My goal was to run half and walk half, and I mapped out the course in half-mile segments. I ran a half-mile, then walked a half-mile, ran a half-mile, walked a half-mile, for 6.2 miles. That was the plan anyway.
And I did it! I did all my training on a track, and the race was run on a fairly hilly course. So it hurt a little. And I really thought I would quit a few times. But I didn't. I did everything that I promised myself I would do. And I can't describe to you what that feels like.
Me, Mark, and Showtime before the race. Mark planned to do the 10K too, but he just came off of the DL with a sore foot - he had to be at a conference for work the very next day and didn't want to risk re-injury. He and Michelle (aka Mrs. Showtime) did the 4k Fitness Walk instead. (Mrs. Showtime is not pictured as she is the one with the camera.)
Here I am right after my big finish. 1:10:36. I finished number 281 out of 333. There were 52 people slower than me!! Mark, Ben, and Daniel were at the finish line cheering me on. (Ben and Daniel also served me water a third of way through with the scout troop as a service project.)
Showtime finished in 1:02 and came back to the 6 mile mark to encourage me to run to the end. Which I did. : )
Me and my cheerleading peeps. I think they're proud of me. Ben said he now wants to train for a road race too. Maybe we'll do a 5K and train to run the whole thing. Who knows.Here's what I do know: It is an amazingly wonderful thing to not be able to do something, work hard, and then do it. And do it with your loving family, good friends, and even total strangers cheering you on. I encourage you to challenge yourself, some way, some how. You'll be glad you did!
*No snakes were injured in the running of this race.
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