If you peruse this blog or if you have talked with me in the last year or so, you may know that I've been doing some running! Nothing crazy, that's for sure. I run a 10 minute mile at max and that's only when I put it in Bachman Turner Overdrive. Well, suffice it to say, we were takin' care of business today.
As a part of my "year of spontaneity", about 2 weeks ago, I signed myself and Brooke up for the Avera Race Against Cancer. We've never raced. We don't regularly run very fast or very far, but that really didn't matter. I guess growing up I always thought 5Ks and 10Ks and other runs like that were something that other people did. Something that you had to be qualified for or something... I dunno. But in the days leading up to the race, I didn't really feel out of place or worried about that kind of thing or not fitting in. We went in fully expecting to walk portions of the 5K because we typically run a mile or 2 only when we exercise (and we were totally okay with that result). Just wanted to rip the band-aid off and try something new!
Well, I'm happy to report that we did it and TBH the results are sort of underwhelming. I was surprised at how easily we were able to complete... especially considering it was my first time ever running that far without stopping! But it felt like I could have kept going if I wanted (which is cool!). I couldn't be more proud of or thankful for my beautiful Brookey. We kept our pace well and got 'er done. I couldn't have done it without her. When we finished, I saw my good buddy Isaac on the sidelines and he was cheering us on. He participated in the 10K with the sole goal of beating Mayor TenHaken's time and I believe he did so handily.
TenHaken said this in his opening speech before the race "mental health and physical health go hand in hand". I'm finding a lot of truth in that the older I become. Running (even if it's really slow like what I do) has become a good way to relieve stress for me and give myself a sense of accomplishment. A little over a year ago, I first ran a mile without stopping for the first time in my life. Now I am able to run 3? What's next?! At this rate, I may as well call up Kipchoge and tell him his days are numbered.
After the event, Brooke and I were feeling a little too healthy, so we stopped by Flyboy to resolve that problem. First 5K in the books, probably won't be my last!
