A Race of Firsts

I rose super early Saturday morning for a race that really wasn't a race.  I mean, by all counts, the Race to Erase Sexual Violence 5k should've been a race.  But after last week when I declared that I was, "No Longer a Runner," I had decided to walk it.  Cindy, being the awesome running (or walking) buddy that she is, agreed to walk it with me.

Luckily, it was a small hometown race with about half of the participants running and about half walking.  I wasn't embarrassed to walk.

We finished somewhere around 46:20, which is about 11 minutes slower than when we run that distance.  

pre-race

There were a lot of firsts for this race, including:

1. It was my first time walking 95% of the race.

It took the pressure off, but wasn't nearly as fun. Plus, walking is great exercise and all, but it just doesn't justify the early  wake up call of a Saturday race.  However, I did get just as sweaty as I do when I run. Interesting, I know.

2. It was my first time I've raced where I knew about  50% of  the racers.

This means it was fun to hang out both before and after the race and chat with people!

3. It was my first time racing with co-workers. 

The course looped back in on itself in the last mile.  How fun was it to see the pace golf cart go by, with a guy I know in the lead behind it! Fun to be able to cheer on the lead runner by name!

4. It was my first time racing in the race t-shirt 

Usually I have a rule about this, but it was such an awesome color of blue that I couldn't wait to wear it. The pictures don't do it justice. They make it look like it is just a regular blue t-shirt, but actually, it is an electric blue t-shirt, which is my new favorite color.

5. First time racing on a rainy day.

I've always been somewhat afraid that I will wake up on a race day with a rainy forecast.  On Saturday it poured down just before the race started (while everyone holed up inside) and then held off while we were on the course. Turns out there's really nothing to be afraid of!

One good thing about walking? It's possible to take your own "in-progress" picture. See below.