Lacey Municipal Alliance Committee 5K
I had been training all summer for this with the Couch to 5K program through the town recreation department. You can read about that journey in THIS blog post. You can read about my experience in 2017 in THIS blog post too!
I was super excited about this race and I couldn't wait. I picked up our race packets on Friday morning and I said to Kyle, "It's super official now!"
 |
| Our colorful bibs! |
I woke up on race day and the first thing I thought of "YOU CAN!" I was really excited. I looked at my outfit that I picked out the
Mom, Dad, Kyle and I hopped in the truck and we were off to Gille Park. We were all shocked that the original parking lot we were going to park in was already full! It wasn't even 8AM yet. We ended up parking by the start line and as we were pinning our numbers on, the parking lot started to fill up. I forgot how many people run this race. We all started to walk over to the start line. People were starting to mill around and the excitement started building!
Mom, Dad and I took a selfie like we did the last time I ran this 5K and AGAIN, it ended up being one of my favorite photos. I think Gille Park is a magical place to take photos.
 |
| 2022 |
For reference, here is the one from 2017:
 |
| 2017 |
After that, my friends (actually my hair dresser turned friend!) arrived and we were SO excited to see them. Kim and Dennis are just the cutest couple and so much fun! We chatted with them for a while and then we took a few snapshots pre-race and then it was time to line up!
 |
| Kyle and I |
Kyle took his spot towards the front of the pack, and I settled into the middle with Kim and Dennis.
 |
| Kim and I |
 |
| Right before the horn |
 |
| Thinking I see Tara at this point (peep the white bow!) |
 |
| Trying to make a decision of which podcast to listen to |
 |
| Kim's photo View of the front of the pack |
As we were waiting, I was looking around in the sea of blue shirts to see if I knew anyone else. I saw my friend Tara behind me right before the race started. Tara and I met 5 years ago at my first Couch to 5K and our friendship has been so sweet! A newly hired (girl!) police officer sang the National Anthem and the horn blew and we were off!
I had picked out a podcast to listen to during my run and once the horn blew, I took a deep breath, started my Nike run app and then I was off. The energy from every one around me and the spectators made me smile and think to myself, "Heck yes! I am doing this!" Just as I was crossing the starting line, I see a shoe without a human in it. I chuckled and thought Oh that would be such a great photo BUT then I quickly realized that Gab, you are in a race right now and there are a lot of people behind you, you can't stop. Poor kid was by Kyle towards the front and Kyle told me later, the kid took one step and his shoe came off. In the video posted by Lacey Municipal Alliance, you see him going back to get his shoe, fighting through the crowd.
As we made our first turn out of Gille, I said to myself, slow and steady. I kept my head down and I just went. I wanted to run completely the first mile which I knew was until almost the turn around. I kept taking deep breaths and trying to focus on the podcast I choose. As we rounded the turn by the Recreation building, there was a pickup truck with a speaker on top of it, blasting music. It was a nice like burst of energy.
At this point, I saw a women in front of me and I thought to myself, I know her! It was my math tutor from high school! I got closer to her, I said, Hi Mrs. Cooke! and she turned and said "GABBY!" we ran together for a few minutes and then we parted ways. I got back to my rhythm. As we approached the mile mark, I was feeling pretty good. I passed Kyle and even from a distance I saw the big smile on his face when he spotted me. We shouted words of encouragement to each other as we passed by and that gave me another boost of energy. As I got to the 1st mile, I saw my pace was about 9:50. I was really proud of that and thought, okay, I will walk to the turn around and start running again. I ended up walking for a bit, passing by Kim, Dennis and Tara going towards the turn around.
I alternated running and walking through out the rest of the race. My poor shins were hurting but I continued to push myself (safely) through. As we round back into the park, that was mile 2 and I didn't even look at the pace clock; my Nike Run App told me later I had a 12:03 pace. I ended up running near a friend of mine who was pushing a double stroller(!!) and as we approached the water station, I saw another friend! It gave me a boost to run so more.
