Yesterday's 5k and a nice surprise!

Background for anyone who doesn't know: I was a total non-runner for my first 38.5 years of my life. I started with C25K in December 2010 (also when I joined MFP) to get ready to do the Warrior Dash in June, and got addicted to running. Last fall, I even won a couple of medals running, then developed a stress fracture in my fibula in the winter that put me on the bench for about six weeks. In February, I started running again, starting with C25K again to ease me into it.

March 18th, I ran my first race of the year, a 4.5 mile run and finished in 40:37, and two weeks later, ran a 5k in 26:15.

Yesterday was another 5k, one that I was very wishy washy about running, because I had some stupid insecurities that I still don't quite understand. But I did it.



And I got off to a great start.



I also realized that "Yackety Sax," better known as the theme from the Benny Hill show, is fantastic for running, but...



But... I couldn't quite shake the mental image that I'd run behind that light post, and come out on the other side in just my bra and panties being chased by a perverted old man. Thankfully for all concerned, especially ME since it was pretty chilly, I did not.

I found out that I need to wear a stop watch when I run races. I carry my phone and use the stop watch on that when I run for exercise, but not during races since I don't foresee any "need to dial 911" emergencies (because at least there'd be others around who would hopefully come to my rescue). But I completely psych myself out. I don't realize I'm doing as well as I am, and give up. A few people pass me after the halfway point and I think, "Oh, crap. I suck. I'm not doing well. If I'm not going to do well, I might ... as well... just ... walk." It's happened in all three races this year, and every time, I got to the finish line and though, "HOT DAMN! I must've been flying!"



Yesterday, I crossed the finish line in 25:30. That's 45 seconds faster than my last race, and about two and a half minutes faster than I finished this same race last year! Still shy of my PR of 24:59, but (and here's where I beat myself up a little) if I hadn't walked, if I'd known I was doing that well, I would have beat it.



I ran a different race exactly one year ago, and by the scale yesterday morning, I weigh just two pounds less. Some of that, I'm sure, is fluid retention from Friday's pizza. But still... the scale does NOT tell the whole story!

It was a small race, only 66 runners, so they only gave awards to the top runner in each age group, rather than the top three. And it was taking the volunteers for-freakin-EVER to post the results. Every so often, I'd mosey on over to the leaderboard and try to sneak a peak, and that's when I saw it... one of the women who passed me was 30. Darn. My age group. It was enough to make me wish I was 40 already. I still would have been 2nd place in my group, but for some crazy reason, I could give mad props to someone two years older than me who beat me, instead of trying to compete with someone nearly a decade younger. It had already been almost an hour since I finished, and it was getting quite dull just sitting around.



My husband - aka, my paparazzi - was especially bored.

I still stuck around a little longer, while they were filling out the poster board with the winner's on it. And, in marker, they started writing "K-R-I..." in the Female 30-39 slot. Kristy. Yep. that was the name of the other girl. Definitely not "L-O-R..." for Lorina. Since I didn't win, and I had to poop and didn't want to venture into that disgusting portapotty again, we left.

Last night, the results were posted on the local running site. And... HOLY CRAP! There was my name listed as the top female in the 30-39 age group! I did win!!! Not sure what happened with Kristy - maybe she wasn't 30 after all, maybe she was actually a man, maybe she cheated and hid under the bridge and only joined the race in the last mile... but none of that matters. I WON! :drinker: