Rockdale Ramblin' Run 5k
As I posted on SF yesterday, I ran a 5k over the weekend! And I am ridiculously, obscenely proud of myself.
Cindy, one of my coworkers who is very athletic and fitness-oriented, asked me if I wanted to do this 5k with her a few months back. She's one of the few coworkers around during the day who's chatty, and we're both into getting in shape (her because of regular middle-aged lady reasons, me because of the fatness) so we chat a lot about our exercise routines and the like. The rest of our coworkers were decidedly not interested in our 5k decision, journalists not being known for their commitment to clean living.
Anyhoo, the main reason we did this race in the first place was the sweet long-sleeved T-shirt you got for registering, not gonna lie. The race was on residential streets in Rockdale and oh god, was it hilly. After the first quarter-mile or so, the course turned a corner and there was a HUGE hill. My resolve just about left me right there. While we were chugging up the hill, Cindy (who's in much better shape than me) kind of pulled ahead and left me behind, which was just fine, since I was already wheezing pretty well and didn't want to have to chitchat while I was willing myself not to puke. I was alone for most of the race, behind the main running group and ahead of the stragglers, but it was a fine spring day and I was feeling good. The police and park district employees who were blocking off the streets were very supportive, as were the residents sitting on the sidewalks along the courses. After about two and a half miles, the course converged with the 10k race course, so I was surrounded by other runners the rest of the way. For a horrible second after crossing the finish line, I was certain I was going to throw up, but mercifully I held it together.
My time was 40:56, which I'm sure is not impressive to anyone who runs regularly, but I'm just so happy that I a.) ran most of the way and b.) was not the last person to finish. I'm already looking for more races to look forward to.
Cindy, one of my coworkers who is very athletic and fitness-oriented, asked me if I wanted to do this 5k with her a few months back. She's one of the few coworkers around during the day who's chatty, and we're both into getting in shape (her because of regular middle-aged lady reasons, me because of the fatness) so we chat a lot about our exercise routines and the like. The rest of our coworkers were decidedly not interested in our 5k decision, journalists not being known for their commitment to clean living.
Anyhoo, the main reason we did this race in the first place was the sweet long-sleeved T-shirt you got for registering, not gonna lie. The race was on residential streets in Rockdale and oh god, was it hilly. After the first quarter-mile or so, the course turned a corner and there was a HUGE hill. My resolve just about left me right there. While we were chugging up the hill, Cindy (who's in much better shape than me) kind of pulled ahead and left me behind, which was just fine, since I was already wheezing pretty well and didn't want to have to chitchat while I was willing myself not to puke. I was alone for most of the race, behind the main running group and ahead of the stragglers, but it was a fine spring day and I was feeling good. The police and park district employees who were blocking off the streets were very supportive, as were the residents sitting on the sidewalks along the courses. After about two and a half miles, the course converged with the 10k race course, so I was surrounded by other runners the rest of the way. For a horrible second after crossing the finish line, I was certain I was going to throw up, but mercifully I held it together.
My time was 40:56, which I'm sure is not impressive to anyone who runs regularly, but I'm just so happy that I a.) ran most of the way and b.) was not the last person to finish. I'm already looking for more races to look forward to.