As I've said many times before it is the little things that excite me :)
So yesterday was the 3rd meeting of our 5k@5 running group here at work...the first run was tough, hard and grueling - I was pretty saddened by my time - 46 minutes YIKES! The second week, ok got a little better, was able to finish in 42 minutes - an improvement over week one but still really far from what I know I am capable of. So yesterday week three - all I wanted to do was finish in less than 40 minutes that's all, not too much to ask for.
I was really worried when I had to stop for a walk break before I even hit the first mile..I didn't have on my Garmin watch so I wasn't sure what my pace was I just knew my left calf was hurting along with my right shin and running on the sidewalk was NOT helping my cause.
My goal was to keep the two guys that were behind me from passing me, I wanted to finish in front of two people (last week I finished in front of one so I figured I could shoot for two people this week right). So I took the walk break, saw them catching up and decided I had to push myself...I was able to do so for quite a while, I decided to count my steps until I got to 300 hoping it would take my mind off the pain and keep me at a steady pace. I counted each time my left foot landed and when I was winded it told me I was going too fast and to slow down. I worked I was able to keep going and was still ahead of those two guys.
I gave up that lead a little around mile 2 one of the guys passed me, then he got to a place where he walked a little and I thought that would be my chance to pass him, but he started running again before I caught up. I just kept at it, pushing a little harder when I could, slowing down when I needed.
The sidewalks really are not run-friendly to me so for the last 3/4 mile I decided to run in the bike lane on the road...It was exactly what my legs needed. Not sure where it came from but I had a burst of energy that allowed me not to just catch up to the guy, I passed and put a really good space between us, honestly the only thing that slowed me down was a traffic light. I was still cutting it close to that 40 minute mark - at the light I was at 38:15 and still had quite a few feet to go.
I gave it pretty much all I had, ran across the street hoping there was no crazy drivers making turns and running me over, I sprinted to the finish area - meeting the cheers of all the much faster runners who were waiting for us as usual - and looked down at my watch...I DID IT!!! I'd finished in 39:39 a very respectable time - ok it is an OK time, all that matters is that it was less than 40:00 AND I finished before those other two guys.
After that...I just wanted to go home take a shower and relax...but being the good mom I am I went to watch the end of Taylor's softball game - yeah they play like the bad news bears but she's my kid and I have to support her :) - besides who else was going to give her a ride home?
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