My first 5k

You know what? I ran a 5k & it was a BLAST! Not all the days of training at the gym or outside but the accomplishment of actually doing it, especially since it was one of my goals.

I’m not exactly sure what I had pictured in my mind, but it was not what actually happened. For the Covenant Health Marathon Event, there we different options: a marathon, half marathon, relay, and the 5k with well over 6,000 participants ranging from ages 5-99.

It was a sight to see when the shot blew and all the marathoners & half marathoners started. Hundreds upon hundreds ran on the streets of downtown Knoxville. Then fifteen minutes later, it was our turn, the 5k-ers. The shot blew and the excitement and intimidating feelings came over me and I ran.

Whenever there were hills, I would take advantage of going down hill by letting my body go as fast as I could, weaving through people and letting the hill pull me down. Although most of the time all the people that I had just passed caught up with me as we were running on level streets because in all honesty I am a slow runner. However, it was nice to catch up with the “faster” people for a little while and that was how I caught up to my husband usually.

On the bottom of the last downhill I heard some on the sidelines say to everyone, “You’re almost there! three tenths left.” Hearing those words, I was so excited, even though it ended on an up hill street. After a 15 second walk (while my husband decided he had to go #1 in a porta-potty) I ran and ran to finish this 5k and shortly my husband caught up with me and stayed by my side. Once I reached the doors of Neyland stadium, with a smile on my face I ran as fast as I could. “I did it!” I thought to myself as I ran across the finish line.