My site is not exactly in order of the events of my runners’  life.  I write about what pops into my mind  during my run earlier in the day.  I was pondering about years ago with two very small babies at home and the thought of a 5k event happening in my town on what was to be a beautiful spring morning.  80% of me thought  better to stay home and let the day go on as any other.  The other 20% knew I could do the 3.2 miles as I had each morning while  my neighborhood slept.  Looking back I am thankful my meager 20% positive feelings  triumphed over that negative, self-doubting 80%!   

Upon arriving at the race, I handed in my money and recieved a ‘number’.  I felt overwhelmed when I pinned that number to my oversized t-shirt.  I was thrilled with the choice I had made to come out on this brisk, yet gorgeous morning.  I was also a tad nervous.    My anticipation continued as several runners showed up.  These people were ‘real’ runners.  The clothes, the sneakers, the bodies!!  That 80% doubt started to flood my mind.  At about the time my stress level elevated; a women I  went to school with started waving vigorously at me.  I was so happy to see her and proceeded to speak of my fears as race time approached.   She told me this was her first race and she would simply be happy to finish.  That has carrried with me since my first race.  I now hear myself telling other self-doubters the same thing.  Her words calmed me down and when the horn blew for the race to begin, I kept my cool, paced myself and sped up at the end.  My time was 29:56.  I was so happy that I finished and so happy that my time was under 30:00.   I left that race before the names and prizes were called only to find out later I had won FIRST place in my age group.  My high school friend brought the medal to my home.   I will never forget the image of her hanging the medal out the window of her vehicle as she came honking and screaming around the corner to my house.  I was in shock!  To this day I  have that worthless little medal.  Of course, to me it is priceless.  I have went on to place in several races but  feel  the need to further my distance.  As my 40th birthday approaches I need to challenge my body beyond the 3.2 miles I know I can run.   As I continue my minimal daily runs, I will slowly begin going farther and farther. 

Another race is coming up in April.  I have been contacted by another friend I went to grade school with!  This will be Cris’s first race.  If she gets anxiety I will tell her, “To just finish the race”.  Hopefully this will be enough to calm her down and she, too will get a priceless medal for her first 5k race!