By now, I think most everyone knows I ran my first 5K run on Saturday.  I have been doing what I like to call my “gentle” jog for a couple of months now.  I run about 3.2 miles here in the neighborhood in around 40 minutes.  You have to take into consideration the hills (that feel like mountains) that I have to run up just to get out of my neighborhood!  So when I saw this 5K run up in Johns Creek I figured it had to be flatter than my current route and I should go for it.

Weight Watchers is doing a push this month to get their members to walk a 5K by May.  I think I’ve fulfilled that!  But as is usual with anything I do, there has to be a bigger story than just me doing the run.

The weather was forecasted for lightning storms on Sat. evening, not morning.  I woke up around 4am on Sat. and heard the heavy rain coming down and by 6am there was significant thunder to accompany the rain.  I got up and checked but there was nothing about the run being postponed or rescheduled.  I figured it would be a go if it rained, but the lightning was a whole other thing.  Anywho, I pinned on my number, put my tag on my shoe threw on a long sleeve t-shirt and headed up to the run.

It wasn’t raining at home by the time we left, but as we neared the course, it was raining pretty steady, then it stopped while we waited about 15 min. for the race to begin.  H took a photo of me (dry) prior to the race (he’s a smart man).
 

So, I get ready to run, met some nice girls and talked about the course.  The race started and down the hill we all ran…

Ten seconds after this photo was taken, the heavens opened and a deluge of water poured down on us.  It was horrible.  I was immediately drenched my shoes filling up with water by the time I got to the top of the first hill.  Oh the joy….then all the really fun stuff happened. 

On the first long hill to run down my shoe comes untied.  So I lost several seconds as I had to run to the side of the road to re-tie.  Then I’m off again  with lightning sounding overhead only to have my left ear bud of my iPod die.  Now I keep my pace to the music on my iPod and I’d worked for weeks to get the right mix of tempos to set the pace for my run.  Then about another mile in, I notice my songs aren’t playing in order.  Of course I forgot to wear my contacts and I’d given H my glasses so I couldn’t read what playlist was playing.  I thought I would cry by about then but I keep plugging along.  My shoes felt like each weighed 5 extra lbs. with all the water in them, my shirts clung to me and weighed me down and still the rain kept coming. 

Even with all these difficulties, I felt good.  If I’d known where the end of the run was I would have poured on some speed near the end, but I finally arrived…now here are the “after” photos before getting my hat on and they’re not pretty (drowned rat time):

Crossing the Finish Line

Do not show this to small children, it will scare them! 

But I did it, I accomplished my first 5K and with a time of 31:27.

I was so tired once it was done, but mostly from feeling like I ran with ankle weights on….which in a way I did!  There were 224 people who ran the race, I was in the top 40% of runners and believe it or not, I placed first in my age bracket (50-54) and received a plaque!  I just wanted to accomplish this, never dreamed I’d end up with more than photos to show for it. 

Receiving my award

So now it’s back to my gentle jogs until the next “flat” 5K opportunity arises…with no storms closer than Mississippi in the forecast for start time!  I know I could have done so much better with my times if it hadn’t been for the rain, shoe and iPod issues.  I’m feeling pretty good about this.

Oh, we went to Ted’s for dinner tonight to celebrate and I had some fries!  (just a few along with a veggie burger…mmmmm, mmmmmm, good)!  And I ate a cookie tonight too!  I’m not too thin and I feel great so I encourage you to find the exercise that you feel comfortable with and go for it!  Just do it!  I’ll be your biggest cheerleader!