I RAN THE WHOLE THING

I ran the “Roxbury Community Benefit 5K” in my hometown on Sunday. I am lucky enough to have some awesome family and friends around that run with me – I can’t remember the last 5K I ran solo! My cousin Adam and Aunt Margaret joined me this time around. I was so excited to have new running buddies! My mom and dad were also there to watch us start and finish. I wonder if they got any good pictures…

I can’t keep in my excitement any longer-  I ran the whole thing! I didn’t stop at all! Aunt Margaret walked next to me the whole time – she stayed half a step ahead of me and helped me push my pace so I didn’t take it too slow. I ran for 3.1 miles without stopping. I’ve come so far – there were times when that seemed completely impossible to me, like unfathomable. I basically ran for an hour straight. (52-ish minutes.. yes, it’s slow, but there are some minor hills and I just didn’t want to run out of energy halfway through.) My cousin Adam finished in 22 minutes. Can you believe that? I can’t imagine zipping through the course so quickly.

My legs were sore when I started out. I hadn’t run for about a week prior to the race, so the day before, I figured I’d get a little cardio. Apparently, running the day before a race might cause you to be tired or sore the next day. Who knew? I should probably taper better next time.

The course was really well laid out. There was one small hill in the first mile, one smaller hill in the second, one killer hill in the third. I knew that killer hill was coming. Aunt Margaret told me that was the only time I seemed to struggle – glad it was at the end! We sped up a little bit for the last quarter mile to finish the race. Adam came back and ran to the finish with us. 

Something that my friend Steve said helped me get through this: After having run so many races, I’ve built up the fitness to run the whole way, and now it’s just mental. If I decide to do it, I can. So I did. Toward the end when my quads ached with every step, my brain screamed back: “SHUT. UP. LEGS.” Helpful trick.

It was rainy, so they’d moved the finish party inside the gym of the middle school, but it was too so packed we couldn’t even get in. We went home, and I ate ice cream.

My sister, my mother, and I are running a race next Sunday. I’m SO excited. I’m not sure if my mom is planning to try to keep up with us, or if she’s just going to walk (I hope she has a walking buddy!) but Wendi and I are going to be running!