5am came quite quickly this morning, but I headed out to meet my friend Elizabeth to carpool to the Hot Chocolate 5k. I’m glad that we carpooled, otherwise you might have seen me curled up under a park bench at the closest Starbucks 🙂
This was my first big race, and it was thrilling to be around all of the other participants. My goal for this race was to:
a) pace myself from the beginning
b) not die from bronchitis
On both counts, I succeeded! Tabbi and I were in the slowest corral, but we started off at a pretty reasonable pace, running the downhills and flat parts, but walking the uphills. Because MAN this course had some hills.
I wish I could have taken (or chosen to take) some pictures along the course, because Seattle was BEAUTIFUL today. Our run through Pike’s Market was the killer, and why we walked…because I hadn’t realized that the hill would be so brutal! Our goal was to run the first mile, run the flats/downhills, and RUN THROUGH THE BATTERY STREET TUNNEL!!! Oh, and to run across the finish line, but that’s kind of a duh…right?
It was so nice to have a running buddy to keep me company, and the lessons from the last 5k (like listening to talk radio rather than music), and my thought-process was much more clear and full of positive thoughts, rather than “I suck and should never have done this” thoughts like last time. I can see why people get hooked on these races!
My finishing time (according to my cell-phone) was 48 minutes, which wasn’t quite up to the 15 minute mile “requirement,” but overall I feel very proud of myself. And I enjoyed the dichotomy of the BIG race vs. the small, local race I did last time.
And, who doesn’t want to eat some chocolate at the finish line?!
boof & monk-monk 
Congratulations! To achieve that in itself is fantastic, but with bronchitis is remarkable! Hope you enjoyed the well-deserved chocolate.
Thanks! The chocolate was delicious! Although, the sunshine in Seattle was probably even MORE of a treat!!
YAY!! I am doing my first “real” run in a few weeks. I have been a “runner” for a decade and I am still so nervous!!
You will have a blast! It’s super fun, but totally different than running for fun other times…I have learned so much each time! I’m now signed up to do The Color Run and a Mud Run in May! Good luck 🙂
you are amazing! good job on doing another race. like kelly, i run but i have never done a race and you’re making me kinda want to. 😛
you totally should! Do something fun like The Color Run or a Mud run, or some other totally random thing like that!
Congratulations! Wish that South African doctor could see you now.
Maybe I’ll mail him my race results? with his discharge notes? haha 🙂
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