If you receive these blog posts via email and the images and other included items don’t come across, you may want to go out to the actual blog to read this one. And I gave up on figuring out the formatting. It didn't import cleanly and I just don't have time to work on it anymore. There's a 14-miler waiting for me today.
Preparation and Registration
I'd been thinking about running a 5K for weeks. In fact, not long after I decided to do the Wine & Dine Half Marathon I thought I should at least find out what the race scene is like. It just made sense. And a 5K was a perfect opportunity because I knew it was something I could finish. And the registration cost for them didn’t seem to be that great in general. Well, as long as you don’t count a Disney race.
I signed up for a 5K obstacle race in April, but that never felt quite right. Oh sure, it would be a lot of fun and an interesting challenge. But it’s not a straight run and that is what I’m into. There’s just something about being out there and simply running that I just love. So one day I got serious about looking for a 5K to try out. I checked into the one that my son would be working with the Young Marines, but the early registration date had already passed and I wasn’t willing to spend an extra $20 just because I didn’t get my ducks in a row on a timely basis.
Oh, Daddy... you pegged it so many years ago. If I could just get my stuff together I’d be dangerous. Well, the world doesn’t have to worry on that account, that’s for sure!
So that race was out but I found one that was just a week later and in the same location. And the registration fee was still reasonable -- around $22 if memory serves. Hmmmm, small local race with reasonable registration costs and I get to reconnoiter the area and how a race is operated with the Young Marines the week before? Sounds like a plan to me! Clickety-clickety and a few minutes later I’m all signed up.
Wait a minute! Did I just actually pay real live money to enter a race? I mean, I know I can do it. I have walked much more than 3 miles and have even run a 5K on the treadmill once.
Once.
I’m darn near dead after I finish actually running one mile in my neighborhood and I’ve only done that twice!
Okay, okay.... calm down, Mrs. Type AAA personality. It’ll be fine. It’s only 3 miles. And it doesn’t matter what your time is. Everyone says for your first 5K to just enjoy the race.
So I settle into an acceptance that I’m doing my first 5K on the weekend of 23 March 2012. And I do get a bit excited about it. I mean, I’m not worried about not finishing the race and as long as I keep in mind that it doesn’t matter what my time is, I’ll be just fine. And for the most part I believe that.
For the most part.
Actually, I was doing pretty good until the day before the race. I decided to head over at lunch time to pick up my race packet. I checked Google Maps at home and the bike shop where they were having packet pickup should only be about 15 minutes from my office. Yeah, I can do that on lunchtime.
Until I get in the car and my phone’s Google Maps is absolutely convinced that the place I’m heading is only a few blocks from my office. I tried pulling over to the side of the road and re-directing it a time or two. At which time, of course, Navigation Lady’s voice keeps telling me to take left turns where there are clear road-signs indicating that such a turn would be illegal at that intersection. As the kids say, Epic Fail, Google!
I tell myself that I should head back to the office and just pick up my packet after work. But no, not me. One more time I pull over to the side of the road. This time I tell Navigation Lady that I want to go to Lake Baldwin. That got me there for James’ gig with the Young Marines last week so it should work. I just hope I’m right about the bike shop we stopped in last week being the same one that has packet pickup. It makes sense that it would be that close to the race location but remember I’m brand new at all of this and things that make sense are not always so.
So I head down to Lake Baldwin. The idiot light for gasoline is on but I know I’ve got dozens of miles after that light comes on that I can go before running out of gas. If there’s a gas station on the way, I’ll stop. But I gotta get that race packet.
Sure hope there’s somewhere to park down there so I can just jot in and get it.
I found my way to the bike shop and got my packet. Oh there’s cool stuff I get! Yes, the t-shirt, which I expected, but it sure does look good now that it’s mine. And I do love all the color on it.
