My First 5K & I Survived

Yesterday was the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge 5K

Which is more than a 5k. It's 3.5 miles not 3.1 miles.

Joe had bullied convinced me into signing up and running it with him.

I don't know what I was thinking.

This was my first 5kand I did NOTHING to prepare for it.

Not even stretching took place.

Mind you, I have never ran more than a mile and 1/2 before.

In my life. Ever.

I was kind of pissed off just before the race started.

I was sporting a white race number (meaning jogger/walker)

Joe insisted on moving to the front of the section with the yellow (meaning runner) tagged folk.

Did I not just say I am not a runner???

I was terrified I was going to be trampled.

 I kept saying I wanted to move back but I stayed with him.

The race/run started and I felt like a ton of people were running around me.

I moved over to the side and Joe moved with me.

I eventually needed a walk break after what felt like 30 seconds of running.
I told Joe to go ahead.

To be honest, I prefer to be alone when I am running or working out.

I dont like to feel like I am holding someone back

And I dont like feeling like someone is holding me back.

That left me to motivate myself to move on foot in front of the other.

I had no music to entertain me.

I only had the sound of my feet hitting the pavement,

the heavy breathing all around me,

and the words of encouragement being shared by those who did choose to run in pairs or groups.

During the run, there was an older, heavier dude.

I would run ahead of him and then take a walk break.

Everytime he would catch up with me.

There were a few times I almost said Fuck It I'm Walkin'

But then I would see him, stuggling, but pluggin' along.

I thought to myself, Get it Together. If he can do it, what's your excuse?

Eventually, I passed him.

Each mile marker was like a fresh breath of air.

Only not because I felt like a dying cow.

But you get the idea.

I finished. I finished at 49 minutes and 55 seconds.

Honestly I was proud of that time.

I wanted to do under 45 but I will take 49.

Like I said earlier. I had never ran over a mile and a half. So to do 3.5 miles felt good.

It hurt but it felt good to finish.