This race was much anticipated. I have been talking about doing a 5k since New Years Eve, 2007! That is approximately 3 and a half years!!! Finally, I have accomplished my goal!
On Saturday, May 8, 2010, on my 28th birthdizzle, I, Toni Conrad, ran a 5k race. That equates to 3.1 miles in American measurement. Not only did I achieve my goal, I blew it away!!!
My plan was to run this race in 40 minutes or less. I knew that was attainable as I have ran 2 practice 5ks at my house and both came in under 40 minutes. I was really nervous though.
So, Saturday morning I woke up and my husband drove me to Kittanning to the hospital to run this race. We were only an hour early, so I had some time to reflect on what I was about to do. I had a granola and looked at the map. I looked at my nice shirt I got for participating and stretched out my leglets.
At 9am, the race began. I planned to run about a 13 minute mile and at the end of 9 minutes, my first mile was done!!! It seems that I was going downhill the entire time. I knew, sometime a hill was going to come along. At the end of the first lap, a steep hill was there for me to climb, I just said “TONI, DO IT!!!” and ran up the hill.
The first lap was slightly more than 1.5 miles. The second lap started out with a small walklet and I had to regain my breath from sprinting up a hill. Once I was good (I allowed myself 3 minutes) I took off running again (actually jogging). Soon I hit the 2.1 mile marker and I told myself “3 more songs” and I kept saying “run 3 more songs” at the end of the 1st of 3 songs, I took a small 2 minute walking break to catch my breath before having to run up that hill again… and I kept saying “2 more songs” and “you can do it, 2 songs is nothing” and soon I was at the top of the hill. The last song was just a sniplet and I crossed the finish line!
It was not as hard as I had anticipated it would be, but it was difficult enough to make me walk. I think the walking was all mental, but my average pace was 11.25 minute miles. That is pretty good!
I finished the race in 34 minutes and 53 seconds and though I did not get a medal for placing in my age group, I was so proud of myself for accomplishing my goal.
Next race is May 31 in Blairsville. Traci is running with me and hopefully I cannot walk at all. My goal time is 33 minutes! Do you think I can do it? I am pretty confident I can.
Thanks for all the kind words and congradulatory messages for finishing!!!
