Out of all of the races I participate in, this one means the most to me. The proceeds of this race benefit Citizens for Safe Schools, a local mentoring program for at-risk youth. You spend one hour a week for at least a year with a child ranging from 4th to 8th grade. I participated in this program a couple of years ago and it changed my life.
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| 2011 Run for Kids 5k |
In the past, the two options for this event were a 5k and a 1/2 marathon. Let me tell you - the 1/2 marathon is hardcore. Altitude, heat, and hills all work against you. Um, no thank you. I think I'll pass and take the 5k please. This year they added a 10k to the mix, so I decided to switch it up and go for the "happy" medium. WARNING! Always look at the course before signing up for a race. I assumed you would run the 5k course twice and call it good but that was not the case.
The races started at 8:15am in the morning and by that point it was already hot.
The first mile was mostly uphill (not how I'd prefer to start a race), but at least it was gradual. Once it thinned out, I ended up on my own and occasionally played the back and forth game with another runner. I'd pass her, she'd pass me. After making it to the top of what I mistakenly thought was the only hill I grabbed some water at the aid station and kept going. I started to get my second wind and was excited to be headed downhill. As I got further down I noticed some runners hanging a right toward a neighborhood with more hills. "Must be some 1/2 marathoners already, damn, sucks to be them!" I thought. I soon realized those were 10k runners and I would be running uphill again. Noooo!
Remember how I said the 1/2 marathon sucked because of elevation, heat, and hills? My easy 10k was turning out to be just as hideous as the 1/2 marathon, minus the distance. There was little shade and I was sweating profusely. The second hill was practically vertical and I walked most of it. At the top was another aid station and I took the opportunity to take a sip of water. I was feeling defeated, but the volunteers assured me I was doing a great job. The one and only benefit of going up a hill is eventually you will go down.
I finally made it to the 5k course I was familiar with! No extreme hills but I swear it felt like 100 degrees. Nicky + running in heat = miserable. This run was kicking my ass. I just wanted it to be OVER and as I looked at my Garmin for the 12th time I realized I was almost there. Thank God! But wait?! My Garmin was showing I had run 6.2 miles, but I was still running. You've got to be kidding me...I'd even started my watch late. More walking ensued until I could see the finish line in the distance. I didn't run hard because I was worried about dry heaving like I did in prior years. When I got to the final stretch I sprinted as fast as I could and really hoped I didn't trip and fall in front of everyone. There's nothing more motivating and flattering than hearing your friends and peers cheer you on as you're about to cross the finish line. And just like that, I was done. Time: 1:17:30 Distance: 6.67 miles Pace: 11:37 Fastest Mile: 9:12
I didn't run the 1/2 marathon, I wasn't the fastest runner, I walked parts of the course, but I got out there and did it! After the race, I swore I'd skip the 10k next year and go back to the 5k, but now I'm not so sure. To me, the hardest part of running isn't actually running, it's how you feel mentally, how you talk to yourself, and how you push through that mental barrier. It can be done, but it isn't always easy.
