Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K

Today, I ran my first race. As I woke up this morning, I had a horrible feeling in my belly. What was this?!? Nerves had sunken in. I was so nervous!! All this training and hard work and I was finally going to see what it all was for...in a matter of hours. We got on the road and met up with the 13 other amazing Ranger Ladies that were running it with me. What an inspiration. "Rangers love Ta-Ta's!"

We got down there and were at the starting corral, waiting to go. By the time we actually passed the start line, it was already 3:30 into the race! We were running the streets of Savannah with 3000 of our closest friends. My original goal was to run the whole race. Actually, as Ben reminded me, my original goal was to finish the race. When I started this mess a few months ago, I don't know if I would have actually finished.....anyway. A secondary goal was to finish in 30:00.

Well, I didn't reach either of the goals, but it was a learning process despite my overwhelming dissapointment. I started off so fast that I was really struggling at the halfway point and ended up having to walk for 1:30. Even with walking and all the other distractions, I still finished the race in 32:00. Not bad!

Even though I didn't run the entire thing and I didn't finish in 30:00, I did learn a lot of valuable lessons throughout. Point of reference is tough....all these people were flying by me and I cuoldn't really tell how fast I was going...I shot gunned it the first mile! I hit the #1 mile marker at 8:30 and it was then I realized how fast I was going and needed to slow down my pace. I learned that I am not racing AGAINST other people. I am running for me and I am racing my personal time.

I also learned to be VERY careful running in large groups. As I tried to pass the people walking or who have a slower pace than me, I would pick up the pace to pass and then slow back down to my normal pace. I was, basically, doing sprints throughout the entire race. What a smoker!

Despite being disappointed that I didn't run the whole thing, I understand why and I know that I can. I learned a ton of lessons and am proud of all my hard work....AND, the best of all, I finished knowing that I wanted to do it again- SOON! We are looking into a 5K at the end of May. I guess after all is said and done, I still run like a girl!