My First Race Report

It seems in blogland that you must record the results of your first race. Mine are less than spectacular but I finished and now my first organized race is under my belt. And I can only get better!

I got to the race venue about 35 minutes early and there were lots of dark scary clouds but no rain. I checked in, pinned on my number and sat down and absorbed the atmosphere and people watched. Suddenly a huge wind blew and sheets of rain started falling. The wind was blowing all the registration information around and the signs the sponsors had taped up were flapping. People were racing to put up all a/v equipment. This kept up for about 20 minutes.

When the wind and rain let up, the organizers decided to start the race a little early because another big, dark cloud was fast approaching. As the racers were walking to the start, it was not raining and the wind had died down to a comfortable breeze. And at 5:55, the gun sounded and we were off.

The run was a four mile night run and the first couple of miles were fine. The first mile and the last mile were the same route so about half way through my second mile, people were going the other direction to finish their last mile. The third mile was rough and had a HUGH hill in the middle of it. I took my hat off to all of those who ran up that hill and kept going.

As the third mile drew to a close and the fourth mile was starting, a lady with the organizers was telling people they could stop at the third mile because of the big black cloud that was getting closer and closer. I was determined to finish. And there was still no rain.

During the first mile, in the front were a lot a runners, then there was an older man, me and then several people walking including a pregnant lady who were doing the one mile fun run. At the point of the fourth mile, there was the older man and then me. But I was hanging in there!

As the fourth mile started and flashes of lightening were getting closer and closer, I kicked it into high gear because I WAS GOING TO FINISH! It was my first race and I was not going to quit! About a quarter of the way through that last mile, I finally passed someone. Now before you break out the fireworks and congratulations, the person I finally passed was the man I had been trailing behind the whole race who had a hip replacement, had finished a 5K that morning and, I think, was missing some toes.

I finished. I finished with a PR of 1:09:11 for a four mile race! LOL! When I got back to the pavilion, there was still food but the awards had been handed out and the podium, etc., had already been packed up.

Things I learned from the race:

1. I don’t like to wear a hat when I walk.
2. I’m a penguin – slow but steady.
3. If you’ve had hip replacement and no toes, I may pass you!

Oh and for anyone interested, I picked up my BBQ and water, walked to my car and the threatening big, black cloud let loose with all its rain and thunder.