Running a 5K is like having your first baby!

I ran my first ever 5K yesterday. The day before the race I had butterflies the whole day. I was super excited but super nervous. What if I can't do it...or fall or come in last. Then I would think to myself- I can do this, I know I haven't trained very much ....OK at all. Still it will be great.

Before the race starts I had a great friend there to keep me pumped..and help settle the nerves. I watched tons of people stretch and hear others talk of the dozens of races they've done. * just like when you have a baby...you hear EVERY ONE'S birth story*

I have my number I'm ready to go. I take off with the pack. I pace myself and think just remember to breathe. I run the 1st mile without stopping once...but then decide I have to walk for just a minute...they have cones every 100 yards. I decide to only walk from one cone to the next...I didn't come here to walk a 5K after all. Sometime between mile 1 and mile 2 I am by myself. I realize, bummer I don't have my ipod with me...but then again I think I have maybe 2 songs on it..yeah I really need to put some songs on there. OK so I am by myself and it is very rare to have no one asking me for something. By this time I am really starting to feel it...I have a side cramp but their is NO way I'm giving up. There was another kid running somewhat by me..I say kid because he had to be maybe 18. Him and I were constantly passing each other...when we got up to the water spot...I don't know what to call it except they hand you cups of water and you are allowed to drink it running and throw it on the ground. I kept thinking my girls would've been mortified at all the littering :) Anyways I turn to him and said come on lets run hard. So we did. That was the extent of our conversation. I go down a trail and cross a bridge, I am breathing heavy but still not stopping. I come around a corner and go up a hill where a group of people are cheering runners on...it was so nice to hear them cheer you can do it 491 you're doing great. Even if it was a stranger it still feels good. The concept of time is totally gone..I'm thinking I really hope I am under an hour. Then I get to the last bend before coming up to the school where we begin and a cop yells out " you're almost there and you're under 40...I'm like..what no way! Sure enough I get up to the finish and get a time of 37:02. I was so excited...but immediately sat on the curb. I was bummed I didn't have my cute family there to cheer me on when crossing the finish line..but with 5 kids Saturdays are always super busy.

Now that I have run one..I am ready for another one...this time I will do a lot more to prepare.

* just like I say every time we have a baby!*