5K

My 5K was today and I finished! I didn't even end up walking. I was darn close though. Here's how it went: I was pretty nervous. I run alone, and here I was surrounded by people. When the race started, everyone took off running together and I have to admit it was overwhelming.  A large group took off in the lead and it made me feel really slow. In all honesty, I was close to crying. But I took some deep breaths and tried to get into a better mind-set. We rounded the building where it started and I was able to see my family there. It was nice to see my 2 year old pointing at her Mama and waving. After that point, I was running mostly alone and it felt better. I was able to feel like I was just on a run like I normally am and it got me in a better frame of mind. The few difficulties I had were that it was an unfamiliar route, with quite a bit of ups and downs, which I don't normally have, it was pretty hot out and there was no breeze at all. That said, it went well. I ended up passing 5 people or so. Yes, I was keeping track because it made me feel better. My biggest problem ended up being the very end. I was on a straight stretch and could see the finish line. So I decided to step up my pace a notch just because I thought I could handle it for that small stretch. However, as I got closer to the finish line, I saw that the course actually turned right before the finish and you had to go around a small parking lot before finishing. I about died. I had given it my all to make it to the end only to have another quarter mile to go. It felt awful. But I didn't walk and ended up finishing anyhow. Although 2 people I had previously passed ended up passing me up in that small stretch because I had to slow down. But still, a great experience.

I ended up with a finishing time of 35:32. I finished 47 overall. I don't know how many were there. Out of the women I was 30th and for my age group (20-29) I finished 4th. I couldn't help but wonder if the gal who passed me up right at the end was in my age group, because she would've finished 3rd and got a ribbon. It could've been mine. But I'm okay. My goal was not a ribbon, but to finish in under 40 minutes and I most definitely did that. So I did it! I've officially finished my first 5K and I think I did it pretty splendidly. I was very proud of myself.

Oh, and I weighed in and appear to have gained a pound or two.  :)