Yes folks, I have to eat my words. I thought the 5K would be lame. It wasn’t. I loved it.
We woke up in the “middle of the night,” at least that’s what Eli said when we woke him up a 5am so we could get to the race by 6:30. I’m a total jerk when I wake up not a morning person, so just getting up early was a huge feat. We bundled up (in Lids of course) and headed to the race. I wasn’t nervous because I had a plan – I would run for 10 minutes and walk for 2 till the end of the race. Totally doable.
We arrived for check-in and met up with all our friends and family. It really was quite a group… Jami, Adam, Kendra, Evan, my marathon running cousin Olivia, and her equally as marathon-y boyfriend and friends, Kelly, Jeff and Katie.
I really had no idea what to expect because the longest I’ve ever run in one session was 22 minutes. And my treadmill doesn’t have a speed or distance display. First you line up in groups sectioned out by the speed you will run each mile. I started in the 15-18 minute mile… the one just before walking. I figured it would take me about 45 minutes. I had my book on my iphone and I was ready… ready enough.
I set my alarm for 10 minutes and started jogging. I felt pretty good. Honestly, I was just having fun looking at all the random people, people watching is my favorite pastime. Ever. The Chapman 5K runs through the Orange circle and all through the old part of town so the scenery was lovely. Before I knew it, my 10 minute running alarm went off, I was feeling OK so I decided to run through my planned 2 minute break. Two minutes passed and I still felt good. And I just kept running. I thought I could run through the whole race. Maybe.
We passed a church and they had a worship band playing out front. I’m not sure why, but I wanted to weep. Seriously. WEEP, as in, break-down-into-a-snot-dripping-out-of-breath-full-on-cry-fest.
I had a moment passing the band.
I’m not sure exactly what brought it on.
Maybe because I’m a spiritual gal.
Maybe because I knew that if I pushed myself I could actually run this whole time.
Maybe it was fear of turning into a kale-eating-I-just-love-running-so-much-I-wear-florescent-shoes person.
I’m still not sure.
I rode that little high for a few minutes. Then I got tired and decided to walk. Lame, I know. Just as I was about to kick it down a notch, our friend Adam caught up with me. FYI, he was only behind me because he was pushing a stroller. Damn. I couldn’t walk now. Not with him still running… WHILE PUSHING A DOUBLE STROLLER. So I kept running. Huffing and puffing and pushing myself.
We went full circle on the run and got back to the Chapman University campus. I passed some bloggy friends and then my family cheering for me. That was cool (really cool) and I was just cruising along. Then one of those bloggy friends joined me for the last half-mile ish of the race. Kelly. Kelly who was running a marathon the next day. Kelly who works for a race wear company (Team Sparkle). Double damn. Cruising was over. OVER. Now I was getting a personal running coach. We started “picking people off” as we got closer to the finish line. She was super encouraging and my last mile was actually my fastest. Just over 10 minutes!
I finished the whole thing in 35 minutes and 4 seconds. WOW.
I felt so accomplished!!
I was proud.
I radiated delight.
I was going to throw up.
Seriously.
Queasy central. I was thinking I shouldn’t have stopped so abruptly and I was looking for a trash can. I didn’t up-chuck (that’s what we call it around here). Thank God.
I found my family and friends. It turns out Kelly got second place in his age group. We hung out for a while eating oatmeal while watching Kelly in the awards ceremony, my kiddos were wide eyed over my “gold medal” then went out to eat. I’d say that was a pretty productive morning. My favorite kind of time – a unique healthy outdoor family/friends fun day.
I loved it!
Here’s what I learned for my next race… yes, I’m doing this again. I think the Turkey Trot in Dana Point. Wanna join??? Anyway, back to what I learned. The morning of the race I bundled up in warm pants loose too-big-for-me pants and and long sleeved non-running top over my tank top. My pants were falling down the whole first part and my tee was sweaty and cumbersome by the end. Running clothes for sure. I think I want an arm band for my phone so I don’t have to hold it the whole time. And I think a sparkle skirt will make me run faster.
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carlee says
so proud of you! so nice to do something challenging like that and conquer it and surprise yourself! you are so going to get addicted…watch out! you should look into trail running- it is like a running party – their aid stations are bomb…and the scenery is amazing…and the trails are soooo much easier on our bodies…i dont think my old bones can do the street for long distances any more 🙁
Julie says
YAY Kara Noel! That is awesome! And yes, you had way too many clothes on, seriously. I’m thinking about doing Dana Point Turkey Trot too. And of course, you need a Sparkle Skirt!! They make you run faster!