New Year's Resolution Run 5K Race Report- a PR, a Fist Pump and a Gangsta Sign

Well, well, well.

I had my first race of the 2012 season- The New Year's Resolution Run 5k.

For the first time ever, I decided to *race*.  You might be wondering what the difference is between *running* a race and *racing* a race.  Until this past Saturday, I didn't really think there was a difference and I didn't really care.  I've read various posts from runner blogs that I look up to about the art of *racing*- coming up with a race strategy, pushing yourself to go a bit faster than normal, and leaving it ALL on the course by the time you are done.

me and Kim

My previous race strategy was this- just get to the finish line without keeling over, passing out or throwing up.  I did not have the mental capacity nor the confidence to actually *race*.  I didn't think it really mattered because I knew I was not even close to fast enough to placing, so I just didn't do it, I just didn't push myself to race and now, I think I was just copping out.

Whatever. I am still proud of each and every race I've done but now, I've been bitten by the racing bug.

I decided to give it my ALL and to JUST RUN and NOT STOP unless I thought my heart was going to explode.  Ya'll know that I run/walk and I love run/walk and will tell everyone I meet that I run/walk, BUT for this race, I just wanted to fly and NOT stop.  I just wanted to see what I could do if I didn't hold myself back.

I flew and it felt awesome.  Also, towards the end when I was getting tired and I had about 0.5 miles to go, I let the old doubts creep back in and I walked.  No big deal but when I crossed the finish line, I realized I still had some gas in the tank and I should have never slowed down, especially at the end.  I should have kicked it into high gear and left it all out on the course.

You runners know EXACTLY what I am talking about.

Next time, I won't slow down.  I will leave it all out on the course.

This 5k race was a PR for me (personal record).  Fist pump!

32:23 min with an average pace of 10:25 m/m. (my normal, every day pace is typically 11-12 m/m), placing 7th (out of 32) in the Athena category.

So happy to be done and acting silly

Shut the front door.

Shut the freaking front door.

I PLACED?!  I mean, I always get a place but I never pay attention to that stuff because well, you know. But yeah, this time I placed 7th in my category and I just cannot believe it (if I hadn't walked right there at the second half of the race and pushed it instead, I would have placed 4th/5th because not much time separated us- SMFD).

Still- happy clap, woot woot, and a double FIST PUMP!!!!!

Lastly, I have to give a huge shout-out to my friend Kim, who ran her first 5K ever and did fantastically awesome- I am so freaking proud of her.  We started the race together and I really think we pushed one another the first half- push push push! We separated on the second half of the course but I'm now thinking we should have stayed together and kept that PUSH momentum going : ).

We're such bad-asses and so proud happy to be done of ourselves!

Also, we like to throw gangsta signs around.

Lastly, lastly, this race was the FIRST time my family met me at the finish line (and before the finish line, too). It was SO awesome to round a corner and see my husband and three monkeys jumping up and down and yelling my name, even better when my son ran with me to the finish line.  No picture of that but it will be forever be etched on my memory.  I think it made an impression on them as well, because now Sophie is begging me to sign her up for a Kids Run AND she wants to actually *train* for it!

Never think for one minute that we don't influence our children.

Mine and Kim's families together- damn, that's a lot of kiddos between us, lol!

LOVE LOVE LOVE.