Actually, all of the swag is pretty cool. I got a reusable grocery bag, a few coupons for BOGO bowling, a coupon to a sub shop, a couple of samples of powdered sports drink … all in all a nice little “take” and definitely worth the cost of registration.
Now all I gotta do is run the race so I can allow myself to continue to wear the t-shirt.
Wonder if I’ll do well in the race? No, don’t think like that Mrs. Type AAA. If you finish the race you will have done well. But of course, that doesn’t satisfy me. So I continue negotiating with my inner self. Okay, well, you’re right. That’s not quite enough of a challenge since you already know you will finish the race. Okay, okay... as long as you don’t finish last. Yeah, that’s something I can count as a win..... just don’t finish last.
Race Day
Why so nervous? I can’t believe the knots my stomach was in. For a little nothing neighborhood 5K? Oh come on. Even at the time I was telling myself that this was just stupid! But it is what it is and I was nervous. Like I said on Facebook, this being type AAA isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes it’s quite unenjoyable and downright aggravating. But it is what it is and it is who I am. Much like gravity, I deny and/or ignore it to my peril.
Just gotta get through the nerves.
Somehow.
Thank God for my sons! Both of them went to the race with me. Poor Joey was so very sleepy. And that was getting on my nerves. And no, that doesn’t make any sense at all and I know it. But I was so nervous that it was. He did his best to perk up so as not to stress Mom. What a good boy. And James! James was absolutely my rock. He pulled an all nighter because he wanted to play his flight simulator thing so I know he had to be exhausted (confirmed when he got home and solid crashed!). But he kept his feelings in check and just rode out the storm of Mom’s nerves with an imperturbability that reminded me so much of his father. He’s learned to handle my extremes as well as Jim does.
Off we go!
We stopped at 7-Eleven on the way in to get some sodas for the boys and a sports drink for me. As we neared Baldwin Park I realized we were late. And, of course, that stressed me out even more. The boys rode that out valiantly and jumped out of the car when we parked. Much safer, given Mom’s current mood, not to stress her out by taking our own sweet time, they must have figured.
Those of you who know me know what I’m like. Can you blame them?
I went over to the table and got checked in. They directed me over to the spot where I pick up my D-tag. Oh wow, that’s right! I remember thinking. This is a real race and is computer timed. Okay, so I strap that onto my ankle like they told me to do the whole time wondering if it was going to feel weird while I was running. Turns out I didn’t notice it at all.
Next stop was to hit the restroom. The boys stayed where they were near the starting line and I went and found the port-a-potties. As I was coming out Joey was walking over to tell me they’d just announced that the race would start in about 10 minutes. James told me the same thing when I got back over there. Those boys take such good care of their nervous momma.
Ten minutes went by rather fast. The next thing I know, everyone’s gathering at the starting line. Okay, time to get my phone set up. Oh great! You didn’t think that through well, did you? I’m so used to starting my music, then starting Runkeeper, then just taking off. This time I have to get things ready but not start them until the race actually starts.
Shut up, Mrs. Type AAA. There’s plenty of time to do that. I put one headphone in my ear and kept the other one hanging on my shirt so I could hear what the guy up front was talking about. As he gave a short thing about who the race was benefitting and thanking their sponsors, I started the music and queued up Runkeeeper.
The starting horn sounds. My feet start moving. Here we go!
I can’t honestly say I noticed where James and Joey were at the starting gate. I was too focused on hitting the start button on Runkeeper and listening for the prompt. “Activity Started” Runkeeper said. Good. I pulled my phone holder thing up on my arm and started focusing on running.
I ran the first quarter mile no problem at all. When I started to feel my breath getting shorter that’s when I first backed off and walked a bit. Maybe it was that nagging witch that I share a body with telling me she didn’t want to do this, but her argument about not over-expending my energy at the beginning of a race was sound enough that it made sense. Very soon I found myself settling into a rhythm of running for a bit and then walking and just going back and forth between the two. Yes, I did notice when the people around me were running and walking, although I lost track of some of them during the race and cannot honestly tell you whether they fell behind me or pulled off in front of me.
