Aunt Sherri Runs a 5K

Last weekend, I did something a year ago I would have laughed at... I completed a 5K race. At the beginning of this year, I decided I needed a physical challenge but had always had a strict "I-only-run-when-I'm-being-chased" rule... Well, I decided that this being the year I turn (now turned) 30, I needed to give it a try. So for the past seven months, I've been working a conservative couch to 5K plan and with the help of my good friend Tiffany, prepared me for my chosen race... The Bele Chere 5K... We attempted to drag along as many friends as we could. The group included myself, Tiffany (aka my personal running coach), my roommate Rachel, and two of our guy friends, Jeremy and Mazen.

The days leading up the race... I was more nervous than I could have ever expected. I had an upset stomach, I was having trouble sleeping, and I was deathly afraid of falling down or throwing up or throwing up and then falling down or falling down and then throwing... Well, you get the picture. I asked a kid at work what I should do if I fell down and he told to me to "stay down until the cops show up... you got a life alert button? You should get one." Those kids crack me up!

Friday evening, we arrived in Asheville with time to pick up our race bibs and t-shirts which for me was the point of no return... I was there, I had my number, and this was happening...

Morning of the race, I woke from another restless night where I attempted to count sheep that only turned into mocking runners... I got dressed, sucked down some coffee, and piled into the car with my fellow runners.

By the time we made it to the staring line area, I was getting excited. I had picked a playlist of my favorite running songs and prepared myself to WIN (aka not fall down or throw up)

My "In it to WIN" face!

Warming up... and stretching are very important

Tiffany and her "Olympic" themed warm-up

Looking towards the starting line...

Mile 1... The race began and I was feeling good. I don't know if it was the adrenaline or what but I made to the first mile marker without walking and in about 12 mins (much faster than my usual pace). I knew I needed to slow down especially since I knew some of what was coming in the mile 2 stretch... a BIG OLE HILL!

Mile 2... aka The one that almost took me down. About 1/3 mile into this one, I started getting this pain in my stomach which I thought meant I was dying (yes, I know I am dramatic)... thankfully my coach Tiffany was with me and informed me that I was cramping (which I had NEVER experienced in all my months of running). I was very thankful for her presence as I probably would have sat down and cried and waited for the "cops to show up" as the kid at work instructed... We got my breathing back on track (I knew from my "research" that was the "cure") and walked up the MASSIVE HILL that was in the middle of mile 2. As we crossed the mile marker (I couldn't tell you what my time was to save my life), I felt less like I was gonna die but more uncertain if I was going to make my 45 min goal.

Mile 3... We started doing intervals by running down hills and walking up taking it a block at a time. I trudged on and on... and finally the finish line was just around a corner and past where we started. Tiffany took my phone and ran ahead to be able to document my crossing and I was alone... Just me and the finish line in the distance... I knew I didn't want to walk over it but I wasn't sure I had anything left in me. Up ahead I could see Jeremy and Mazen on the sidelines (they finished LONG before me) and I knew what I had to do... RUN!! So I did :) and I....


FINISHED!!

My official time was 43:03 :)

The gang post run... Jeremy, Rachel, Me, Tiffany, and Mazen

Will I do it again?  HECK YES I WILL!! I've already picked out another 5K (a less hilly one this time) and have found a plan to train for a 10K in November.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:1-2