(if you just want to see how I did, scroll to the bottom)
One goal I set for myself this year was to run a 5k race. Before I started training I had never run at all. I mean, I failed the run a mile test for physical fitness when I was Junior High. The idea of running seemed like a foreign concept to me, like you had to be some kind of alien to want to do it. However, I had a couple of things happen that got me focused on getting more fit. I started skiing again and my stamina for staying out and skiing wasn't as much as I liked and then during my annual physical my doctor nicely lectured me on how much weight I had gained over the past 5 years. I then heard a program on the radio talking about a couch to 5k program and it actually sounded like something I could do. When I found an inexpensive app on my iPhone to take you through the program, I decided it try it.
Many months later, running on a treadmill or an indoor track 3 times a week, I finally got to a point where I felt I could handle a 5k race. At the Y I saw that there was a local 5k race being held today and took the plunge and registered for it.
The race started at 8:30 this morning, which is early for me on a weekend, but I dragged my self to it. The asked you to line up by how fast you thought you were going to be and since this was my first race, I put myself in the middle of the group. I was runner #1075 and I saw someone with a number over 2000, so there was a lot of people taking part in the race. From the couple of times I tried running on the street before, I expected to run the course somewhere between 35 and 40 minutes. The course had some up and downhill sections, so I knew it would be more taxing then my regular runs on the treadmill or indoor track.
Once the race started, I quickly found out that I had started way too far back in the pack for my speed and I steadily passed people on the way. I was pretty tired by half way though, especially since we had done a long uphill section by then. However, I kept my pace up and continued passing others as I ran. At around 2.5 miles I felt like slowing down, but then I saw this old man running in front of me that looked like he was at least 60, maybe 70. I couldn't be slower than a 70 year old. I don't care how in shape he is. So I actually sped up a little and passed him. The last bit of the course was uphill again, but seeing landmarks that I knew were near the finish line kept me going. I then actually saw the finish banner and pushed myself to keep going to cross the line. The clock at the finish line read a little over 28 minutes when I crossed. I was surprised, especially knowing my real time would be less since I a good bit away from the starting line when the race started before crossing the start and having my time begin. After I crossed the finished line, I took the bottle of water they handed me, but shook my head no to the banana. I felt exhilarated and happy that I finished the race, but also a little sick as well.
My official time for the race ending up being 27 minutes and 20 seconds, which was a pace of a mile every 8 minutes and 48 seconds or just over 7mph. I came in 227 out of 448 timed male racers. For my age group, 40-43, I was 28th out of 59 male runners.
