First Race Day!!!

What a great day...

Was running late getting out of the house (story of my life), but got to the race in time, since things didn't start right at 8 am sharp. Had a pleasant surprise to see Holly from the Clark County Republican Women and Kyle from church, as I hadn't expected to know anyone.

Holly helped me pin on my race number and lined up in the back of the pack with me. About 50 yards into the race she realized I couldn't keep up with her pace and dropped back to tell me not to worry about her, just to run my own race and not let her mess me up. I didn't, but I did try to keep her at least in sight as long as I could.

I've been running about a 13-15 minute mile in training, and my record distance covered running without stopping for a walking break was 1 mile. So I wasn't really expecting anything at all this race, except to finish. I was planning to just run my usual pace and just finish wherever I finished...even if I was last. But I forgot to turn my stopwatch on when I started running (was still too busy people-watching) and so I had no idea how fast I was running. I was keeping pace with the group ahead of me for about the first half of the race, and I realize now they were probably running much faster than I'm used to.

However, for the first mile or so there was no one behind me except the support vehicle...a full-metal cammo-painted Hummer! Headlines flashed through my head..."Novice Runner Flattened By Hummer...Race Organizers Shocked". It was kind of nice company though, and I had to laugh thinking about how funny it must look...little tiny five foot nothing me, and this huge army green splotchy thing over my right shoulder. I did pass 2 people though (although one of them passed me back...a white-haired lady who walked at least 50% of the race and STILL beat me by one place) so eventually I stopped running in the shadow of the Hummer.

I did manage to set a new personal distance record...I ran about the first mile and three-quarters without stopping...past the turn around. The first mile felt great (if fast, but I chalked that up to adrenaline and it being an early-morning race so it wasn't as hot), the second mile was a little harder but felt like what I'm used to as far as pushing myself through the second half of my training runs. The last mile kicked my butt...I stopped for about half a dozen walking breaks, but they were brief...only a minute or two, to catch my breath and drink some water.

FINALLY after the longest mile of my running career, I could hear the music playing at the start/finish area, and I tried to speed up a little. By that time I just wanted to be done. Holly met me again about 25 yards from the finish line and took my empty water bottle from me and encouraged me to finish strong. I found a little more for a little tiny finishing kick and ran through the finish.

I was NOT last (he was a brand new runner, ran about the first 3/4 mile and walked the rest of the race, the other person I passed at the beginning) and my time TOTALLY blew me away. Remember I said I'd been running 13-15 minute miles in training? And in training that pretty much felt like my maximum sustainable pace? I figure I must have gone out WAY fast at the beginning, and I'm sure not stopping for a walk break until after the halfway mark improved my time too, but I never expected the time I got...

35:26!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOW did that happen???? Roughly an 11 1/2 minute mile???? Me????

It figures I'd set myself a PR in my first 5K that I'll have to train my butt off to beat.

I'm hooked...after the race was over I was kind of disappointed...like, "it's over already??"

Holly and I are hoping to run together on some Saturdays.

I can't wait for the next race!!