Crossing the 5K Finish Line – My First Goal Achieved

NO LONGER A COUCH POTATO

One goal accomplished, several more still to go, but with a successful goal of going from 0 to 5K in under 60 days (and under 60 years), although I may not qualify as a real runner yet at least I’m no longer a couch potato.

STAYING FOCUSED AND COMMITTED

Having finished March with what I considered to be a nice tailwind, I confidently started April with pretty much one sole purpose in mind- to successfully run/complete my first “official” 5K race/event. While very excited and motivated to just go ahead and do it, I quickly discovered it’s actually not that easy (well at least it wasn’t for me). In fact I don’t know what’s more difficult- getting in decent enough shape to run a 5K, or finding an accommodating one to run in. Don’t get me wrong, as anybody that has ever participated in running events would easily know, there are literally thousands of run, walk, run/walk, etc. events practically every weekend, however finding one that fits into a busy (better terminology would be technically a non-personally controlled/shared) schedule is not a super easy thing to do. That and well, finding one that is appropriate for one’s training level (that’d be a first time huff-n-puffer in this case) that is relatively flat, rather than an up and down a mountainside, spirit testing ambition crusher that I almost mistakenly signed up for (thank God it rained). What ultimately cinched the deal for the ideal time/place for me was that in addition to the moral support and encouragement of my fantastic wife, she volunteered to participate in the event herself as well. So shortly into the month, the clock was wound and ticking fast with the countdown to race day underway- set for the last Sunday of the month on the 27^th.

COUNTDOWN TO RACE DAY

As I continued the final preparation for the “Big Run” in an attempt to remain diligent I committed to the practice (from my 30 Day Experiment) of running every day, whether on the basement treadmill or outside in the real world. Several times in the first half of the month I covered the 5K (or even a 4+ mile) distance, but as it got closer to race day (although I hate to admit it) I kind of fell into a “protective” rut where while I ran every day at least two solid miles, I didn’t take any extended runs or push myself with increasing speeds or intervals in an effort to avoid any unexpected (uncalled for) injuries (real or otherwise) or risk any possible physical impediments that might have interfered with my ability to participate in my first official 5K.

Having run 5K and 4+ miles previously, several times actually during/in my workouts, I really wasn’t concerned that I wouldn’t physically be able to finish the run, but I was still however a bit apprehensive about the “unknown” factors. Although perhaps properly/fully conditioned for the basics of the run, I was entirely unfamiliar with all the participatory aspects of the event.. including the run route as well as the whole “protocol” of the event, and as a result, I couldn’t help be a bit concerned (back of the mind trepidation type of thing) that for some reason there might be an instance where/why I’d have to and/or be forced to walk, which for me even a single non-run step would constitute a complete and utter failure. And I certainly wasn’t looking to crash and burn in my first appearance in the big show, so the plan was to take it slow and easy (which was pretty much all I did anyway) and just get through the run and across the finish line in one piece (all while running).

RACE DAY – READY TO RUN!

With race day finally upon us, I was extremely intrigued by the remarkably diverse spectrum of run participants. Practically every/any aspect of humanity (and even then some, counting the dogs that people brought that ran too) seemed to be not only well represented, but out in full force. From first-timers just looking to cross the finish line (all arrows pointing to me) to seasoned athletes perhaps chasing personal bests; there were families, clubs, teams, charities, school groups, seniors, kids of all ages (including plenty of strollers), you name it- there was a good chance someone was there for and/or because of it. It was certainly a community event, one which had a very good vibe and shared feeling of mutual camaraderie that everyone there that day was definitely all in it together.

RUNNING EVENTS ARE A COMMUNITY EFFORT

Something that really impressed me about the event was the support by the neighborhood residents (local homeowners along the race course). Many were standing out in their yards shouting encouragement as the runners passed by and holding up handmade signs of support. In addition, in what would have had to have been prior day (or very early morning) undertakings, there were quite a few inspirational/motivational writings and drawings, sketched in colorful chalk on the road all along the actual run route. Volunteer support was also extremely impressive, with dozens of people helping before, during, and after the run in all capacities, set-up, clean-up, monitoring, and any/all kinds of general assistance when/where required.. the event was very well organized and maintained.

RUNNERS TO YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!

Now for anyone that hasn’t participated in and/or even seen a 5K (or marathon type event), the start is a bit of mayhem, confusion which continues (obviously depending upon the number of entrees), for quite some time, if not the entire event. At the start, various groups take off in tranches, based upon skill level, age, etc.; with most of the younger participants going out early (I’m guessing in part because most of them having had to wait around for at least an hour or so to actually run, there’d be no way the organizers would be able to hold them back anyway). So by the time my group got the green light to start running, there were already several hundred runners out of the blocks (so to speak), winding their way out onto the local streets. In fact I still can’t believe that after running for twenty or thirty minutes, well into the race there was still plenty relatively small children (like 5ish year olds) running practically everywhere, and what’s probably more telling of my “runner’s status” (although granted they did start sooner than me).. they were all still ahead of me.

