Today marked another entry off the bucket list. My first 5K that I ran, my second 5k that participated in. The Susan G Komen Akron Race for the Cure was today. I ran it today with a friend and her beautiful mother who is a Breast Cancer Survivor and my own mother came for moral support. It was a wonderful morning filled with a contagious energy of supporters and survivors alike. 3.1 miles was a small token that we ran/walked to show our fight against Breast Cancer.
8:30am brought the race start time. We were instructed through a quick exercise/warm up routine and with 3 minutes left we counted it down to start the race.
And go!
This was my first experience with a race. After we started, the sound of footsteps filled my ears. People talking excitedly and setting their personal fitness exercise meters... we were on our way. Because I did not know the course I was unaware of landmarks that mark certain parts of the course so I was unable to judge distance. Little did I know that markers were along the way you just had to run long enough to get to one. There were also a few more hills than I was expecting - I trained with hills and I typically love hills but these hills were big and long. Such a blow to morale. I slowed to a walking pace before the first mile marker. The one mile marker was marked with a dozen motorcycles revving their engines to re-ignite the fading excitement that the one mile marker brought. I continued at a run/walk pace for the remainder of the race, meeting a woman by the name of Paula at 1.4 miles. Her and I had similar run/walk styles of racing but she also had a device that told her how far we'd gone - she became my new pal. We continued to match and pass each other throughout the race and chatting as we went. She was avid into cycling and this was her second Breast Cancer Race.
The 2 mile was marked with a color "tunnel" where if you chose you can run in a lane and get eco-friendly pink powder thrown at you. This seemed like a great idea at the time however when the sweat began to pour the powder continued to mix with it making for a gruby dirty feeling. At 2.6 miles the sound of the finish line was evident. Loud music and people cheering gave me the energy to push through until the end, I was almost there! Rounding the final turn I had my sites on the finish line. Passing over that line and looking at the clock reading 40:06. Not the best but better than I was thinking. Shortly after I noticed my mom trying to take pictures and she was able to get this shot. :)
Covered in sweat and pink powder but floating on a cloud that I finished.
We then waited for my dear friend and her momma to reach the finish line so we could celebrate with them. Such joy was felt by everyone!
After we made our way down the paved golf cart trail, grabbed our apples and bananas we made our way to the vendor area where we proceeded to get free totebags, waterbottles, pens, beads, paper fans and enter into drawings to win shoes. It was great time! After this we made our way to the famous 18th hole where the Survivor ceremony would take place. We listened to speakers speak, awards be awarded and the survivors walk to be recognized.
After the ceremony we made our way to the shuttle buses which took us to the After Party. Among everything there, there was an ice cream truck If you know me you know I wanted ice cream after my race - so what better way to celebrate then with a old school screwball!?
More pictures from my dear friend Kristin
The day was great.
The rain held off.
The run was painful and great.
I cannot wait for my next one!
Whose coming with me??
