My First 5K

This is another post from the running archives. I detail my experience in my first 5K back in July, including horse farms, bad jokes and a little bit of vomit.

July 2, 2011
One week ago today, I finished my first race. I was nowhere near the front of the pack, but I wasn't the last one to cross the finish line either. And I stuck to my goal and ran the whole race without walking.

Lining up at the start, I excitedly soaked up the contagious energy of so many people standing still but poised to run. Of course, once the race began, the crowd of racers spread quickly and I was soon in the back third or so of runners. I did not have a time goal, so as I was passed over and over I just had to keep reminding myself that I was competing against the course, not the other runners. I think if I'd pushed too hard in that first mile, I might not have been able to keep running the whole race.

The race was very close to my house, but took us on a course I'd never run before. Once we lapped Daffin Park, we headed down a side street where I saw, to my great surprise, a riding stable and horses in the middle of town. From there, we took the Police Memorial Trail - a small, paved path that wound through the woods. I had no idea this wooded area existed in my neighborhood and I was excited to discover a new quiet, shady place for my runs.

The first mile went by ok, but I soon became convinced they'd forgotten to put out the second mile marker. Surely I'd done two miles already? But then, there it was up ahead. I was tiring but determined, so for the last mile I turned to the self-defense tactic of making jokes - asking other runners if I could climb on their backs, asking the police officer at the roadblock if he could give me a lift.

Finally, the finish line was in sight. I fell in step beside another runner going my same pace and we began to crack jokes together. Eying the group of spectators at the end of the race, I started repeating aloud a mantra. "I will NOT throw up in front of these people. I will NOT throw up in front of these people."

Side note: do NOT drink a milkshake for breakfast before a race on a hot day. Milk? What was I thinking?

I began to pull away from the other runner in the home stretch, and then I heard her voice behind me say, "You jinxed me!" I turned around in time to watch her throw up. "So sorry!" I yelled back. I felt momentarily guilty, but pressed on and kept my breakfast down.

Camille and Lee were there to cheer me on as I entered the Sand Gnats stadium and crossed the finish line at home plate. I'd run the race in 36:48 minutes, an 11:50 min/mi pace. That was faster than my training runs, so perhaps all that combined energy at the finish line really was contagious. I was hot, tired and thirsty, but I was proud. And I definitely want to do it again.