Race Recap and More

Post race

Well the race was a lot of fun, even if it was quite a bit smaller than anticipated.  When my son and I got there it didn't really look like a lot was going on and not really any different than any other morning at the YMCA.


Little by little people started to trickle in but alas it was a very small, if not happy, crowd.  They even had two massage tables set up, I should have gotten one after the race but did not win that prize.  Jake and I cheered on the 5k racers when they took off and encouraged them on their way back into the home stretch. We then estimated what our times would be for the 5miles...I said mine would be 55-57 and he said his would be in the 40's...we were close.


A lot of people were just so encouraging, and I like to see that in a race, it just makes you feel so much better knowing that people (strangers) are cheering you on to the finish line.


The 5mile racers lined up and with the blow of an air-horn we were off.  My son and I were up in the front and took off, the race wound around the horse track by the YMCA and off into the foot path/bridge of our All sports park.  There was a volunteer at every turn so it was easy peasy to stay on the route.


On the 4th or so turn there was a woman, man and their baby volunteering...so nice, the woman called out, "I love the flower in your hair".  That made my day! After all, I love to look fashionable, lol.


About half-way through I started to feel tired, but pushed through it and just tried to enjoy being out there.  Right around the half-way mark I could hear someones shoes slapping the pavement behind me, so I knew I was not last and that they were pursuing me.  One thing about me is I don't ever want to be last or passed up by someone younger.


I turned 41 in January and feel somewhat competitive with others, but I really don't feel 41, more like early 30's.  So as soon as I heard there was someone behind me I started to pick it up little by little to make sure they did not pass me.  


Part of the run was on the bark path of the sports park and that was a first for me.  Bark is not that great to run on, it gets in your sock and shoe...but it is soft to run on.  Well on the last half mile she (the one behind me) caught up to me and for a bit we ran side by side.  She was probably 30 something and her family was out there cheering her on, and just about then I decided to utilize all that speed work I have been doing lately...so I sped up and never looked back. (During the awards ceremony she looked over and gave me a congratulatory wink!)


I race through the finish as fast as my legs could carry me and finished ahead of her, right into my son, who was waiting patiently to give me a high five.  It was an awesome experience running with him.  During the last half of the race I could see him ahead of me and really thought I could maybe catch him, but somewhere around the half mile to go mark he caught some wind and just took off.  


He only finished 1 minute and 3 seconds ahead of me, due to a lower leg muscle problem he was having.  We then went to the food and water tables and enjoyed some fixings while we waited around for the official stats and award ceremony.  We ran into one of my son's math teachers from the high school, he ran the 5k with his two little girls, one of which ended up with the grand prize (for the kids) bike!


Although we (my son and I) didn't win a ribbon, we both walked away with prizes.  I won a bucket w/tools from Home Depot and he won a Subway $5 gift card.  Of course, the biggest prize being that I was blessed to race with one of my son's, my Mother's Day gift to myself.

updated award board

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day with your families.  Mine was beautiful.  My children made me a breakfast of half a Belgian waffle, scrambled eggs (just like I like them) and orange juice and coffee.  Then they cleaned up the kitchen, did laundry, and took me shopping.  We got me a hydration pack for my long training runs and new bright pink running socks.

Woohoo, sexy!

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

"Limitations only exist if you let them" 

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.