I knew Mom and Dad were going to be by the where we started waiting for Kyle, Kim, Dennis and myself to pass by again. I was so excited to see them and here was another boost of energy.
 |
| Kyle cruising along |
 |
| Happy to be here |
 |
| Blowing Kisses |
 |
| On the go! |
 |
| Kim |
 |
| Dennis |
We rounded our way through the park which at this point it was nice and shady which was MUCH appreciated. As I rounded my way toward the straight path toward the second loop, I had my head down and I kept thinking, keep going! At this point, I had been glancing at the Nike App to see the time, distance and pace and I realized that this wasn't going to be a 32 minute 5K and I thought to myself, Okay, we are going to do my best!
And then I heard a voice, "COME ON BABE! YOU GOT THIS!" and I look up to see Kyle, all sweaty, next to the path cheering me on. The biggest smile came across my mouth and the lady next to me said to him "You had to have finished right?!" He said "yes" and her response was "You are awesome!" I said "he sure is!" I ran toward the Mill Pond for the last turn around. I decided to walk the two broken paths then run the turn around. I felt good turning into the Mill Pond and the encouragement from the volunteers were really needed. I ended up walking quicker through the circle and then as I got back toward the exit, more encouragement got me through.
As I approach the park for the last time, I see Kyle again and he said "You are almost there! Sprint to the end! Don't stop at the inflatable!" I smiled and took his advice and sprinted toward the end and as I was approaching I saw Mom and Dad cheering me on! I gave it my all and crossed the finish line at 34:57.
I was greeted by Mom, Dad and Kyle. They were all so proud! Mom and Dad went back to the path to wait for Kim and Dennis to finish! Kim finished so close to me and then Dennis! We all did such an amazing job and we were all proud of what we accomplished!
 |
| Kyle had an epic photo finish |
 |
| Even after 3.11 miles, I was still happy |
 |
| YES, I did it! - Kim |
 |
| Dennis coming in Strong |
WE DID IT! I couldn't believe it! I had my doubts at the beginning of the summer, if I would be able to accomplish this and I couldn't stop smiling. Heck, I smiled through the whole race. I was so happy! Kim and Dennis were so excited them completed this too! It a really cool feeling to be surrounded by all these runners and the runner's high is totally a thing!
 |
| Aftermath |
I was really proud with my performance. I ended up starting in the middle of the group, I stayed by myself pretty much for the most of the race in the middle and I ended up finishing right in the middle of my age group. I was really happy with that.
 |
| in the iconic words of Elle Woods "WE DID IT GUYS!" |
We congratulated each other with sweaty hugs and we made our way over to the snacks. Fruit and bagels and coffee all donated from local businesses as we waited for the race to be finished and the awards to start.
I met Tara by the snacks and we chatted about how we did. It was so nice to see her and to have the Couch to 5K program as the start of our friendship! We forgot to get a photo together but we were next to each other in the group photo.
The Couch to 5K program Trainers gathered us all up for a group photo as we have done each week!
 |
| Couch to 5K Group + Kyle |
We met up with Mrs. Cooke and her husband and chatted with them. We HAD to get a photo of us together. The last photo I have with her is from my NHS induction back in 2005! Its long overdue and we haven't changed one bit!
 |
| We have known each other since 2000ish. 22 years strong |
We knew Kyle got 3rd in his age group so we waited for him to get his medal. I was really excited there was an 85+ category! Mrs. Cooke won her age group and then it was time for Kyle to get his medal!
 |
| Proud of Kyle-3rd place in his age group (30-34) |
1. To Finish ✅
2. Beat my 2017 Time/Pace ✅
3. Have fun and enjoy ✅
My official time was: 34:49.4 with a pace of 11:13.
2017's official time was: 35:02.7 with a pace of 11:17
My pace was 4 seconds faster and I was overall 12 seconds faster! 😀
I completed all my goals! I would like to work towards being able to run 1.5 miles without walking, and then 2 miles, then 2.5 miles and then last 3.11 miles without walking BUT that will be a work in progress, which I am very happy to work on. If I get even 1% better each time I run and compete, I would be very happy. Rome wasn't built in a day and my running is not going to improve that quickly. I am happy to be on this path of running.
--------
Have you run a 5K this summer?
[[The more I run, The more I love my body. Not because it's perfect, far from it. But Because with every mile, It's proving to me that I am capable of more than I ever thought possible]]
No comments:
Post a Comment