Caleb's 5K (Slow Runner or Fast Walker?)

Folks, this was without a doubt the best organized race ever! The church folk know how to do it up.  It was well planned  and the people were super nice. I mean everyone! So many encouraging words before, during and after the race.  There is no doubt I will be doing this one again. Even with the mile long hill!  And the decision to walk only was probably a smart one considering my knee issue.  Here is the blow by blow along pics from today's fun.

The Start Line

After a hearty breakfast of oatmeal and juice, I left.  I fought the urge to take the car.  It was only a mile or so down the road.  I did however, see my upstairs neighbor get in her car wearing the shirt. I even saw a couple of other neighbors there in the parking lot.  I would have felt too guilty doing it.  After all, it WAS only a mile.

The events started at 7:30. There was music, games, lots of vendors and even a Kid's Zone.  Just before race time there were words spoken about what the race was about. It benefits kids in Foster care and other areas.  Then there were a few words from sponsors followed by a final prayer and the national anthem.  The horn blew at exactly 8:00am and we were off! 

It was refreshing to hear some of the participants say, 'No, let's stay back and let the runners have some space.' In particular, I liked the comments, 'The strollers are going to be going out last.'  And even the runners with the strollers stayed back (even tho it wasn't expected) and when they were making their way through the crowd, they were very polite and asked permission to pass.  Where the heck am I to be amongst such polite people?!? 

I realized within minutes after the start that I forgot my music.  How am I to push myself without music? I passed a lovely lady who had her phone playing music out loud saying she forgot her headphones.  I walked with her for a bit. I would be lying if I said I didn't think about making a quick pit stop at the apartment as we passed it just to get the music.  I resisted and kept going.  When we finally hit the 1 mile mark, instead of the regular 'One mile! Is that it!?!' comments I usually hear, I heard, 'One Mile....wow, that was fast!' This was definitely a different crowd.  As a guy was passing me, he patted me on the shoulder and said, 'Great job!'  As I said, there was a lot of encouraging words.  I started passing people and then felt like I was pushing to much for this early in the race. So, I trained my eyes on the one couple that seemed to be going a fast but manageable pace.  I tried to stick with them the whole time. 

By the time the 2 mile mark came, I was feeling pretty good.  And true to form, the couple did not slow down. We were at a 15 minute mile then.  Seeing that gave me a little more energy.  I passed yet another water stop up because I'm not one who drinks much while walking or running because I must have the weakest bladder around.  After that pass, I turn right and see the last stretch of mile ahead.  They were right. It was uphill.  But after seeing it, I vowed not to look again. Instead, I kept my eyes on my couple and those around me.  Passing a young girl tossing her cookies on the side, people waved down the bike cops to come and check on her.  Just after that we hit the incline.

I could see the last turn coming up.  About this time I had picked up momentum and was side by side with my couple.  I turned to them and said, 'I want to thank yall for being my marks.  You kept an awesome pace and it kept me there.'  This brought on introductions. Mary and Trey.  They were very nice and chatty and encouraging.  We took hit mile 3 and joked with others as we all crossed together.  Mary said they had planned to run the last few feet but decided she would rather be thought of as a fast walker than a slow runner. I thought that was funny.

The post race atmosphere was awesome.  Of course we had bananas but also there was a lot of vendors and church members offering up much more.  We had brown rice, turkey cheese mash, spicy chicken breast, granola, fruit, many different waters, protein drinks and of course Red Bull. The selection was pretty darned good.  While noshing on the goodies, there was live music which I have to say was some of the best I've heard.  If you are a fan of Glee, you would have been a fan of this band.  It was the praise band from the church.  

After enjoying a little music and being tempted to dance along with others, I finally had to drag myself away. It's the husband's birthday and he's babysitting while I'm doing this.  Not a great way to spend a birthday.  Besides, I had not even thought of a gift yet.  So, I began the lonely trek home.

My lonely trek home.



                   It was such a lovely way to spend my morning. It would have been even better had the husband been there. I know he was rooting for me from afar.  See yall next year Caleb organizers.

Switching the Six

So, this morning, we completed our six miles instead of waiting on Sunday.  It was not planned and the way it all came about was a bit annoying to me.  It all began yesterday when a coworker called me and asked if I wanted to go walking with her.  I said sure.  It had been about a year since I did anything with her and strongly suspected this invite had more to do with me mentioning it to her than her true desire to get out and walk.  But I said yes anyway.  Well, my husband was in the car with me and I told him I was going to go with her and asked him if he wanted to join us because it was a trail that he had not yet tried.  He hemmed and hawed about it and said he would think about it.  So, I didn't bother because I assumed he would not do it. Well, at 8am, I got up and while I was in the bathroom, he was pulling on his shoes already.  So, i called her to let her know he would be joining us so I would drive instead.  She decided she didn't really want to walk and had about 15 other excuses.  I was OK with that but my husband got the idea that the only reason she backed out was because of him.  Well, that's possible.  But then I felt like it was my fault for not thinking that she might be uncomfortable.  It's not like he would actually be walking with us. He would more than likely leave us behind at a quarter mile anyway! 

So, anyway, this put an uncomfortable silence between us.  We decided to just hit the lake and do our 6 miles.  For anyone that knows me, you know uncomfortable silence for me is worse than an actual argument. I kept asking if he was still upset with me but he laughed it off saying he was never upset to begin with.  So, I decided to just try to work off the annoyance.  But!  I only wanted to do 3 miles.  I worked hard and hit a faster pace than I usually do.  I even left him behind and then stopped to stretch at 1.5 so that he could catch up.  Well, on the last stretch, I told him I only wanted to do the one loop.  He wanted to do two.  I can't sit and let him do it without me.  Besides, his persistence is sometimes my biggest motivator.  He was going to do 6 miles whether I did it or not. We had completed the first three in 32 minutes.  I sucked it up and continued on.  We had been walking about 5 minutes when he dropped the bomb on me.  He said, 'I think we should run.'  Of course he thought we should run. While I was busting my butt trying to beat my personal time for 3 miles, he as just getting warmed up!  So,in a sarcastic snort,  I said 'Of course you want to run.'  Why does it never occur to him to run anytime during the 1st round? 

We started jogging.  I lasted a good 1/2 mile before dropping to a walk, and waving him on.  I didn't think he would get that far before stopping too.  Well, darn him, he ran over a mile.  I was walking as fast as my little 5'2 frame could go just to keep a decent gap.  I ran in intervals but it seemed just when I had the hope that I would catch him on one of his walk intervals, he would start to run again!  I was so frustrated!  But it wasn't his fault.  I was just annoyed that I couldn't keep up.  I saw him slow to a walk again and did a short sprint to catch up.  I got within 5 feet of him and he started running again.  I swore out loud and he heard me and stopped.  I irritably waved him on telling him to go and beat his time.  At about mile 4.5, I started talking to myself.  I told myself that the reason I was getting so irritable was because I was trying to run someone else's race.  He's taller than me, and his athletic ability far exceeds my own.  Why do I think I can keep up with him when I know full well, this is not possible if he is running his pace?  So, I started listening to my music and congratulated myself on the fact that I was walking the pace that I had in the first round and my sweating was minimal.  I was doing better than I had ever done.  So, I got over myself.  He did eventually slow and let  me catch up.  And yes....it was at about 5.75miles.  We finished and we were both still quiet but this time is was comfortable. 

Home now and trying to fight the feeling that all I want to do on this gorgeously gray day is lounge on the sofa.

  I did my dusty six.  And boy was it dusty.  Check out my grimy legs. (And ignore the fact that I haven't shaved please.)