My first 10K!

So it took 8 days after the hike to finally run again. I felt like I had to start back at square one, and it was humbling. My first day back to hitting the pavement was Sept. 1st. I had been looking forward to running my first 10K on Sept. 8th for quite awhile. It was a local run that went along with some festivities in our community. This event includes a 2mi run/walk; a 5K; and a 10K. I was contemplating the 5K just based on the fact that by Sept. 5th the most I had run was 4.5 miles, and I just didn't feel ready for 6.2 mi.

But by the Thursday, I decided what the heck, I'd go for the 10K. The worst that could happen was I'd have to walk, and since technically it was my first 10K, it would be a PR no matter what!

So we made it a family event, and my husband and daughter walked the 2 mile race while I ran the 10K. I would guess there were around 30ish participants from ages 4-??? I won't bore you with the details, other than I was totally right, I was NOT ready, and at just after the 5 mile mark there is a good hill, and I had to walk-jog it. I was more upset about that than I was about my time. My chip time was 1:05.55. For not running much up to that point, I wasn't upset with my time. I was upset with having to walk though.

I was one of the last two finish, but evidently it wasn't horrible because I was third in my age group and got a bronze medal--Ha! But of course I had to hear about it from Dan and Kacie, both who got Gold medals in their age groups for the 2 mi--oh, and did I mention there was only 1 person in those groups--both of them! I am honestly not sure on my age group. A few people finished behind me, but I don't know their age groups.

Below is my friend R.R. and myself sporting our medals, but mine is backward, like the dork that I am. R got 2nd in the 5K for age group. She and I started running at about the same time last winter.

And this is my friend R.J., who I have been friends with since FIRST GRADE! She was maid of honor in my wedding, and I love her to death. I was so happy to see her at this race. She took first in the 5K in her age group (ahead of R.R.)--the girl can run!

Here's what I took away from this experience:

Like I said, I'm not upset with my almost 11 min/mi pace. I was upset that I had to walk that last hill. But...had I been training for that? Not in the last three weeks! Even the week before my hike I only ran 3 times because they week before I had logged 23 miles and was feeling some aches and pains. So I really hadn't worked for this. So how could I be upset? I couldn't...but it motivated me to get back to work!

My next race was a 5 mi fun run for a great cause, and it will be my next post! And it all leads up to the end of September for the Great Columbia Crossing. Yes, that's THREE RACES in one month. I can't help it, I love it.

Thanks for reading and following my journey...which by the way, I'm down another 2 pounds, making weightloss now -46 lbs! I might hit that -50 mark yet!