The 5K that almost wasn't

JoolieW68

A few weeks ago I registered for a 5K for tonight at 7pm (about 90 mins ago as I type).

I got home from work around 4:45pm, got some dinner, and relaxed while waiting. I planned to leave the house about 5:45ish to get to registration around 6:15 (due to traffic thru town) and have plenty of time to relax and get ready for the start.

So I'm all dressed in my race gear, watching the clock......it's 30 minutes after the hour and my daughter suddenly says "Mom, it's SIX thirty!". OH *kitten*!!

I grab my iPod and inhaler, we jump in the car, and gun it to the race. At 8 minutes before the race I can only get within 2.5 blocks of the start, due to closed roads, and I haven't registered yet (and don't know where registration is located).

I found the last spot in a parking lot, threw the keys at my daughter, sprinted the 2.5 blocks towards the starting line, and found the water table for after the race. "I'm late! Where is registration??". They pointed around the corner, down an alley, across a parking lot, into the library and down the stairs. Holy crap!

So off I sprinted to registration, and had 4 minutes to go. The registration lady helped me get my chip timer on my shoe and pointed me toward the bathroom. Ran to the bathroom while pinning my number on my shirt, then back up the stairs, across the parking lot, thru the alley (the clock tower started chiming the top of the hour!!), and towards the start line.

Fortunately my daughter was right there do I could give her my goodie bag and I hopped into the crowd. I literally had like 20 seconds before they started the race, but because there were a lot of people, and I was near the back, I had a short walk up to the starting line to catch my breath before I started.

HOLY HELL. not my best time (31:45 I think....I don't know since I forgot my watch but was wearing my HRM chest strap - ugh), but I got a bit of a workout in before I even started!

Not a workout I'd recommend, but I'm so making up a cool exercise for this one!

CarsonRuns

I would have been a basket case. I arrive at LEAST two hours before the start of a race. Running that late, I would have just bagged it. Good for you getting there and getting it done.

Tiffysinsanity

lol. that's great! way to go. I think that's a great time too!

JoolieW68

I would have been a basket case. I arrive at LEAST two hours before the start of a race. Running that late, I would have just bagged it. Good for you getting there and getting it done.

Trust me, I was anything but calm driving there. Pretty sure I bent the speed limit and may have gone thru a very yellow light.

FatUncleRob

Wow, Joolie!! Talk about cutting it fine!

I'm glad you made it in time to register.

Congrats!! :drinker:

Sarahrachael82

That is MOTIVATION!!!! I would've totally panicked and not registered, so GOOD FOR YOU!!!

TaintedVampyre

Awesome story! Props for all that gunning about before getting to the starting line.

reepobob

I had a dream I was running late for a 5K and had to run it in jeans and work boots...I woke up in a cold sweat...I would have bagged it too...I am OCD about 5K...at least and hour early with 30 minutes devoted to rumble rolling and stretching and another 15 dedicated to walking and warm up...good for you for being stubborn and making it happen!

Sassy922

Awesome for making every effort to make it to the 5K!

dsak

Holy crap... That is my worst nightmare!!! Glad you got there with a few seconds to spare!!!

mandimuscles

Great job for doing it!!

JoolieW68

As a follow up, I found out my chip time was 30:26, much better than I thought given the craziness before the race.