5K Day!

So, it finally got here, after all this time and not enough training (which I knew well ahead of the race – I wimped out in the heat and humidity in the last 6 weeks or so).

But it was so. much. fun. My friend Hannah was right…while training sucks, there is something crazy-addicting about running a 5K.

My plan was basically this: run as much as possible, and walk as quickly as possible when taking a break. I think I did OK, especially since, while “training” (I have to use that term loosely; while I’ve been really happy with my newfound slight desire to exercise, to say that I “trained” for this seems a bit excessive), I never walked/ran a 3 mile combo…it was usually more like 2, with me running a mile or so. My brother Jake and I planned to run together, and my sister Hayley was going to stay with her two friends. Jake wanted to stay with me, which was really sweet of him (he’s like that!), but he’s in infinitely better shape than I, and have I mentioned that he’s 6’4″? His stride is *slightly* longer than mine; I totally would have cramped his style. Sidenote: my brother Zach wasn’t able to run today due to his knee injury…total bummer. But he came down to the finish line with his family and my dad, so that was cool! Jake and I ran together for the first 2/3-3/4 of a mile, when I needed a little walking break, and I sent him ahead of me, and he finished strong! The only thing I didn’t like was the congestion at the start of the race; walkers hadn’t moved to the side, and it was hard to get started, which was annoying. I just wanted to be able to run!

I think I ran close to 2 miles of it, albeit slowly. I took as few walking breaks as possible, even running up the incline part, which surprised me! I finished in 39:10…since I had absolutely nothing to go on, I wasn’t disappointed. (By the way, the technology that they use is so cool to me…there’s a chip in a tag on your shoe, and it starts counting your time when you cross the starting line, and then ends when you cross the finish line, so you get an exact time for your run, which you find out by checking online.)

And the crazy thing is, I’m looking into another 5K. Hannah mentioned that there’s one in Champaign in May, which would be so much fun since it ends at Memorial Stadium. But I’d like to do one this fall, too. Suggestions, anyone?

OH! I almost forgot to add that I walked RIGHT past James Denton downtown. I’ve never seen one minute of Desperate Housewives, but I certainly do know his face. If I’d realized half a second earlier that yes, that was in fact him, I’d have probably done something stupid like try to get my picture taken with him. I would have led in with something like, “I know I’m super-smelly right now, and I have no makeup on, but will you take your picture with me?” Classy. He was heading to FanFest.

The pictures, of course…

there i am, about to cross the finish line…i had to wave my arms around and get their attention…they didn’t recognize me, i guess!

this is what will thought of his first 5K.

ok, this is like a childhood dream-come-true for my brother jake, who got to meet vince coleman.

so glad to be done! zach’s going to have to join us next time.

isn’t he beautiful? at least he woke up for his first trip downtown.

jake shows off the medal.

we were all in one spot, so we tried to get a picture…jack henry does not participate very well.

second attempt…i give up.