Valentines Day 5K: aka The Cross Country Crawl

So today was the Valentines 5K put on by a local high school cross country team. I've been pretty anxious about this race. I'm still a very VERY beginner-level runner. I've been able to run/walk 50/50 on the treadmill, but this wasn't a road race, this was cross country, on trails, over sticks, sand, etc. Yikes! I finished my very first 5K back in November with a time of about 41minutes (not a great showing, I know, but I'm a beginner!). I injured my lower back during that race and had to sit out from training for over a month. So here I was, facing another 5K, my nemesis. I have been so worried about injury, failure, and disappointment.

First off, the swag bags were much better than my last race!! (I'm such a t-shirt collector! lol) The shirts were red (Valentines...duh!) and sweat-wicking, not cheap cotton. And we got numbers!!!! OMG! My very first race number!!!! (#51)

I had a friend run this one with me, and thank goodness she did! Those trails were pretty scary, and I couldn't imagine being out there by myself (Bears! Alligators! Oh My!). She was also in amazing shape and kept me going on the walk run. 

(Me on right, #51)

This race started in the parking lot outside the trails. We had a pretty good group of about 150 people. Some high school cross country runners, some our age, some older. Good mix overall, and much less crowded than the Turkey Trot in November. The road started off and the course was kind of like a curly-cue. We did a small loop around the parking lot, then headed down a service road (still paved) then curved to the left onto the trails....and that's where the fun began. I've been so used to running inside on a treadmill, the fresh air was killing my lungs! (*note to self...revamp current training schedule to include 2 outdoor runs/week) My friend was just trucking along like nothing. Hey! I trained for this! What's wrong with me?? The trail narrowed (some little kid on the side that was camping at a cabin along the course said 'You better run or you're going to be last'...shut up or I'll kick your lolly-pop rear back to munchkin land) and there were times you had to duck to avoid being clotheslined by a tree. I had to do a lot more walking than I had expected. 

Finally, after 4 hours a few minutes the Mile 1 marker came in to sight. Thank you!! Wait...we have to do 2 more of these?? We kept trudging through the sugar sand, pine needle beds, and along sink holes. There was an older gentlemen ahead of us and my friend kept saying 'We just have to beat him.'  Ok, do-able. He's power-walking the whole thing for goodness sake!! We sprinted past him on a straight-away that allowed the room and then I had to walk again immediately (what is wrong with my leg muscles??). Where is the Mile 2 marker???

After losing site of people both in front of and behind us, we came upon the Mile 2 sign. (LIAR! I know that was 2.5 miles!) At this point I realize I left my HR monitor at home and my friend is without her ever-present sports watch. Ach! How will I know how slow I'm running?? Whatever...just get me to the finish line...why am I running in the middle of the woods?? 

And then....like a golden light from the heavens, we hear it...applause! Is that the finish line? Do I smell pancakes! Omg!! I tell her we're going to start jogging just out of sight of the finish line so it looks like we're not lazy asses"real runners". We came around the corner and I see the finish clock....39:30...omg, I could beat my time!! I look at my friend, exclaim this fact out loud, and book it to the finish! Of course she was laughing and skipping along beside me (hate her, love her lol) and took the chute first, and I came in on her heels at 39:50. YAY!!!!! 

We grabbed some gatorade, a banana, and some water and stood in awe of our accomplishment. We conquered the wilderness! 

After taking some post race photos: (remember...I'm #51)

We waited around to see who finished first and make faces at them. To our surprise, when our age group was called we placed 2nd & 3rd!!!! WHAT?! 

So here we are with our little trophies:

(Why is my hat trying to escape from my head?)

To wrap it all up....it was amazing, it was crazy, it was painful, it was scary...and I'd do it all again tomorrow!! I can't thank my friend enough for sticking with me, even though she could have ran faster. She really motivated me and made it a fun morning. I highly recommend finding someone to race with...it's totally different from running alone! :)