I did it! I ran the 5K!
I am so whooped right now and am about ready to take a nap, but wanted to do a "trip report" first.
My friend, his daughter and I arrived plenty early, got our runners packets and stretched, warmed up, stretched some more. As daylight appeared, one could see gray clouds and a light, intermentint rain fall. A cool front has come in, and with it cloudy skies and some light rain. This is probably a good thing, keeping it cooler for the athletes.
At the starting line, we were in the middle of the pack, not with those who are the speed demons, yet not with the walkers. My goal was first, to finish, second to do it in under 40 minutes, figuring that 38 minutes is a good goal.
At mile one, my time was 11.54, wow! A 12 minute mile! Not bad! People would pass me by, only to be walking later. Fathers and their kids running side by side. Mom's with jogging strollers passing me. It's Ok. I try to keep my pace. David and Ana are somewhere behind me. Ana at 10, is her first 5K. The pace setters were far ahead and that was ok. It is me against myself.
Mile two was my maintence run, just get through it, don't stop, don't walk, just keep going. Time was 25+ (don't remember the fraction), ok, a 13 min. mile. It's OK. I am doing it, that's all that matters.
I am turning the final turn to the finish line. I know it's 1/3 away. Just keep going, just keep going. There is a slight bend in the road and I can see the finish line. I pick it up and give it all I have left. I think I probably looked like spaghetti running, as my style, I am sure is not that of a swift, long lean, years of running, runner. I am a shorty with a body that is not designed for running. It's OK. I am running against myself. Chasing a dream of doing something that I have wanted to do my whole life. Somewhere along the way I believed it when somebody said "You can't run, try the shot put instead." Those voices filled my head in early morning jogs through darkened streets, yet I decided finally not to listen to those voices. Just put one foot in front of the other. Just keep going. The finish line is getting closer. I have started sprinting, giving it all I can give. Friends are shouting "c'mon Jenny. You can do it." I cross the line. 36:36. I beat my goal by one and a half minutes! Whoo Hoo! I am victorious. I have won. My dream has come true.
I did my 12 min. average!!! Whoo Hoo!!!