The 5 Miler Was Awesome

So, I did in fact run the Heritage Festival 5 miler yesterday. It was, in a word, life-changing. The Flowers didn't come with me, so I was there all alone, with a zillion other runners and spectators. I didn't know what to expect, as I was not that familiar with Fredericksburg, nor the route, and like I said before, I was going to be there alone. Marigold had me scared silly about how long it would take me to get there, so I left home about half an hour earlier than I really needed to. The good thing about doing that is that it left me plenty of time to find my way to the location, find a place to park, pick up my race bib and t-shirt, walk back to the car with my goodies, move my car, stretch, run some pre-race jitters out, move my car again, and finally settle in with the other runners at the start. Bib #67 - my newest favorite number!

On the way to the race, I munched on a tortilla smothered in peanut butter and filled with sliced banana. It was gross (something about the peanut butter/banana combination didn't appeal to me), but I knew I'd need and appreciate the protein later. It turned out to be a perfect breakfast that didn't leave me too full nor hungry during the race.

Throughout the race, I recited my mantra to myself over and over again (especially when another runner would zip past me if I were not even in motion!) "It's about ME, it's not about them." It was a great reminder that I was running the race to prove a point to myself, and not about anyone else's PR or speed.

The race course was lovely and it was a beautiful summer morning, light on humidity and high on sunshiney-loveliness. It was a great day to be alive - it was a great day to run my first 5 miler!

I ran the entire race, save for about four blocks in the fourth mile. My left hip flexor got a little cranky (as it always tends to do) and I walked for less than .25 mile. After speed walking a short distance, I realized that I was awful close to the finish line. It was time to wrap this puppy up!! And so I did. There was a lovely hill just before the finish line, and I've never run up a hill so fast before in my life! I felt this surge of adrenaline and pure bliss come over me and I just felt so good! It was as if everything in me just opened up and I took off! Not exactly like a rocket, but a bit faster than I had previously been running!

It tickled me that I had moved my car to the location that I had - I had no idea when I parked it for the second time that it was on the race route and I saw it just as I approached the finish line. In my fatigue, I caught a glimpse of my car and for the life of me, I wanted to run up and kiss it! I can't describe the feeling, and I suppose it probably reads a bit weird, but it was a nice sight, seeing something I loved so much, while doing something I loved so much.

I finished the race is 1:01:37. Yup, I'm still a tortoise and I'm still okay with that.


In hindsight, I realized that if I hadn't spent that time walking, there's a possibility that I might've finished in just under an hour. But, I suppose that's water under the bridge. I finished it upright and that was always my single goal. Goal accomplished!

After the race, I gave myself a great big bear hug then chowed down on orange slices and gulped water like a fiend. The race organizers gave away awesome door prizes including a $100 GC to Best Buy, but this time, I wasn't one of the lucky winners. Oh well. I was still a winner 'cause I had finished this bad boy!

Here's a picture of runners passing beneath the CSX railway bridge over Caroline Street at the start of yesterday's Heritage Festival 5-Mile Run in Fredericksburg:


Marigold and the Flowers treated me to a lovely 4th of July cookout that afternoon, then we went to Montclair to watch the fireworks.

It was a wonderful Independence day.

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Gratitude Journal
1. My health
2. The ability to run and participate in the sport I've grown to love
3. My Flowers
4. Cookouts and fresh corn on the cob