all the hot firemen ran by. But this year, I ran with all those hot firemen.
I did not train to run but I thought I could do about half of it running and half walking. Before the race I had a lot of anxiety. There were a few things that I wanted to accomplish:
1. Finish in under 45 minutes
2. Not be the first person to walk
3. Run 50% of the distance
4. Feel like I’d done my very best at the end
What if everyone could run the whole thing like it was nothing and I was huffing and puffing the whole way? Oh well, let’s find out.
Mile 1
As the race was starting, I was really nervous but I knew that I could at least get through this first mile. My hubby had made me the perfect playlist to inspire me through me run. I quickly found an anonymous buddy that had the same pace as me. I put my head down, stared at her shoes and just kept running. The first mile was done before I knew it. As I was passing the first mile marker, I texted Dan that I had finished mile 1 and was still running. I couldn’t believe I had made it so far already. My breathing was good and my body felt great. He texted back that he was waiting at the mile 2 marker.
Mile 2
Knowing that he was waiting got me through the second mile. I didn’t want to let him see me walking. Also, my breathing was still in control and I wasn’t getting the burning in my throat that I was expecting. I was feeling pretty good. Seeing my hubby waiting at mile 2 was awesome! I couldn’t believe I had made it so far and was feeling so good. I had NEVER run this far in my whole life, I’m pretty sure.
Mile 3 to finish
I struggled with the last mile. At around 2.5 miles I got a pain in my side and my backside was starting to burn pretty bad. I chose to walk for a while and give my body a short rest. Considering I had already made it 2/3 of the way without walking, I thought this was ok. Looking back, I probably could have just kept running. I had never run this course before and had no idea where the turn to the finish was. I could see the finish but not how to get there. I stared at more shoes. I thought about all the things I’d learned in the last year. The next thing I knew there was a firefighter waiting in his gear to high five me around the corner to the finish. I saw that finish line and never looked back.
I can’t even describe the feeling of crossing that finish line. I had so much FUN proving to myself and my body that I’m an athlete now. The first thing I did was hug my hubby and might have even shed a tear. Running 90% of a 5k is just another thing on a long list of things I can do now that I never thought I could or would do. How did I do on my goals?
1. I finished in 36:22 (Goal was 45)
2. I was definitely not the first person to walk
3. I ran 90% of the distance (Goal was 50%)
4. I feel like I couldn’t have done any better!
This just goes to show I still don’t know what I’m capable of and I still think I’m weaker than I am. Although I suppose that’s better than being over confident or cocky, I’m still shocked at what I can do. I know I work out a lot and I consistently push myself and my body at the gym. However, a 5k seems so much more measurable. How many times have I passed or seen a 5k race and thought it was something I could never do. Last year I was a spectator and this year a finisher.
I even got to run for an awesome cause: Denver Fire Fighters!