In early December I ran my first 5K. Nothing can really describe the experience which is why it has taken me almost a month to write about it. Don't get me wrong, I am more than happy that I did it but I clearly needed more preparation. This post should have been a series of posts but I couldn't bring myself to sit down and recount the experience. So forgive me in advance for the long post.
My friend Cheryl and I started training with the Couch to 5K (C25K) app that I downloaded (its now called Ease into 5K) from the Apple App store in late September. We started the training by doing a series of run/walks on a track 3 times a week and later advanced to running around the campus of Prince George's Community College (Maryland). I remember the first time we ran for 3 minutes without stopping - we were so giddy over that accomplishment it was funny! Closer to the race we decided to run the actual 5K course at the National Harbor on Sundays. The first time we read the map wrong and cut out about 1.5 miles by turning down the wrong street. The second time we figured we read the map wrong again since the published course seemed to involve what is traditional trail running conditions (gravel and loose concrete). Surely we had the map wrong so the next time we decided to just run the trail backwards so we could attempt to figure this out. Our one challenge during the backward run was a hill that we were thankful would come at the "end" not the beginning of the race. After what proved to be our last training run on the actual course (albeit backwards) I knew I needed more work if I was going to finish in 45 minutes (my goal). I abandoned the C25K because it was a 30 minute program and clearly after 30 minutes I was no where near completing 3.2 miles. Fast forward to race day!
This was Cheryl and my first 5K EVER! We clearly needed an orientation because we looked like fish out of water. People were walking around looking "official", we were struggling to put our race numbers on without them looking goofy! We were freezing cold (it was 33 degrees that morning with a wind chill of 27) and the professionals were wrapped in trash bags and aluminum foil looking blankets, looking warm. There were THOUSANDS of folks there (9,000 for the 5k and over 18,000 for the 15K). The race started over an hour late so we were in the starting corrals freezing our buns off!
When the race finally got started there was a traffic jam of people and guess what - they changed the race course and that BIG HILL that we though was coming at the end (as a down slope), ended up at the beginning (as an up hill battle!). I promise you I cursed (and prayed) all the way up that hill. Once I got up the hill I had what was probably the equivalent of a HOT FLASH. My first thought was to take my jacket off but I'd pinned my race number to the jacket and couldn't get it off to tie around my waist! I'd long abandoned the hat and gloves but couldn't figure out how to get out of the jacket without stopping and running the risk of not finishing in a respectable time. Because of the traffic jam and that darn hill I really hoped to make it in less than an hour.
During the race I noticed people of all shapes, sizes and ages. Cheryl was about 2 minutes ahead of me and every now and then I'd catch a glimpse of her. There were two ladies who were running near me who, in my head, were my motivators / competitors. One was about 50 pounds heavier than me and who, instead of doing a run/walk, kept a steady slow jog. I was secretly envious of her - how did she do that?? Every now and then I needed to do a fast walk to pace my breathing. Then there was another lady who looked older than me who smiled every time I saw her - how did she do that?? I never equate running with happiness but somehow she kept smiling. Whenever either of these ladies passed me or were in my peripheral view I knew I had been walking too long or too slow so I started my jog. OH, did I mention that my teenager took my IPOD out of my purse the night before without telling me which left me without my pace music! So I had no idea if I was jogging too slow or walking too long or anything! My sense of time and pace were blown and I was left with only my thoughts and my two competitors/motivators.
At one point, somewhere around the 2.5 mile mark, I looked beyond the gates surrounding the National Harbor and saw the community where one of my Spelman sisters lives. I thought about abandoning the race, jumping the fence, and going to her house to lay down. Then I realized there was no way I'd be able to lift my legs to climb that fence and plus "Miss Smiley" was on my heels. So I just kept going. I couldn't see Cheryl anymore but in the distance I could see the finish line. There was also the last hill that I had to conquer before I got there. Someone was on the loud speaker at the finish line calling names and encouraging folks to finish strong. In my head I knew the end was near but I was HOT, my legs were HEAVY, and at that moment "Miss Steady Jog" passed me. I wasn't going to let that happen, not after all this time of staying ahead of her! The last hill was a beast but I managed to pass Miss Steady Jog and never saw Miss Smiley again. I managed to finish in 57 minutes, I believe Cheryl finished in 53 minutes. The moment I crossed the finish line I swore I would never do it AGAIN! My lungs hurt, my legs hurt, I was HOT, and I had to walk up yet another hill to get my hot chocolate, fondue (The race was sponsored by Ghiradelli so chocolate was waiting for us), and my stuff I'd left in the item check area.
While posing with Cheryl for our official finish line photo I remembered why I did this race! To raise money for UMPSCare Charities. The charity represents Major League Baseball Umpires and they provide Build-A-Bear workshops for hospitalized children who are fighting Cancer and terminal illnesses. My goal was to raise $350 for the cause but I'd raised $540 from people who believed in me and the cause. I was so proud of myself! I'd finished something that everyone else knew I could do - long before I did it. It was as if I had an automatic "aha" moment, an epiphany of sorts. My legs still hurt, my lungs ached for days, and parts of my body that I forgot about were sore but I FINISHED. It wasn't cute, I didn't finish with a pep in my step, and if I didn't want that cute race jacket so bad I would have ripped it off during mile 2 and threw it over the fence! After all of that I say with confidence I can't wait for my next 5K - I'm hooked! I need to get back to training so I can conquer the next one with confidence! My goal is to run the entire race - no walking!
This Journey is All Mine!
Rhonda
