Some of you know from keeping up with me on Facebook or through conversation that I have been training for the last two and a half weeks to enter Northwest’s Residence Hall Association (RHA) 5K Run/Walk. To set some back story, I finally got off my lazy caboose in February and have been working out regularly for about 2 ½ months now. I prefer elliptical machines as versed to treadmills and running by a long shot. Anyway, one day about 2 ½ weeks ago, I headed down to the fitness center (it’s in the basement of our building… convenient!) and found someone had just started on the elliptical. I decided instead of waiting I would just do something different and get on the treadmill for a run. After about 10 minutes, it began to dawn on me that I was doing pretty well. I had read the advertisement for the 5K a few days prior and after putting these two thoughts together, training for the race was on.
I spent about a week doing indoor running on the treadmill and another week’s worth of running the actual course outdoors. After doing the course several times and improving my time each outing (that is after hitting the “wall” really bad on Wednesday… that was an ugly run), race day finally came today.
Getting race instructions from Matt.
I had a simple goal. Complete the course in less than 30 minutes. I had timed myself twice at under 30 minutes with my best training time coming in at 28:10. As for today… when I showed up no other runners were there! Unfortunately, Mother Nature decided today was a great day for a downpour. A few minutes before race time, two other runners did show up. I had told the race organizer that if no one else showed up, I was probably out. I’ve done the course by myself enough times I didn’t need to prove that ability again. But, two others did finally show and the race was on! I was actually kind of relieved. Despite the weather, I had been telling everyone my goal and they were pulling for me to succeed, so it just wouldn’t have been right not to do it.
Loving the rain... the race is on!
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At 9AM the pistol started the race. Tari, one of my student Desk Managers at work, became my running partner for about half of the race. In my training, I hadn’t been doing hills to avoid wearing out too fast. But, I kept pace with her for a full half of the course – running through three hills I normally walked. It was pretty cool not having to walk at all until being around half way done. At that point, we hit a big hill and I pulled up. Tari ran on, but I quickly picked back up the pace. A few more stints of walking the hills did happen, but I ran (not walked) a good race!
Tari and I head out from the starting line in the parking lot.
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When I got to the last few minutes of the race, there was another place I normally walk, but my competitive spirit got up and I forced my way through it. It was kind of comical as I verbally and loudly cheered myself on (hey, you gotta do what ya gotta do). Anyway, I crossed the line at 26:23 beating my best time by 1:47. Woo hoo! I finished about a minute behind Tari. Quentin, the other male runner finished at 21-something. So, yes, I came in last. But, I blew my goal out of the water (or the rain as the case may be) and that is a pretty big deal for me!
Coming in on the last leg of the race.
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Just a little bit to go!
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Crossing the finish line... 26:23.
Yeah, there was a big fist pump when I heard my time!
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What I didn’t know was that there were medals for the race. I got the second place medal for the men’s category. While, yes, it kind of was by default because there were no more runners, to me it is a great symbol of being able to do whatever I put my mind to. I’ve just kind of been smiling to myself all afternoon.
No rain, no pain, no gain!
