TJ5K

Well, I did it.

Today I participated in my first 5k.

It was a trail run into a 30 mph wind, and it kicked the living crap out of me! I kept telling myself all week to pace myself in the first mile. And to not try to keep up with the quicker and faster runners. I did not realize that many of those quicker and faster runners would be 5, 6, and 7 year old children!

So I did what any self respecting the grown man would do, I tried to beat the kids.

I got through the first mile and wasn't feeling too bad. The first mile of the course had a little elevation change but not much. Then going into the second mile is where the elevation changed and started to push my endurance as a runner. Remember when I wrote about the bottlenecks that I would experience while running? Well today was a perfect example of all of them showing up at once!

I walked more times than I wanted to (my goal was none).

I took longer than I wanted to (my goal was sub 11 minutes)

And I almost missed my third goal...NOT puking.

I didn't go into the race with that particular goal, but about half a mile before the finish line it became my primary one.

As soon as I crossed the finish line I kept going so that I was outside of earshot of the people surrounding it.  They didn't need to hear me working on keeping my breakfast down. 

Luckily I was able to settle down and keep from being "the guy who threw up".  A friend brought me a bottle of water and I made my way back to the finish line.

Overall I'm proud that I finished.  It was a fun time as there were other people there that I knew.

I couldn't have done this without the support of My Woman (The Enabler), my kids, and My Aunt (My Coach).

I didn't win anything, but then again that's not why we do it is it?  (unless it's a Turkey Trot) ;-)

3.1 miles, 35-36 minutes (I think)

Later