I completed my first 5K run yesterday as I ran in GVSU’s Homecoming 5K run/walk. I knew that I would run and finish the race just based on pure determination and all my training, but I was very doubtful of how much time that would actually take. I talked with several runners who thought I would drastically improve on my average 14 minute training mile; I was just hoping adrenaline would push me to finish the 3.1 miles in 40 minutes or slightly less. Ben and my parents were both at the finish line and they told me my time was 36:30! I averaged a 12:10 mile, which is much faster than I had ever run during training! Needless to say, I was quite impressed with my time.
I have no idea how I placed in my age group or against the other runners. We went to the pancake breakfast and I didn’t hang around for the results because we froze our butts off eating in 35-40 degree weather. I’m pretty sure I was at the tail end of the determined individuals who were going to run the entire route because a golf cart followed me most of the course, kind-of like they were monitoring the walk/run line. I’m just pleased I finished and I didn’t walk; I acheived my personal goals.
I plan to keep up on my running and keep running between 2-3 miles 3 days a week, basically what I have been doing since the school year has started. Many people have asked if I plan to run in more 5K races. I’m not sure if I am or not–my whole goal in completing a 5k was two-fold. One, I wanted to see if I could actually do it. Two, I wanted to try to get into running to see if I liked it. So many women my age talk about running as part of their fitness routine, I thought I should try it out and really give it a shot. I have found that I do enjoy it and I enjoy the challenge it often poses to me, especially when I am tired or sick. I’m not sure I need to run more races to keep it up or to prove to others that I’m serious about keeping up with my running–all of this was to prove something to myself and rise to a challenge I wasn’t sure I could acheive. Saturday was a huge personal victory for me–despite many events in my life that seem so out of my control, I found that I still can set goals and feel as if I have some say in how my life unfolds.