So, I did the 5k a couple weeks ago… it was long, hard, and amazingly beautiful. I then slept for around 19 hours. Lessons learned, don’t do a 5k without really being prepared and fighting off a nasty cold. I had a couple goals – finish, and finish in under an hour – and I met both, yay! The course started at America the Beautiful Park here in the Springs, wound down along the Santa Fe Trail/Pikes Peak Greenway a while, and then doubled back on itself. Before the race started I was rather nervous and feeling shy. Most people there had others they were doing the even with or they had done it before and knew people, etc. I on the other hand, knew no one, and my parents were MIA. They had planned to be there around 8 as the race started at 8:30, but they wound up being there around 8:20 instead which didn’t leave much time. I got at the back of the group, which might not have been the best spot but it worked out fine after some people avoiding. The runners and walkers were all clustered together, starting at the same time, rather than starting the runners and then the walkers (the event was either a 5k run or a 3k walk). I jogged out with the runners and discovered that my legs were in no way ready for that, but it looked good until I was out of sight lol. I then spent most of the time walking, trying to jog now and then. I wasn’t last until a couple women walkers, and a couple women with jogging strollers, passed me. No bother, I was there to finish not to try and out pace anyone else, so I kept going… and going, and going, and, are we done yet? I had programmed my mp3 player the night before with an up beat, inspiring new playlist.. and yet it wasn’t playing any of those songs. But, at least I had tunes, so I kept going still. I was able to admire the lovely scenery as I went along, lush green trees, the running stream to one side, sun breaking through now and then. I can almost feel sorry for the guy who finished the race in 16 mins, almost. My boss was right about one thing though, treadmills are no where close to the real thing. I was really moved towards the halfway point when several women who were already heading back took a moment to encourage me as they passed, either giving me a thumbs up and a smile or saying something like ‘Almost halfway there!’ I think they could tell that I wasn’t in the best shape mentally, emotionally, physically, etc, at that point. It gave me the push I needed though to keep trudging along. Due to having such a quick start (mostly for show I might add), I was walking slower than I normally would. My calves/shins were screaming at me, I needed water, had to pee, and was pretty miserable. So, thank you to the mystery women, I hope I can do the same for someone in my place one day!
At the halfway point they had a table of kids handing out cups of water (they needed smaller cups and a trash bin) which was much appreciated as my water was back in the car. Around the little orange halfway cone I went and started back. There were a couple of women walking along behind me and that gave me a little boost, at least I wouldn’t be the very last one out of the woods. I know, I have said that I wasn’t in it to out pace anyone, but at that point, I needed the boost. The way back seemed to take less time than the way out had, I think because I had some water and knew it was almost done, I was able to walk faster. At one point, I got fed up with my mp3 player and checked things out. Turns out I had selected the wrong playlist. Once I fixed that I had even more oomph to keep going. Around this point I also had several teary moments with myself. Aside from karate back in high school, I’ve never been the most athletic person. Sure, I used to do yoga and water aerobics, but they are a far cry from the aerobic shape one needs to be in to do runs. Keeping that in mind, I was quite proud of myself for no only signing up, but for being nearly finished with my first 5k. I was doing it! When I got to the bridge to head back to the park I saw my mom standing there with a big smile on her face… though I think part of that was relief that I wasn’t lost on the trail somewhere, injured. She cheered me on, encouraging me to jog a bit. After I rounded the bend where the 3k folks headed to the picnic area, I broke out into a jog/run towards the finish. My dad was positioned about halfway across the field (he got a good shot of me jogging, will post that one and a few others in another entry later). Once I got to my dad he also cheered for me and even jogged a little bit with me but let me cross the line on my own. The pads beeped to let me know the chip had registered my time, the guy there cut the zip-tie holding it to my shoe, and that was it, I was done. And I felt great! I was tired, and thirsty, but felt great. I had done it, I had finished, and the time on the clock was 56:01, I’d done it in under an hour. First thing I said when my dad came to give me a hug was, “There’s less than an hour on the clock!” I downed a bottle of water, hung out while they did door prizes (I didn’t win one), and then headed home for lunch. As I finished lunch and my movie, a migraine set in and knocked me out for the rest of the day. I fell asleep around 3, woke up briefly when mom called, fed the cats, and then I was out again until 8am the next day. I was up long enough to feed the cats and myself, and then back to bed until around 10:30. My body had shut down. I was sweating but had a low temp, didn’t think I could keep anything down, couldn’t shake the headache, and was very tired. I have poor circulation and when I do long walks my hands and feet tend to swell as it gets things moving. They were very swollen after the 5k and I think that the activity while sick, combined with anything that was stuck in my lymph system moving around, just caused a shut down and reboot. The next day my computer went nuts too. One reason I haven’t updated since the race is the computer has been in the shop, aka, Dad was fixing it.
So, despite how rough it was, and despite my body shutting down after that, when I’m asked if I’ll ever do another one, without pausing to think I answer, “Definitely!”
I plan to do lots of walking for a couple months, then start to increase the distance so I’m walking a 5k each time, and then work on jogging. Goal for next year’s is to do it in around 45 mins. Mom said she may sign up for the 3k walk too which would be fun. The race was for an awesome cause and the event coordinators are all awesome friendly people. So, there’s a recap of my first 5k. Was it what I expected? No. Did I train enough before it. No. Did I have a great time. Yes, despite being miserable! Will I do it again? Yes!!
