I DID IT, I ACTUALLY DID IT!! It was amazing, I am so proud of myself, I can honestly say I NEVER, EVER, EVER thought I would be able to say I ran in a race!!!
The adrenaline and anxiety and excitement that overcame me was like nothing I have ever experienced before. It was awesome running through the neighborhood and having people tell you good job, keep it up, and cheering you on, people you don't even know! There was a family who had huge speakers at the end of their driveway BLASTING music, and clapping for people that ran by, I thought that was awesome!
When I came up to the the 1st mile marker and they told me my time was 10:56! I almost fell over! That's the quickest I have ever ran a mile. That really gave me a BOOST!!!
When I got to the half-way point and came around the corner and saw what to me seemed like a rather large hill I got a little discouraged. I don't run hills at all! My treadmill is FLAT and my housing addition is FLAT! I do FLAT!
Not to long after the hill I came up to mile marker 2, and since I was running with my bestie who has ran mini-marathons and has done LOTS of running, I decided to drop back a little and try to save my energy that way after passing mile 3 I could sprint to the finish and PASS her! When we came around mile 3 I kicked it in high gear! I tried and tried to get past her but unfortunately I just couldn't do it (her legs are much longer than mine) but I was right behind her! She only finished 1 SECOND ahead of me! Next time, I'll get her next time! :)
This was my BEST time EVER! I had been running the 3.1 miles here at home in about 41-45 minutes. I finished the Oktoberfest 5K in 33:23!! This is a 10:46 mile! I finished 187 out of 252 runners. My goal from the very beginning when starting Couch to 5K was a 10 minute mile. And I'm a little over the exact 10:00 but I'm gonna say I met my goal!
So I am pretty sure I am addicted to this!! I am really excited to get signed up for the Bev Coleman 5K on October 30th!!!!!! I hope I can do just as good if not better!!!! Maybe I should try to shoot for finishing in 30-33 minutes! I would be perfectly happy taking off 23 seconds of my time.
To all of you out there who took you valuable time and read this, THANK YOU, and sorry for all the exclamation points!!!! I'm just so EXCITED!!!!!
