Sunday, October 17, 2010

Victory is MINE!!!

So it's Sunday and yesterday was the 10K. I rolled out of bed at about 6:15a.m. ready to go, excited but anxious. After all, I hadn't exercised in 3 weeks. That's right, 3 weeks and nothing, zip, nada. First there was the "I just can't get myself out of bed" week and then there was the back pain that just wouldn't go away. So, I really wasn't sure how well it would go, I was hopeful but uncertain. My goal was to finish in 1:45:00, about a 17 minute mile. I knew it would be a hard pace to keep especially given the lack of exercise lately.

Well, I headed off for the 10K which conveniently started and finished right down the street from my sister's house. I parked my car at her house and then she, my husband and I headed down to the start line. Now the race was advertised as a 10K run and 5K walk but I contacted the folks heading up the event to make sure it was OK to walk the 10K. With the go ahead from them, I waited at the start line fearing I would be the only person walking and for a while it appeared that would be the case but, just before the bell (the cow bell, yes, a cow bell, it's a small event) 3 more walkers showed up. And you know as well as I know that you can tell the difference between a walker and a runner and they could too as I heard one of them say, "Hey another walker."

Well, I took off at a fast pace, I-pod in ear, water in hand and my cheerleaders right behind me. I felt my heart rate increase as I kept pace with the music and my heart and lungs felt good. Apparently my recent hiatus hadn't hurt my cardiovascular system as much as I anticipated. My muscles though...that's a whole other story.

I was good from the waist up but I was not good from the waist down. The first pain was right in the bends of my legs, right in the hip socket. That started about 5 minutes in and never let up. Now I am not going to bore you with every ache and pain let me just say the I can barely walk today. I look like a penguin rolling along. The last thing I have to say about the pain is OH MY ACHING @$$!

The best part of the race was that I had my own personal cheerleaders on every corner. Never mind that I used to be a dispatcher and I knew most of the cops working the race, I am talking about my husband and my big sister. Now, she took off on a course parallel to mine and popped out on me twice during my mile long straight away. Now she was really scooting to run over a block, down the street parallel to mine and then back in a block to cheer me on but there she was smiling and waving and offering words of encouragement and advice. At the next corner, my husband had caught up and from then on they were popping out at every turn. My husband passing me a Reese's peanut butter pumpkin (don't judge, peanut butter is protein and I needed a boost) and a kiss at one point as I pushed on without pausing. I don't know many other folks that have that kind of love and support in their lives and I wouldn't know what to do without it.

A few more turns and switchbacks and I was near the five mile mark. I rounded the corner and my niece and brother-in-law had joined the party. My sister walked along with me until I turned into her neighborhood for the last mile, the rest of the cheerleaders headed to the finish line. Now, this being her home turf she knew what was ahead of me and told me everything to expect and just kept pushing me to keep it up. I had to make a loop through her subdivision and then turn back out onto the road where the race started to finish at the park on the corner. I was approaching turn 2 of 4 in the loop when there she was again with a fresh, cold bottle of water. She couldn't have shown up at a better time. I was slowing down, hurting, tired but still determined. More words of encouragement and some much appreciated company and she took off for the finish line.

I came out of her neighborhood onto the last stretch, finish line in sight along with my group of cheerleaders. I was the last one to cross the finish line but I CROSSED the finish line. I came in at 1:40:31 for 6.23 miles. That's a 16:10 pace and an average of 3.72 mph. I am ecstatic. I did it, 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Now I am going to rest and recuperate and set my next goal. No stopping now.

Thank you Honey. Thank you Gennifer. I love you.

5K, check. 10K, check. More to come so...

Don't Pity the Fat Girl.