My first (real) 5k

This morning I embarked on my first (real) 5k. Not that i've completed an unreal or fantasy 5k. Just this one was supposed to be competitive, while i've just walked for causes in the past. Well how'd it go, you ask!?!?

Well...i woke up at the butt crack of dawn. Ok, fine, it was 5:30 am. Closer to daylight than i want to let on. I got ready, put on my only sports bra that can hold my ta-tas down. Threw on some sweats, my running sleeveless shirt and my lucky tigger sweater on top. I started running through my pre-race day check sheet:

breakfast (Noatmeal)--check
pins for my bib-- check
ipod--check
running shoes-- check
the address of the site-- check

Ok well i'm off. Or so i thought. The nerves made me stop in the bathroom (TMI, i know). Ok bathroom--check!

So there i was driving all the way to dallas just to run 3.1 measley miles. Whoa. There is still a ton of snow everywhere. Well, certainly the race path is clear so i'll just enjoy the beauty of it all.

I get to White Rock Lake. Park the car. Register--Check. Attach bibb-- check. Put D-tag on shoe laces --check. Ok i'm ready. But its cold so i will sit in the car for a while and wait. Afterall, i still have 40 mins till showtime.

Whoa...what is this I see...They've started without me!?!? Why would they do that?! I didn't see them line up!?!? Oh wait they have different colored bibbs. A-ha! There is already a race that crosses our races path... intersante. Ok ok... time to line up.

I head to the back of the pack. I'm not used to running in below freezing temps so i'm gonna take it easy esp starting off. (There's only 60 or so of us, a few older folks and some babes...ha! i'll def beat them)

On your mark....get set.... GO!

And i'm off. Going at my own (slow pace) taking in one breath at a time. Ok its cold cold breaths that don't quit feel right but breaths non-theless. I know i'm gonna do well. I've got beyonce singing a sweet song in my ear and i'm pumped. Dude, its kinda hard to breathe this cold air. But smash into you is on and i'm so pumped i don't even care. Then BAM.... beyonce cuts off. WTH? I charged my ipod completely. I'm only .5 miles in. I pull her out. Try and power her on. Nothing. I'll be left to my own devices, cuz the ipod is dead.

My feet start to feel like ice blocks underneath me. Its soooo cold. Well at least there's no snow. If there were snow, my feet would get wet. Thank God there's no snow.

Oh wait we're turning onto the trail. My Lord, there is snow EVERY where. Along the entire path minus foot prints. Well those ahead of me are running on it. So will I.

Slip.... Slide... ok slow down girl. Slow down.

Slip....

Slide...

Slide....

Ok i gotta walk before i break something. And thats what i end up doing the other 2 miles (with the exception of the last .2 miles or so that are clear). Do you know how hard it is to speed walk when your feet are wet and numb and your treking on snow, slush and dirt. Its pretty tough. Or it was for me. It sucked. It hurt. It was darn right miserable. No beyonce to help me along the way...breathing short.... slipping and sliding. Ugh is it almost over. I check my cell phone. Its been 40 min and i can't see the finish OMG. How slow am i going....

Well...fast forward...i can see the finish. I'm gonna finish. There's no snow in my way. I BOLT.... look up at the clock. 51:27?!? It took me 50 + minutes to finish 3.1 miles. Ya know what...in those conditions i'm mighty proud. Of course the older folks and the kiddos all beat me, but i gotta be honest, once i hit the snow i didn't want to go any further. I wanted to turn around and go to my car. When my feet felt like ice blocks i just wanted to stop. But i trekked on. And for that i'm thankful.

It wasn't what i envisioned for my first (real) 5k. But, alas. It was what it was. I know the next (real) one will be much better.

PS. i'm gonna have to get my garmin watch. Cuz i'm gonna start running on the road.