Made my 5K goal finally!!!

For my team challenge most of us signed up to do a 5K on Saturday. Little did we know that the weather was going to be TERRIBLE.

That morning when I woke up to gray skies I knew it wasn't going to be a good race. It was freezing out and misting all morning. If it wasn't for the team challenge I probably wouldn't have ran. The race had over 2,000 runners signed up initially, only 400 actually ended up running it. That's how bad out it was.

I am so happy I have proper running gear though. My compression shirt really helped me stay warm. I forgot to bring gloves though and thought I would never get them warm again! We sat in the car until about 10 minutes before the race to try and stay warm. Standing at the starting line was pure torture. I just wanted the race to start so I can move my body and warm up a little.

Before the race, I really wanted to get under 30 minutes. I've been working toward this goal forever. My first 5K I ever ran (May 2011), I did it in just under 40 minutes. I knew then that eventually I wanted to get under 30. I was getting close. I wanted to hit it badly.

Once the day of the race came and it was raining, freezing and WINDY I figured I would hit it the next race. Too many elements to contend with I figured. The race finally started and I was already miserable. My face was soaking wet and freezing. My shoe lace became slightly untied. UGH. I was never going to hit it.

Then I got to mile 1 and the guy standing there said I was only 8:44 in. WHAT?!?!! I've never ran under a 9 min mile before!! I kept running along. Eventually my tie came completely undone. I had to stop and fix it. Since I thought I wouldn't hit under 30 I wasn't too upset.

We turned a corner and I was running against the wind! Ugh. It was horrible. I felt like I was barely moving. My fingers were completely numb. I just wanted this thing to be over!

Finally I turned a corner and saw the finish line!!! I started to sprint. That's when I saw the clock. What?? There was no way!!

I crossed the finish line in 27:44!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!! I cannot believe I got under 30!! And that much under 30!! I shaved 4 minutes off my last 5K time!! Apparently really crappy weather makes me run super fast. ;)

I still can't believe my pace with under 9 min mile. With my shoe being undone, the wind, rain and everything, I really thought I wasn't going to hit it. I can't wait until the next 5K, I feel like I'll be even faster without those elements to slow me down!

It's also surreal to me to run 5Ks now because I'm right in the thick of it. There are tons of runners all around me. In the past when I was all the way in the back, there was hardly any other people. Now I really feel like a runner with everyone all around me.



After the race with my trainer. Soaked but so happy!



My other co-captain for our gym team challenge.