The 5K Race (that I watched and drooled over, LOL)
Note the woman in yellow on the left, more on her in a minute.
Me and my daughter crossing the finish line of the 1-Mile Fun Run
A nearby pier that we walked out on while waiting
for the races to start. It was a beautiful place for a 5K.
We arrived early on Saturday to register for the Fun Run. There were only children's shirts left, so I asked if they had a child's extra large. They had a medium, which to my surprise actually fit me, though a bit snugly. My daughter played in the park playground there for awhile, then we wandered out onto the pier, then down to the beach for a little while.
When there were 30 minutes left before the 5K race began, we had made our way back to the park, and I noticed there were some runners that were running circles around the park. I thought that was a bit odd, that they would be warming up 30 minutes in advance, and at a pretty good pace. I could understand warming up for a 5K about 5 minutes beforehand, even 10 minutes before, but 30 minutes?
Then I noticed something else. Only the men were doing it. All the women were standing around talking (which is what we're good at, of course). I had to wonder: was this just a "man" thing I was seeing? Or was this something that some seasoned runners did?
Anyway, when it was time for the 5K race to start, I wanted to go watch, but my husband and daughter weren't interested, so I walked down to the start line alone with my camera. I watched them take off, then waited for them to make a one-mile loop and come running back past us to run the rest of the route. I observed the ones that were out in front very closely: their pace, their running form, etc. Two things really stood out about the ones who were leading the pack. One ~ they were all very lean. Two ~ they were all very muscular. Age didn't seem to matter. Those two things did.
I saw part of the end of the race, too, mainly the first few runners coming across the finish line. Remember the woman in yellow I mentioned in the caption below the first picture? She came in second overall. Not second overall in her age group, but second overall in the race! A woman beat all the other men except ONE! I thought that was awesome. She wasn't out in front at first, in fact, there were several men in front of her. But I guess as the race wore on, she began to increase her pace. It's too bad I couldn't follow the entire race to see what her exact strategy was.
As I was watching the runners out in front, I dreamed of being there someday. Yes, this 43-year old, inexperienced runner wants to be a top runner someday. Probably a pipe dream. But I'd like to try. I mean, I love running, so why not? I would like to think I'd be happy just doing the very best I can for me. And I will. But I want more than that. I want it so bad I can taste it. Not for the recognition, not to say I beat someone else, but because of the CHALLENGE of it. I LOVE a good challenge. Tell me I can't do something, and I will set out to prove you wrong. LOL.
And then there's the thrill of it, too. It's what will motivate me on those days that I don't think I can run any further. It's something to work toward, to achieve. Maybe I'm competitive by nature? I don't know. All I know is, I dream of coming in first place, even if it's just in my age division, in SOME race, I don't care if it's a ho-dunk, hillbilly, back woods kind of race. Ok maybe hillbillies don't run in 5Ks, but you get my point.
Back to Race Day. As the time drew near for the 1-Mile Fun Run, my daughter suddenly told me she didn't want to run in the race anymore. She had been so excited about it all week, and now she suddenly didn't want to run. But I didn't let her change her mind. I told her we had paid the registration fee to run, and we were going to run, and that was it. I promised her it would be fun, and she seemed to be okay with it then.
She started out great, but it wasn't long before she stopped to walk. All throughout the race, I had to really encourage her, cheer her on, and tell her several times to push herself. At one point, she stopped and said, "I need some water." I told her that water would be waiting for her at the finish line (she drank plenty beforehand). Then another time she stopped and started whining for me to pick her up and carry her. I told her I couldn't, and reminded her that her daddy would be waiting for her at the finish line and would be so proud of her. At hearing that, she took off running again. In the end, she did really well, and I was one proud mama.
Next up will be a 5K race on April 28. This time it will just be me. I certainly don't expect to place in that race, just to finish, and finish strong.
I worked on my speed during today's run, which I will talk about in my next Blog entry.
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