I Finished The Run

This past Saturday was my first 5K race.

It was a beautiful day to run, with normal winds and not the howling blowing winds that brought in our rain storm on Friday. Whew! I felt much better about jogging once that storm passed.

However, I was still nervous all morning and kept myself busy with Easter dinner preparations. I kept telling myself that I was just going to workout in the afternoon, hoping to trick my nerves out of thinking about the race. That only kind of helped. Then I made some calls to my mom and then one my close friends just before the race to talk off some nervous energy. My husband had to study for an exam, but he met me and the kids at the race site.

Everyone took off and I found out pretty much in the first yards that I was going to be the last one. Step by step people passed me until I was jogging alone This thought was a little sad to me, but then I reminded myself that I was working on my own goals and not competing. (I found out later there were a few people walking it behind me.)

After that I just kept placing one foot in front of the other. I thought about my brother who is not well right now and thanked the Lord I was healthy enough to jog. I thought about how the road had a few hills in it and though I was bummed for the inclines I would just keep going. I did even wonder for a minute why the heck I was doing this? Then I reminded myself that I've run the distance before and I knew I could finish. :)

There was only one portion that was difficult and it was a slight incline on my way back to the finish line. But I would find things along the way to be little mini goals. "Just to the fence post. Okay, now get to the next cone. "

Suddenly off in the distance I saw this guy standing there at the last turn back to the finish line. It was my husband! I just grinned at him and passed him heading back towards the finish.

Upon reaching the finish line people were clapping and "Woo Hoo'ing' and it made me feel so good to know that I had finished it. I grinned real big and after crossing the line (and hearing the 'beep!' of my timing chip) I just cried for a few seconds.

My son asked,"Are you happy or sad?" I told him it was a happy cry that I finished. My family was very supportive of me and I felt wonderful knowing I had accomplished this great goal in my weight loss journey.

I finished it jogging the entire time, and my official time was 43:44.

My goal was to try and jog it in 45 minutes, so I came in under my goal by just over a minute. That made me very happy. Though, I'm sure the guy chuckled when at the halfway mark he says, "22 minutes" and I replied in a rasping voice, "Perfect!" .

Of course, there were many that got in faster than me, but a handful them all stopped and walked for portions. So, I was very content that though my time was slow I jogged the entire distance without stopping.

Yes, it was perfect -- an afternoon event I won't soon forget. :)