Race Review - Resolution Run

I hate running.  I really do.

A pal of mine suggested we do a 5k (3.1 miles) on Thanksgiving.  There was a local one....so we did.  I surprisingly did okay.  Then we did one in December and I did even better.  I had caught the runner's bug.  I may hate to run but I love the competition of running a race.

I won't bore you with the details of my first two races because they were last year.  This blog is a new start so let's start with the first race of 2015.

So I have only trained to run on a serious level last November.  I had two 5K's under my belt so doing the New Year's Resolution run in Valparaiso, Indiana should be a piece of cake (did someone say cake?).

It was a cold day, my friends.  It was 17 with a wind chill of a good ole zero.  Once we arrived, I knew this wasn't a fun, casual race.  These people were serious.  The race was on Valpo University and ended with a lap around their track.  Once the air horn was blown to signal our go, I took off.  I quickly realized that the cold was going to be the death of me.  I wasn't even half a mile in and my lungs were on fire, my lips were cracked and my nose was running.  For a brief moment, I thought I was going to have to tap out.

Then....hills.  My previous races were pretty flat but this one had the challenge of hills.  As I huffed and puffed like the Lil' Engine That Could, runners were blasting past me.  That put my running skills into perspective real quick.  At the 1.5 mile marker, I just wanted to finish.  And I did.

I didn't place but I finished.  That is the point of it all.  The euphoria you feel when you cross the finish line is indescribable. The fact that you pushed your body and ran over 3 miles (or walked, that is okay too!) is such a good feeling.  Then the camaraderie you have with complete strangers as they cheer you on and then you, in return, cheer those behind you on.  It is a great feeling.

So the review of the New Year's Resolution at Valparaiso University:
Terrain - pavement, very little vehicle traffic, several small hills
Organization -  well done, race was clearly marked, T&H Timing did the chip timing, water/snacks available after the race (bananas were hard and not ripe at ALL)
Cost - $20 before deadline; $25 after; if you got it in before deadline you got an orange beanie/winter hat
Time of Race - 10:00am
Overall - nice race, not too far from home, typical small town 5K, no fancy bells or whistles
Award - Medals for the top 3 winners in each age category
My Time - 30.54

Race on, friends.
BeastModeActivated

My husband, myself and my pal - after the race

Just crossed the finish line

My hubby (in the orange hat) crossing the finish line)