My 1st 5K!!

On Sunday Scott, Million and I did the 5K Firecracker run here in Ellensburg. Mind you, I have always been a walker, but in the last year have tried to run a little more. I had been working my way up in miles, but never had gone past 2 1/2 without walking part of the way. My goal was to do the whole thing running, but wasn't sure that was going to be possible the day of the race. This last week, my hip started hurting and I was having back pain. I didn't run as much and if I did, I didn't go as far.

The day of the race we were having our lovely Ellensburg 40 mph wind. When we started the race it was blowing so hard that it was hard to breathe. about 3/4 of a mile into the race Million slowed down and walked for a little while because it was so hard. But, I kept powering through. When I hit the one mile point I was already dying. I was thinking about where I would do my walking. But, I kept on. I kept thinking I would stop at mile 2 because I knew I could go that far. Then when mile two came, the wind was at my back and I thought I would ride with it till the corner. But, guess what?? At the corner the gal yelled out, "less than a mile". What?? Less than a mile! I can do that! So I kept on. I so badly wanted to stop. The wind was howling. I felt like I was sucking massive air in, but all I kept thinking was "I can do it!" and I want to be able to put on my facebook that I made it. I cheered myself all the way to the finish line.

I couldn't believe I had made it! I hugged my friend at the end that was putting on the race. I had told her that it was my first one and that I didn't know if I could make it without walking. I couldn't stop telling her, Scott and everyone around there that I did it!! I was so proud of myself! Now I know I can and am looking forward to doing more as they come up.

It was funny because Scott kept asking me what my time was and I kept telling him that I really didn't care. The time I did it in really didn't matter to me at all. I had finished running and that was an incredible accomplishment for me. But, for the record, my time was 32:10. Scott's time was 21:30 and Million came in right after me with 33:58. Scott is looking forward to doing another one to better his time. He is so competitive!! I just would love to finish another one running just to know it isn't a fluke thing. And Million, he had a great time and said he would do it again.

Million at the finish line