There was one pair of runners that I remember seeing most of the race. It was kind of like when you’re on a road trip and end up recognizing a particular car you’ve been travelling with for the past hundred miles. But at the time I’m not really thinking about who else is running the race. At the time it’s just me out there.
Me looking for the markers and volunteers that denote the path of the race.
Me listening to the music and letting the beat and pace take me over.
Me running when I can and walking when I feel I have to.
Me knowing at the time that I could push myself a bit harder, but not exactly sure how much to push myself so I can finish the race respectably.
Me dreaming about placing well in my age division, but trying to tell myself that it’s just not a reasonable expectation for your first race.
I remember asking one volunteer at about the two mile mark if I was last and being so gratified when she said I wasn’t.
I don’t remember a whole lot else about the race. There were random thoughts crossing through my mind which is one of the things I like most when running. And every now and again I’d bring to the forefront what I was actually doing and would again argue with myself about how hard to push. But mostly it was just me and the road.
I do remember when the Runkeeper prompt told me I’d gone 1.5 miles. The halfway mark is always an achievement of sorts. It always gives me reason to tell myself that if I just keep going and don’t let up, I’ll be done in as long as it’s taken me to get to that point.
I also remember when Runkeeper told me I was at 2.75 miles. Not long after that, I saw the finish line. Then I saw a red t-shirt and black shorts and remember thinking that was James (I’d forgotten he wore his camo pants). I had already planned to finish strong and knowing my boys were at the finish line waiting for me made me kick it into high gear. I ran with everything I had!
I’ve run on the treadmill like that one time. Sometime last week I decided to kick it up to six mile per hour on the treadmill and felt I was running flat out. That’s how I crossed the finish line -- flat out! And watching the timing clock the entire time as I neared and crossed the finish line. Okay, that’s respectable enough, I remember thinking.
There were volunteers there congratulating me and that felt great! But the very, very best thing about crossing the finish line was seeing my boys there and getting hugs from them.
I did it! I did it!!!!!
I was so excited when I finished that I forgot to turn off Runkeeper. When I finally remembered I grabbed my phone to shut it off. I remember the prompts right before I finished said my pace was about 11:30 minutes per mile. By the time I shut it off, Runkeeper had recorded my pace at 11:56 minutes per mile. Oh well... so it’s not a perfect record of what I did. That’s okay, I know the truth.
The volunteers said the awards ceremony would be at around 8:30. I had already planned to stay for it. And I’d already warned the boys so they knew. So that means we had about a half hour to stand around.
I was getting nervous again wondering if my time were enough to let me place in the race. It wasn’t entirely unreasonable because there weren’t all that many participants. It was possible.
Finally the awards ceremony started and they started announcing the top three finishers in each age division starting with the oldest. By the time they got down to the 45-49 year old females I was quite anxious. A small number of participants plus a large number of age groups means there’s a chance that I would be listed as one of the top three. Not very likely, mind you, but enough to hope for.
When they got to my age group and called the three names to come to the front, I was one of them! Turns out I took third place!!!!!!!!!
The lady that took 2nd place remembered me telling her before the race that it was my first and congratulated me heartily. I smiled and told her there were probably only three people in the age division. Honestly, that’s what made the most sense to me.
Until I got a chance to look at the results. There were actually six of us in the age division.
So I did win! I didn’t place by default! I actually did well enough to truly place third! Not only was I smiles all afternoon (if I’d let someone take a picture of me yesterday afternoon you could put it in a dictionary next to the word “happy”), but I wore my medal all day. What the heck, I figured, I’m not going out anywhere anyway.
Every now and again thoughts would come about how I could have pushed myself harder and done better. There’s that Type AAA personality again. But I quickly decided that I deserved an entire day to feel absolutely elated before I decided what the next step was going to be. And boy did I feel elated all day long!!!!!
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