By last Thursday I had decided that I was going to run a 5K at home on Sunday. It was really cold that day so I ran on the treadmill. I now understand why people do not like the treadmill. After you have run outside the treadmill makes you feel like a hamster on a wheel. Anyway, I was on the treadmill for 30mins, 5min warmup speed walk, 10min run, 2.5min speedwalk, 7.5min run, 5min speed walk. It was ok but I've had better workouts. This was the last time I worked out because Friday I left to go home and Saturday I decided to take it easy before the event on Sunday.



Sunday morning rolled around and Iwoke up nervous, which I did not expect. I got ready and we left. ("We" was me and my dad who went as the support team) We picked up Chris, a family friend who was kind enough to run the event with me. We got to Ann Arbor much faster than anticipated--2 hours before the race. So we figured out where to register and pick up our packets and we sat down in the pub, which was the head quarters for the race, to kill some time. About an hour before the event we walked back to the car to drop some stuff off and shed some layers and then we walked back to the pub. We finished last minute prep and about 20mins to start we figured out where to line up. I was really nervous by that point! Finally it was time to start.



This race was such a learning experience. Chris warned me about not getting "swept up" and starting at a faster pace than you can maintain for the duration of the event. I'm glad he did that because apparently I was prone to that. We started out well but 3miles is alot longer than I thought it was!! It was really exhilirating but also exhausting. I had not gone more than 2mi total distance so by the time we were over 2mi I wanted to stop. I think I had the biggest problem with air. I do not have my lungs conditioned to run for distance. Other than that I don't remember feeling anything else in my body--I just kept going. I ran for at least 25mins and well over 2mi before I had to occasionally slow down to a speed walk. I am so thankful for Chris--if he hadn't been next to me rooting me on I know I would not have made it. (Thanks, Chris!) We finished in 38mins at a pace of 12:14. It was not until after we finished that I rememebered that I had a body. I kid you not--it was such a wierd feeling. It was then that I realized how much I had sweated and how hard I had worked.

We found dad, who was very proud. We walked around for a few minutes and then headed home. We took Chris home and then we went home. At this point I realized how tired I was. I ate lunch, took a shower and napped. Later that night I went downhill and dealt with a stomach/intestanal thing that I must have brought home from school. Today was the first day I have been a lot better! So part of the after effects of the race may have been the sickness but we will never know for sure.

I would appreciate prayer as I discern how to proceed from here. Good night!

God bless,
Rebecca