Big D

I did it! I ran my first race today! All be it, a small portion of one - but I had to see if my legs would allow for a 5k before I start embarking upon larger goals - like a half marathon. It was super easy. I jogged the entire first mile, just to see what my legs would allow for and I did it in 12 minutes flat. When I started training to run, I was working on a 20 minute mile - huge improvement! Since 5k was the shortest of all the races being run today, ours wasn't "timed" per say, so I don't know what I placed in my age class but I felt really good about my personal results.
After running the first miles I alternated between jogging and speed walking so that my knees/hips/ankles wouldn't start protesting. I think I may have found the right combination, which pleases me to no end. I LOVED participating in this event. I loved the feeling of it. The pre-race jittery people, nervous anxiety, excitement, anticipation. The sounds. It was odd, with thousands of people there, you would expect it to be loud with talking and commotion. Before the race there was a hum about the crowd, but not loud. I ran with my iPod, but kept one ear bud popped out so I could listen to the sounds of the race. The pounding feet, the random shouts from supporters, the static over police radio, air being sucked in and puffed out as we can through a tunnel. It was one of the more rewarding sports related activities I have ever participated in. And I played on a Provincial level soccer team.
First Race: 5k
Time: 41:10
Things I had a hard time with: Keeping in mind that even though people (including children) were passing me - I was racing against my time, not theirs.
The "uphill" portions that had a breeze coming against me. Okay - so it would probably be considered more of a "slope" than a hill - but I still hated the breeze. That was barely blowing hard enough to stir the leaves in the trees. I'm a wuss.