For years I have watched and marveled at runners. They had a devotion and passion of such strength it would compel them out of a warm bed at ungodly hours. I would see people running in the rain, after dark, on vacation. I have even seen people mentally imbalanced enough to run during snow flurries. I wanted to be THAT person. I wanted to be A RUNNER!
In late July I began running. At first I would run to the intersection on my street. The next run would be to the driveway past that point. Then another driveway beyond the run before. And then I eventually ran far enough I could not see my apartment building, nearly half a mile! After 2 months of running 4-5 times per week I could run 5K (3.1 miles). My crowning glory was when I could run it without having to THROW UP! That was a milestone (or 3 mile stone) for me!TODAY …………… TODAY ….. I achieved a major personal goal! Yeah! Today I ran in my FIRST OFFICIAL RACE. I run 5K 3-4 times a week. Until I actually entered, ran & FINISHED a race, in my mind I could not consider myself “a runner.” TODAY I BECAME A RUNNER!!!!Okay, I know it is only a 5K run. 5K is a warm up for the seasoned runner. A 5k is my average day’s run, I do it 3-4 times a week. But this time there were other people running with me. My goal was to not finish last.
I was so excited for the race. I had been hydrating for 2 days. I had 3 quarts of water the afternoon before race. I ate lunch and carbed up 2 hours before the race. I was ready!
Steve picked me up from the office early, where I changed into my running clothes and proudly pinned my badge of honor onto my shirt. A sheet of teyvac baring lucky #3 was mine to display as it screamed to the world “I am a runner like you!” We rode the scooter over to the race in order to avoid traffic. Nothing was keeping me from starting on time for my first race & I needed EVERY second I could get! At 5pm, slightly warmed up, all stretched out, iPod strapped to my arm I was ready to go. I told myself to relax and remember to just run the way you always do. A slow warm-up kilometer, then slowly build until I find my stride. Remember your breathing and relax your arms. I am ready!
“GO” screamed the official time keeper and the crowd moved forward. Me at the front. The enormous crowd began to pick up pace. With them behind me, I started picking up pace. But I NEVER start off this fast, I thought. Nearly 1K in and could barely breathe. I made the common and much warned against mistake of starting out with too much speed. I spent the balance of the race slower than usual due to my initial semi-sprint out the gate. It was painful. I thought about just ending at the 2K mark. By 2K I have found my stride and am getting my second wind. Ugh!I fought the urge to turn around and kept on trucking along. The length of people who had passed me grew and stretched out in front me. I was struggling due to my earlier error. A woman pushing a 3 wheeled runner’s baby carriage passed me with ease. Oh the shock!!!! I struggled as best I could, keeping my time in mind. At nearly the half way point ANOTHER mom with a carriage passes me. Oh the HUMILIATION!!!! They effortlessly trotted on pushing their children along as they became smaller and smaller in the distance. Last half to go! Oh the glorious turn around point, water station and the mark of half way home, the start of the slight downhill slope for the return route! I am feeling great! I started getting my second wind. Despite the cramp in my foot from slope of the road for drainage, I trudge on. I cheered myself on in my head. “I can do this! Keep going! All you have to do is finish and not be last!” My concentration was broken by a third woman who passes me with a stroller (runner # 88). It was not just any stroller, it was a double wide stroller with twins! She effortlessly pushed them past keeping her stride smooth and quick. As she pasted me (ME -huffing, puffing and grunting) with her two children in tow, I considered it might be a wise to reevaluate my training program!
For the last 2K I had runner #88 in front of me zipping along. A selfish ray of hope came when she dropped some empty water bottles out of the stroller! Being a good citizen she stopped to pick them up along with some other random debris. While she was stopped, I picked up my pace! Runner 88 tucked them under her stroller then began running again, far a head of me. About 5 minutes later the bottles bounced out of the stroller again! This was another chance to pass her! She STOPPED running (again) to pick them up and put them away. As she tried to pick them up instead she accidentally kicked them, causing her to chase them a few feet. (I secretly cheered LOUDLY in my head and picked up my pace.) Once the bottles were firmly in hand and secured to her stroller she began running again. I can tell you all about her running and litter issues as I spent so much time BEHIND HER. No matter how I tried to gain on her, even while she stopped – TWICE - I could not gain any ground on her. So, to environmentally conscious runner #88 with the double wide stroller lugging twins, I say “DAMN GOOD RUN!”
Droves of people with great form, consistent strides and quick feet continued to pass me. As the sun grew lower I caught site of my shadow. I saw the problem. I looked like a troll trying to run up hill in mud! Well, I wasn’t pretty and I was not going to walk any of that race and I would finish! Foaming at the mouth, with the last furlong stretched out in front of me I could see the end in site. I gritted me teeth, mustered what little I had left in me and gave it my all. I crossed the finish with the grace and speed of a sweaty 3 legged donkey. But I crossed the finish line of my first race. I came in 74th (runner #88 finished 72nd). 5k (3.1 miles) in 29 minutes! As we all stood around after the race waiting for the prizes to be announced I saw my nemesis. Runner #88. She was taking her children out of the stroller. To my shock, disbelief and great shame there they were. An infant and a TODDLER! The woman who had obviously given birth recently pushed a baby and a BIG toddler past me with ease and grace. Yup, definitely time to reevaluate my training routine! 
Congratulations - this is a huge accomplishment.