Race Day

Eight weeks ago I looked at Jenilee, while finishing up body pump class, and I said "I think that we should register for a 5K". Jenilee said "Oh yeah, good idea! Maybe in like a year?" I told her no, in a few weeks.

We registered for the Hotter'n Hell 5K in Knoxville, TN, found a training program for beginners, and we got started running. For those of you who have followed my blog from the beginning, you know that we had some difficult days, but overall we worked very hard to prepare for this race. Not only did our training help prepare us for the race but the pounds started coming off, we began feeling better about ourselves because of the little achievements, and we both found strength within ourselves that we never knew that we had. I'm not sure if I have ever felt as good about myself as I did in these last eight weeks.

Thursday morning I woke up with a sore throat and immediately thought that any chance of me finishing this race had gone out the window. Over the next two days I was feeling worse, work was really piling on, and Jenilee's mom was admitted to the hospital and underwent surgery. This unfortunate event took Jenilee out of the race, although thankfully her mom is now home and on her way to recovery. My confidence was low, but I knew that I had too much riding on this... I had to run this race.

My wonderful husband drove me to Knoxville Friday evening and was my number one support the whole weekend! Unwinding with Robin and Craig when we arrived into town really helped to calm my nerves. (Thank you Robin for providing us with wonderful hospitality!) Saturday morning I felt like crap. My cold had wondered down into my chest and I could feel myself wheezing. I just kept telling myself to get through this race!

It didn't even feel real when everyone started lining up at the start... all I could think was that I needed to get toward the back so that I did not get run over. The gun was loud and startling...here we go!! At the bottom of the hill (about .20 miles) I could feel my chest tighten. I knew that this was going to be a difficult run with the way I was feeling. Just finish! I tried to focus, I tried to imagine the finish line -- none of that worked. All I could think of was how much longer until I can get back into bed. I wasn't thirsty by the time I got to the first water station and I kept hearing my mom's voice telling me not to take water if I don't feel like I need it. I skip the station, averting my eyes from the screaming volunteers "water to your right, Gatorade to your left." Here come the hills. Short but very steep hills. I think that I can hear someone cheering, telling people that they are doing well, keep going. Before too long I'm the only one running up a ridiculously steep hill. As I pump my arms I hear the voice from earlier "There you go! Just like that! You got this hill!" I have no idea who this man is but I want to stop and hug him. Not long after the hill I start to see some men running toward me. They were the guys in the front of the start line with short-shorts and no shirts. They have their bibs pined to the front of their shorts. The course is a turn around course and the lead running are already on their way back. I figure I have about another half mile until the turn around. This causes me much relief!

I've made the turn around and I'm halfway home. I tried to pick up the pace but then my chest started tightening and I could feel the crud in my throat. I just keep telling myself that I'm not trying to win this race, just finish it. I make it back to that steep hill only there is no cheerleader at the top urging me to keep going. I'm pushing and pushing but before I know it I'm walking. I figure that I have about half a mile left and that I'll just walk for a little bit. I desperately needed to catch my breath and my shins were burning. Four people passed me while I was walking and I knew that I just had to catch them before the end. Right before I got to the water station, about a quarter of a mile from the hill I decided that I needed to give this my all. I start jogging, then running toward the finish. I'm one turn away from being able to see the finish line and I just passed two of the four people who passed me during my short time walking. I'm looking around trying to find my husband (and number one fan) thinking I can't finish this race without seeing that he is here cheering for me. I focus on passing the next two runners who had passed me, then I go right back to looking for my husband. I can't find him but I'm about to finish. I dug in and gave it my all just like I used to when I finished a 500 during a High School swim meet. I felt like I was floating, my legs were propelling me so high and fast. I heard people in the crowd clapping just as I hit the finish line. There he was.... standing at the finish line with the camera out taking pictures of me. I look at him and start to cry. I tried to hide it because I don't want to seem like a dork for crying after a 5K. You know... Try to play it cool. The overwhelming feelings of accomplishment and pride kept causing me to get choked up. After I congratulated Robin for finishing the race and grabbing a banana I headed to the car. I needed to release these emotions. John and I sat in the car while I cried. Running that race was something that I've wanted to do my whole life!