My first 5K!

Today I completed my very 1st 5K official race! I ran in Kalona, Iowa for the Mennonite High School fundraiser. This race worked with my schedule, and it was also fun to visit the Mennonite/Amish community (just 20 minutes from Iowa City). I had trained for this race by only running 4 times. I did feel that I could do okay, but I was a little worried. I ran with Kelsey and I am so grateful for all her support: before, during, and after the race. She is awesome!

When we arrived in Kalona, we checked in for the race and then sang hynms to prepare us to run. It was a very fun and inviting environment. Kelsey and I then lined up to begin the race. We had committed to stay together, although I was a little worried about holding her back. Our families were both there to cheer us on! Well, the race began and we ran the first mile in exactly 10 minutes. It felt great. We ran about 1/2 of the 2nd mile and then I needed a walking rest. We decided to rest while walking through the wooded trail ahead. However, this walk was not restful. The entire time, we had to worry about falling into and slipping around in the mud. After the wooded trail, we got back on the main road, we walked for a little bit until we passed our 2 mile marker. We were around 21 minutes, and Kelsey committed us to run the entire last mile and finish the race without walking. Although it was hard, I did fine until we got to the last 1/2 mile. My mind and body wanted to just walk for a second. I was so tired and felt like I had nothing left to give. (I also had to go to the bathroom... this did not make things any easier.) Kelsey was a huge support and kept talking and reminding me to keep going. She was so funny! She was singing, and talking about pioneers ("Would you rather walk across the plains or run this race?" I remember thinking, "At least they were walking!"), but she mostly motivated me by reminding me that Jon and my kids were at the end and they would be so proud to see me running to the end! I was very grateful for this motivation, but I was still having the hardest time for the last stretch. I just kept thinking... "I will keep running until my legs just STOP, and then I will fall, and then Jon will come and carry me to the end..." So much for positive thinking... Did I mention that I had nothing left to give! It was so hard! Well, happy news, I ran all the way to the end and finished the race! Horray! I came in at 33:39 minutes. This was an awesome time for me!

After the race, Brad came running up to congratulate me! I was so tired, that I could not even focus on anything. I just kept walking around, and I felt like a zombie. I did give him a short hug. It was so cute! He was so excited and happy for me! He just kept saying, "Good job mom! You did it mom!" It took me about 5 minutes to cool down and rest. I then felt much better. At the end of the race, they provided water, oranges, bananas, and granola bars. It was very nice, and very much needed. We also stayed to watch all the medals and recognitions (no, I did not get one! haha!), and then the door prizes. My name got picked for a door prize, and I won a $50 gift card to the Tuscon Moon restaurant. (What a wonderful Anniversary gift in a month!) I also recieved a shirt for the race ... good memories!

Overall, it was just wonderful to be participating in a real race. It was great to have a challenge and to have the feeling of really competing. I am so glad Kelsey and I could run together! It really was a blast!