I was so nervous, excite and scared all at the same time. I had a goal, it wasn't about pace, it wasn't about time and it wasn't about place. My goal in any race is to Just Finish. Boy you would have thought I was dying during that race. I remember thinking " OK when is this gonna be over with?Where the hell is the finish line?" But I found a chick who had a steady pace as mine and stayed with her much of the run. I remember coming up this massive hill, I mean MASSIVE hill and thought oh shit, keep going, keep going, don't stop. So up the hill I traveled and I could see that the finish was up ahead, or so I thought. I came across what I thought was the finish line, I stopped, YES I STOPPED. But it wasn't over, so I kept going and I get into the gates of the track and saw I had about 1/4 mile to go, I stopped again. I thought, no freaking way. A woman who had finished WAY earlier came out and said to me " DON'T STOP, YOUR ALMOST DONE"!!! So I picked my feet up and off I went and finishes at an incredible 27:28 for my 1st 5k.. WOW, how I was excited then.
So now present day, May 2013. The Valerie Gaddy 5k... I was so excited for so many reasons.
1. I had ran this before, second time to run for a great cause
2. I knew the route, which is important
3.I had a friend with me (Ashley)
4.I wanted to set a PR for a 5k since this would be my second time
Valerie Gaddy 5k May 2013
So here is me and Ashley getting ready to run the 5k. The weather to me was wonderful except the damn wind. It was chilly, rainy and WINDY!! I hate running in the wind. I don't know a runner who really enjoys it to be honest. So we line up and get all our stuff ready. It's amazing to me how much you have to prepare for a run/race. Get the Garmin set up, put the ear phones in and get your music going. Gish. So anyways, we position ourselves and wait for the " On your mark, get set, GO, BUT the gun didn't fire correctly so it was again " On your mark, get set, wait for it, wait for it, OK GO, and off we went. Now my plan was to stay with Ash for the 1st mile. I saw a girl beside Ashley who I thought might be a good runner and could possibly beat me. I really don't have a competitive side;) Next thing I know I took off. I see a 15 year old boy up WAY ahead, then another guy, then an 50ish male ( BTW he could run) and me. It was 3 men and a little lady trialing behind. I have no idea what was going through my head but I do remember is I cant let this "older" gentleman beat me lol.. Next thing I know I turn into a street and I pass him, yes!! I am focused, music going, breathing is great, I am feeling good. And I look around and see NO ONE I mean I had no competition next to me, which sometimes is a good thing, it can drive you to push yourself harder or it could hinder you !! My next thought was OMG I am going to place first female, oh shit.. Keep going, keep going. Omg Amanda your going to place 3rd overall. GO GO GO. So I could feel myself getting tired, looked at my watch, just curious as of pace, 8:00 min mile, shit firecrackers, I have been running 8 min miles for 3 miles, no wonder I was getting tired. That's hauling some ass right there. So I turn the corner back onto that track and I just floored it. I shaved 3:15 off my first 5k here at this same race. Last years time was 27:28, this years time 24:13 what what!!! I then was greeted by a reward and congrats, and what a great run and 3 interviews lol. I was then told by another runner that she just watched me, she said "your form was perfect", she said, "it was like you were glidding around the track". I was so proud of myself, I have worked so hard, accomplished so much and to pull this off is once again a reminder to myself what my body can do. I then saw Ash and went out on the track and cheered my friend on!!! She was AMAZING and I had a great race with her. Maybe she will do the half and I will do the full... Just a thought Ash!! But I have to say that this pic below was my motivation!!
She got to see it all, She got to see me run for the first time. This wasn't special cause I placed first female, 3rd overall, OK it was nice). But because my daughter was there watching me do what I love. Why I train and how devoted this lifestyle is to me. She cheered me on and I loved her being there. On the way home, she said to me " I am so proud of you". How could that not be something to motivate you to do something great in front of your children. I don't care what it is, your showing them that hard work, devotion, blood, sweat and tears can make anything possible, you just have to try. You may not place first or even third, but in their eyes you did. That's all that matters. I would love to get Emily more involved in running if she wants. A lot of races have children's runs, for add. $5.00 and they get medals and things. I want to inspire my children that there is something out there for you to achieve. BUT you must work on it. Running isn't something you become good at overnight, I am still a work in progress, I improve every time I train. Weather its a bad run, hot run, windy run, rainy run, ANY kind of run, its still running!!! This is why I love it. You always have a redo, when your run is crappy, remember, I get to do this all over again and then that run will be the best!! I have lots of best runs. That's the best feeling when you have worked so hard, it shows when racing or competing, your hard work pays off!!!
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