Ps. This is for Gulfgal98 who said I should blog about this.
I ran my first race today. It was perfect weather this morning. Average temperature was 52 degrees. The sun was out early. This is important because it has often rained in past years for this race.
I woke up with some trepidation because I had been training for a 5km(3.1 miles)race and found out too late that it was actually a 4mile race. Before today's race I had never ran more than 3.08miles before. I often average about 10.30minute per mile for the last 2 weeks of my training(that's when i started keeping track of my pace).
For those who haven't read any of my past notes on running, I've been using the Couch-to-5k beginner running program since February. It is a 9 week program that will surely get you running 3miles at the end if you keep faithful to it.
Anyway, I was surprised that only about 400 people ran the race since it was so beautiful outside today. I had walked in the St. Patrick's day run about a month ago and the whole town was out for it so I assumed this one was also going to be packed. Also since it was on a college campus I expected the students to come out. I was wrong, obviously. That unnerved me because I dreaded finishing last. lol.
The day started without good fortune:I had a mini argument with 'the one' about the race. The race was my first official race so I wanted 'the one' to come and take pictures of me at the start and end for the record books( to brag to my grandchildren some day.lol). He was, to my surprise, not as interested in it as I had hoped. Wow, this meant the world to me!
Anyway the race itself was tough because it wasn't a flat terrain. Lots of mini hills interspersed throughout the 4mile route meant lots of slowing down during the uphill portions. I, of course, made up for the pace during the downhill portions. During the 3rd milestone I lucked out. A couple was separating so the wife donated her husband to me so she could move on. I ended up having him to encourage me for the last mile. It turned out he was one of the organizers so I made a friend.
The race was my first run over 3.08miles and I survived without walking despite the many treacherous mini hills. It did help to have company during the last mile because I could have easily rationalized bailing out of the race. He was my angel.
As for 'the one' I still don't know how to tell him how disappointed I am that he couldn't be there for such an important milestone in my life(his excuse? the 52 degree Spring weather was too cold for him! wow! ).
Anyway, I finished the 4miles in 47:30 minutes(11.52 pace). Not great but not bad for my first 4miles.