Big Girl Pants

Soaked
Originally uploaded by teaganrozmus

Some time in mid-December I was looking around on Active.com (it was a slow day at work) and saw the New Year's Day 5k. Our friend, Chris, had told me it was his first 5k. I texted Brian and asked if he was working on New Years. He was.

He later called me and I sort of whined to him that I was thinking about the run, but had no one to do it with. Brian said "Just sign up for it. You know you want to do it." So encouraging, my man. I signed up, knowing that I was going to have to put on my big girl pants and do it alone.

This past week, the race day forecast was warmer, but rainy. I kept hoping that it would say something like "showers late in the day" but it just said rain. Again, with the big girl pants.

When I woke up race day, it was to thunder and lightning. Brian was concerned. On his way to work, he called to ask me not to run if it was storming. I knew they wouldn't hold the race if it was storming and it was still a couple of hours out. The thunder and lightning passed, but the rain did not.

Luckily, the packet pick-up and registration was indoor. I waited until the majority of people were heading over to the start and headed out. The worst part was the 10 minutes of standing in the rain I did before the gun went off. After that, I just ran (jogged). About halfway through, I realized that I could ring out my sleeves they were so full of water. It didn't make much difference at that point.

Alone, in the rain, I finished the New Year's Day 5k. After I got my chip removed, I was walking to my car (for a towel and a dry shirt) and a man behind me said, "I kept trying to catch up to you. You were slow and steady. You were my goal the whole way." I said to him and want to say again here "That is the biggest compliment anyone has ever given me" I'm still a little teary about what he said. I know that I wouldn't have gotten to hear it if I hadn't put on my big girl pants and gotten out on this rainy New Year's day.

Race stats:

Time: 40:06

Average pace: 12:55/mile

Place: 405/458

I'm putting these here to note progress over the next year. Also, I want to note that I had a fantastic race and it had nothing to do with my time.

So proud of myself!
Happy 2011!!