My first 10K
Good morning everyone! I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post! I have been so slack lately!! Time to get myself back on track with posting here.
Saturday I ran my first 10K, and what an awesome experience it was! The proceeds from the race go to a foundation called Jay's Hope, which is a local group formed by a family who lost their son to childhood cancer. They raise money to help families who are staying at the children's hospital here in Macon, and to help the kids and the families through very difficult times. Check out the website at www.jayshope.org.
SOOOO, here is my story: I woke up early Saturday morning, and then woke up my 2 older girls (16 and 13) who I had bought a box of cheez-it to bribe them to go with me (I needed someone to take pictures, right?) and then woke up my youngest daughter, who had decided that she also wanted to go. My son woke up early, but he hadn't wanted to go... It was just his birthday and he was excited about his party. Before we left, he decided to go too!
So, I left the house at about 6:30am with all 4 kids... and a dog, and a goal of setting my personal record. I hoped to come in with a time under an hour. I signed in and picked up my shirt and number, then the kids and I left for some breakfast (for them, I can't eat before I run). When we got back, we took a few pictures and watched the 5K runners start and finish. I warmed up and stretched a little and then started my run at 8:15!
I started off a little too fast and was getting a bit winded before I even hit mile 1, so I slowed my pace a little. When I hit mile 1, they called out my time, and I could see why I was winded... 9:00. I am not a fast runner, so that is a really fast mile for me. I found my pace and started really feeling good at the halfway point. By mile 5, we were back to the area near the finish line. We had to do one lap of a dirt track before hitting the finish line. As I rounded the last turn of the track, I heard it "GO MAMA!!" All 4 of my kids were lined up on the fence (they were outside and I was inside) screaming for me to go!! I picked up my pace and ran my little heart out. I got around the outside of the fence... my older 2 had moved to the finish line with the camera and the younger 2 got on either side of me and ran with me through the finish line!
What an incredible finish! And you want to know the best part about it? Without their encouragement at the finish, I wouldn't have reached my goal. I was feeling tired and was slowing down, but their encouragement made me pick up my pace and cross the finish line with a time of 59:11! I finished 39th overall and 1st female in my age group!
The trophy for this race means soooo much too. The awards were crosses, painted by the children at the Children's Hospital. It is displayed proudly on my mantle.