Cinco de Mayo #1 and #2

I guess I'm better at completing 5K's than I am at blogging about them.

5K #1

Date: May 5
Location:  WSU, with CMS.  This is a 5K course that is run nearly every weekend, right in the city I live in.  I've done this 5K before...in 2008.  In 2008, I walked it with a friend, and we finished in 58 minutes and change.

I wanted this one to be a true baseline for my 5K's so I didn't do anything special.  I had on running socks (they were a birthday gift) crappy sneakers, sweats and a fleece.  It didn't occur to me to bring water because it was cold and rainy.

I got there and registered.  Most of the other participants were regulars, so someone went over the course map with me, and mentioned the cones.  I was unsure I'd remember, so I typed the route into my phone.  I actually texted it to my husband in case he had to come find me!

When you register, they write your name on a piece of tape...for my age group, it was gold glitter tape!  There was one other person in my age group...So, I was guaranteed to be no worse than second!

I got off at a jog...there was nearly 100% humidity, so I was wheezing pretty much immediately.  Oh well.

As soon as everyone else had passed me, I slowed to a walk.  I thought maybe I'd jog again when I hit the first corner...hoping to keep someone else in sight.  Nope.  When I got to the corner, everyone was gone.  I was alone.  I didn't bring an iPod or anything, so I hummed some of my favorite songs in my head.  I thought about downloading Pandora on my phone, but I hadn't charged the battery, and I wanted some juice in case I needed reinforcements.

about 4/5 of they way through, someone was running toward me...and he looked familiar...it was the guy that showed me the route.  He came to make sure I wasn't LOST.  (I think he meant dead).  I wasn't, and I finished a few minutes later (ten?)

At the finish line, they encouraged me to go faster, so I ended at a jog...I'm sure it was slower than the one I started out with.  My crappy sneakers (shape ups--nice and cushy for my ouchy feet at work, TERRIBLE for three mile walks) made my shins hurt, and I had trouble walking later in the day.

Finish time:  54:14.  The other gold glitter was 20 mintues faster.  I'd like to bridge that gap some.


---------------


5K #2

Date:  May 6
Location:  J-Ho Family route

This was an unofficial 5K that I did with my friend and co-worker, L, her son, my daughter in a stroller (for most of it) and my husband.  She planned the route with a route mapping website, and off we went.  It was fun, but not a fast walk.  I was sore from the day before, but it wasn't unbearable, and it wasn't my feet so much as my...everything else.

We strolled through her neighborhood, and on the way she pointed out some cool stuff...places some of her son's friends lived, houses for sale, and when we walked by one place, we scored a giant plastic castle for my daughter...now we just need a yard to put it in.  One house had a man outside...who was tending his 6 chickens!  My daughter, husband, and her son took a look in his yard and he invited them down, and gave them 5 eggs!  L and I stayed on the street with her dog, but if we go again, I'd like to see them if they're out.

We finsihed the route in 1:35.  Not bad for three adults, a ten year old, a 1.5 year old and a dog.  It wasn't really a very focused group.

Next time we'll bring money for the ice cream man...cause that was torture.  We forgot water, again, so next time we'll have to remember that, too.

2 down, 34 to go.

What exactly is 36 in 36?

Its simple.  I'm going to finish 36 5K's the year I'm 36 years old (which by the way, begins in an hour and 28 minutes).  I've been thinking about this for a while, and I thought it was a good goal for my next trip around the sun. 

I don't run.  I don't.  Maybe to the restroom if I have a tummyache.  Maybe for the phone if my husband is at work and calls while the baby is sleeping.  But thats about it.  I'm not promising to RUN 36 5K's.  But I will finish them.

What are the rules?

• The 5K's have to be timed, but not necessarily officially.
• This means that its ok if I plan a route on mapmyrun, etc. but I have to time it, and there has to be a witness
• No more than 1/2 can be unofficial
• 3 Miles is the minimum
• That may be cheating, but I want to do the Wild Rover series in the Lowell Area next winter, for the cool interlocking medal and its a 3, 4, 5 mile series
• At least 10% need to be for a cause or charity
• So that means at least 4 (I'll round up) need to have the registration fee go to a charitable organization
• One must be a fundraiser with fundraising goal (asking for donations)
• At least 10% (4 again) need to be stroller friendly
• The first one will be a baseline.  No special gear, no running shoes, no training. 
• I don't necessarily have to improve, but it would be nice
• The first one and the last one will occur on May 5--2012 and 2013
• I will log my times, details and any funny anecdotes here

Thats it.  I start tomorrow.