First 5K

On July 4th of 2011 I ran my first 5K. I really never thought I would do something like that in my life. I have always (when younger) been a long distance runner but now that I am older I could not see my self completing a 5K race. But hey I did it at 39 years old. My goal was to complete the race without walking or stopping and it was tough but I reached my goal.

Here is how the 4th started for me. I woke up about 6:30 in the morning and started some coffee and I had one cup at 7am which was two hours before the race. It might have been an issue also that I did not eat anything for breakfast. So it is race time and I am feeling pretty good, standing at the starting line looking around me at 40 other runners and saying to myself that I just want to finish.

The race started and I was off like a sprinter in a 100 meter dash trying to keep pace with the runners in front of me. I quickly thought to myself that there is no way I will make it at this pace, so I gathered myself and slowed down to my pace. About 1/2 mile into the rave the coffee started playing with my stomach and I was hurting. I will not drink coffee before a race again, that was a bad idea.

I was running with my hands on my head, on my side just trying to get the pain to stop before I did. I tried to control my breathing but was not able to due to the pain that I was in and the fact that I had a ways to go. So I just tried to focus on the praise music in my ears and keeping my eyes forward. I made it to the last stretch and I tried to up my pace to get me to the finsih line quicker so the pain in my stomach would stop hurting. I could hear the cheers from the people but at that time I was hurting so bad that I just wanted to finish, then I heard the cheers form my family at the finish line saying "come on dad" and that got my across the finish line. I was hurting but proud that I had completed my goal.

I am continuing to run to stay in shape but also I will run another 5K in September and I hope to run a 10K next year sometime. My wife and kids were very supportive in this race and they helped me get through it. One of my sons (Jordan) has started to run with me a little and that excites me because he could be a good runner if he will keep at it. We will see how long this will last.