What a perfect weekend to get out and run! And like my Shredheads sisters, Karianna and Kristen, I did! I ran my first 5 K race and my first foot race in over 12 years this Saturday at Ripon’s annual Color the Skies event.
The morning was sunny, clear, mild with Delta breezes that kept the balloons grounded but proved to be very friendly for running conditions. I was up and ready to roll earlier than expected which proved to be a good thing because Bill and I, as well as most of humanity it seemed crawled for well over fifteen minutes off the freeway and a just 1 mile down the road to where the event was taking place. But in spite of the poor traffic control, the rest of the event was well organized. With Bill following me around I tried to warm-up without letting my nervous energy get the best of me. The previous week I had suffered a calf strain during what was supposed to be an easy run and found myself limping in a lot of pain for a few days. Honestly, as this 5K approached, I was very worried if I would even be able to complete it. But the forced rest proved to be a very good thing as I was able to taper my training this past week leading up to the event just as running experts suggest.
Somewhere in this crowd I was as the race got off to a pretty fast start. It would have been easy to let the rush of adrenaline take over but I held back at a nice easy pace unsure of how my calf would handle it. I looked around and picked out a couple folks running at a similar pace and set myself to stay with them. The group I was running in was a friendly bunch enjoying the cool breezes and the scenery as we ran through the almond orchards in the area. As we appraoched the halfway point of the 3.1 mile run, the front runners sped past us in the ooposite direction to clock in around 16 and 17 minutes at the finish line. SHEESH!
Just as I could feel myself slowing, I approached the water station manned by local cub scouts. Way to go kids! The water was just what a I needed. I slowed a little to gulp down some water then picked up the pace quickly catching up to powder blue running skirt and the pink running lady. As we looped back past the water station I slowed down and drank a little more water. What can I say, I had to give some love to those hard-working scouts! I thanked them and soon took off catching up very quickly again with pink running lady but powder blue running skirt disappeared. It was all good though because soon enough we were again running out of the almond orchards and headed back to Mistlin Water Tower and the finish line. Folks were lined up cheering us on and encouraging us all the way.
Pink running lady was still in my sight as we approached the finish line. I was almost there!
For my next race I am going to work on how I look when running so I won’t look like I am dying. Honestly, I was feeling a helluva lot better than I look.
I crossed the finish line at 33:02 which was absolutely thrilling. My average time running the same distance when training for this 5K was about 7 minutes slower. Yeah for adrenaline, a flat course and friendly Delta breezes at my back!
Even more thrilling, I felt great! My legs felt fine. I don’t believe that I could turn around and run the whole thing all over again but I have no doubt that I could certainly walk it. That was a very good thing because about 9 hours later I was at work ready to work a twelve hour night shift.
All in all, I am very proud of my first effort and more than ready to run the next race, and the next as I get ready for the Disney Princess half marathon aka the birthday/tiarathon.
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