Redbud 2009

I had worked to up my endurance. I had overloaded on carbs like the Race Day Expert said. I had stretched and hydrated. What I hadn't done? Train running up hill against 40 mph winds. You know, they don't tell you that running on the treadmill is nothing like running outside. They just write "run 30 minutes" on the chart and put the little happy face next to it saying you are ready for the 5k. The morning of the race had unbelievably cold winds, gusting hard enough to slam a door. Still, I had the nifty timing chip attached to my shoe and my lucky Iron Chef shirt (complete with pink race number!) on. Wind or no, I wasn't about to quit then. It would be like eating all of your sundae excepting the cherry because you were too full to eat it. You just ate 500 calories of brownie fudge sundae. Eat the dang cherry. Completely new to every aspect of a 5k run, I did a lot of wandering and attempting to look like I knew what I was doing. They had signs listing mile times so that the faster runners could start up front. The last sign was the 9 minute mile and as I look at the mass of people behind it, I am trying to figure where 11 minute would fit in. You are wearing a fanny pack. Probably faster than you. You are wearing pantyhose masquerading as pants. You are an idiot...but probably faster than me. When we finally took off, it was straight up a hill with the wind at our front. Again, so not like the treadmill. At the 1k mark they were yelling out times. As I passed he yelled 7 minutes and I thought, WOW, that is my fastest mile ever. At the 2k mark, I could hardly believe how fast the time was going. As I was tabulating in my head how fast my 3 mile time would be at this rate, it hit me. They are marking kilometers, not miles. Yeah...depressing. Fortunately, there was a water stop straight ahead because, as the canned recording clearly used every year said, "Heat kills but water saves". Wanting to experience the full racing experience, and now knowing I have 3k to go, I go in for a powerade. As I grab the cup, the guy hesitates to let go and I end up with powerade all down my sleeve. Then I, clearly no smarter than he, take a drink while still running. Now I have powerade all down my front. So, to recap, I am running in a cyclone, my 2 completed miles just became 1.2, I don't have my iPod (dumb race rules) and am covered in powerade. At this point, all you can do is throw the half full cup into the grass like you've seen on TV and keep going. The last k was actually easier in this setting than in the gym because you have the finish line in sight and the peer pressure of more and more spectators on the side. It is easy to walk when no one is looking. For a crowd...you have got to put on a show for a crowd. Although, when not breathing and the color of a tomato, I am sure you aren't pulling as much over as you think. So, okay, I haven't become a pro runner in three months. However, I did make it the 3 miles and before Jan I had run...never. Now I just have to keep at it until I finally can make it through a 5k with ease. Next race...May 9th at the zoo. Let's hope their water cups have lids...

(John came and cheered me on and celebrated my "medal that everyone got but I still was excited about" with me. It was so nice to have him waiting there and to hear him tell me how proud he was.)