CATASTROPHE AVOIDED- SOME RUNNER’S ETIQUETTE MAYBE?

Ok so as positive as the whole experience was being overall, I have to keep it real and vent at least a little. Maybe I’m just a grumpy old (getting there anyway) man, but for some people.. seriously WTF you’re not the only people on the planet (or in this particular instance in the middle of the street during a crowded 5K race event)!?!? Now I generally consider myself a pretty easy going guy (and FWIW I didn’t say/do anything when “it” happened other than steamed internally) but I can’t help but think that there should be some basic “understood” ground rules for the general public, which carry over/into specific situations- in this case like keeping yourself and your kid under control when you’re both surrounded by hundreds of people ALL RUNNING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. Now you learn pretty quickly, almost innately that when running in a crowd, the goal is to try not to trip over and/or be tripped by a nearby runner. Akin to watching an accident happening in slow motion, what unfolded probably 10-15 feet in front of me still gives me an occasional flashback. Like a salmon swimming upstream, a young boy darted away from his mother and started running back through the mass of runners to get to a water station they had recently passed. The mother, grabbing his trailing hand, unable to stop him followed him, with both of them now having clasped/outstretched arms, effectively creating an 8-10 foot mother/son dragnet sweeping back through the pack of runners. As I mentioned earlier (and I have to believe I’m not the only person with this mindset WHEN RUNNING IN A TIMED RUNNING EVENT) priority one is to NOT STOP RUNNING. People scrambled, jostled and jockeyed for safe spaces, everyone trying to avoid turning this portion of the run into a steeplechase event. Long story short(ened), along with everybody else I ducked and dodged, skipped and hopped, and managed to avoid trampling the entirely oblivious (unbelievably inconsiderate) mother/son duo, while surprisingly also not careening off or bulldozing any other nearby runners, and most importantly (and impressively IMO) not pulling either a hamstring or a groin. I didn’t look back, as I did not want to see what might have happened. I chuckle about it now, but I can’t imagine what I might have looked like performing my evasive maneuver, but graceful (or even barely athletic) I’m sure was far from the top of the descriptive list. Lesson learned though, at least now I know when running ALWAYS be prepared for the unexpected- even when running a casual (not intentionally) 5K.

CROSSING THE FINISH LINE

I have to admit, the last half-mile was pretty cool. The volunteers had drawn big lines on the road and had signs indicating that the run was down to its last fractional distance. The crowd noise grew louder as people cheered for the runners ahead of me as they crossed the finish line, and an announcer on a PA was actively encouraging more noise. It was easy to see why so many people can get so involved and committed to running as well as its “environment”, as it provided for a truly memorable/rewarding experience, with an outpouring of positive energy.

As I ran the final 50 or so yards to complete my first ever “official” 5K, the announcer (not joking) commented on the loud speaker something to the effect of, “Hey, somebody needed to remind this guy that this was a race!” Which FWIW was actually the perfect thing for me to hear at the time, and for more than a few reasons. My first 5K was in the books and I had a smile on my face, in part for being insulted, but that was because I  knew what I had done to get there, and a few words said in jest couldn’t begin to diminish the effort I had made or the value of my accomplishment.

RECAP

Looking back as I recall how I trained for the run I really never considered myself a runner (still don’t in fact). Only a few months ago, I was seriously winded running even a few blocks, and the idea of running a full 5K- 3.1 miles- seemed like an impossibility, something reserved for people categorically more “runnerish” than me. But on that (now special) day, after roughly two solid months of training (surprisingly much sooner than I had expected), I crossed the finish line of my very first “real” 5K run. I know it’s not like it was a marathon, and although it might not have been fast, it certainly wasn’t easy either.. but definitively it was my accomplishment of something I honestly didn’t know if I would be able to do. At a minimum, it was a set goal that was successfully achieved.

What I learned through this process goes beyond running. I learned that persistence builds progress. I discovered that it’s okay (in fact sometimes better) to start small and that finishing something you set out to do- no matter how tough, changes how you see yourself. If you’re thinking about running your first 5K, do it. Sign up. Commit. Train at your pace. You’ll face setbacks and doubt, but you’ll also probably discover strengths you didn’t know you had. And when you cross that finish line, you’ll realize the race wasn’t just about the miles or minutes- it was about becoming someone who keeps going, one step at a time, like a joggernaut.

Up next, my numbers for April..