The day I reached my peak

Something really quite remarkable happened to me last weekend... I placed in a race

I came second. Me. I can hardly believe it. 

The race is a annual local fun run challenge. There are 2 distances - a 5km or 10km.

The 10km is simply the 5km course done twice. And its not a fast track as there are a couple of steep hills.

(The number of hills depends on who you talk to. I was told 3 hills; 2 on the way out and 1 on the way back. But, for the record, it sure felt like there was more than 3)

I decided to enter the 5km race as mentally I simply couldn't handle getting to the finish line and then heading for the hills again. I also only officially committed last Wednesday, 4 days before the race. I didn't prepare for it, as such.

So, race day.

I arrived with my boys (who were signed up to do the 1km kids dash) just as the 10km started, which was great as I got to cheer on some people that I knew.

The 10km finished, I chatted with some friends, then watched the boys and all of the other kids run.

About 10 minutes before the start of my race we ambled down to the start line. 

I had the butterflies that you get from any such scenario but I wasn't nervous about doing a great time or placing or anything like that. I'd had a quick look at the past results and saw that they were in the 24 minute area. As my PB for 5km is around that and due to this being a hilly race I didn't even look too closely at the times and just thought I'd aim for sub 30 minutes - ie give myself about a 5 minute leeway to allow for the hills slowing me down.

When the race started I don't even recall if it was a gun or hooter or just someone saying go... because I was chatting to my friend, her daughter and her daughters friend.
This friend of mine, Alisha, is fast. She's really quite amazing and I admire how quickly she's built up her speed too. I thought that if I could just stay with her then i'd have a good race.
The first hill came and, well, I don't mind hills and I just had a bit more speed in my legs than Alisha did on the day. I debated hanging back so that we could run together but I knew Alisha wouldn't want that, just as I wouldn't expect her to do for me.

It was an out and back race so as we got to the second big hill I knew there was only about 500 metres up and I'd start to see the people who were on their way back.
All males, more males, then one female who had a different ribbon on (indicating under 12 age group - yes under 12 - a gun in her own right) and then one female in the open category and then that was it.

OMG, was I in second??

I couldn't believe it.

From then I just aimed to keep this girl in my sights. I still wasn't certain that I'd counted correctly and thought that there was a very good chance that I'd missed someone but as I got to the last km and started to pass officials a couple of them gave me a little clap and said "keep going, you're coming second"

OMG, I WAS in second!

I heard my boys yell out to me and my friends gave a little shout too and then I crossed the line and those officials were right.

I DID get second place.

As I caught my breath the girl who came first thanked me because I made her keep going as she though I might catch her. This was all too unbelievable.

I was beaming. I wanted to shout it out to everyone there. I wanted to talk about how amazing it was to anyone with ears. But I tried to restrain myself. I'm not sure how successful I was at that. All weekend I was grinning like the Chesire cat. Even, now, as I type this, 2 days later, I am still so super excited.

When they presented the certificates I found out my time was 24:02. I am so pleased with that as I was honestly aiming for sub 30 minutes.

Super excited to come second

And what else is great (maybe even greater than the placing) is the fact that any time a self doubt tries to creep in it is squashed almost immediately by the joy that I still feel.
Yes, it was just a local fun run with maybe 100 people in my race. Yes, it was only 5km. Yes, there are many people in the running community that I know who could beat my time.
But I am honestly not thinking like that.
I am claiming it.

Any race, at any distance, is open to whoever turns up on the day. And this was just my day.

This may very well be the peak of my running life. Even that makes me smile.

I simply had to get this down on paper so that when this feeling subsides I can relive it again by reading my own recount

And, because it made the day just that much sweeter -  my boys did great in the kids dash, my friend Alisha came 4th in the 5km, her daughter came 1st in the under 17's 5km (and she'd only 13). Plus my local long run running friend came 2nd in the 10km and another friend came 4th in the 10km. (They're all in the picture)

Why I run

The very short answer to the question of why I run is easy: Because I enjoy it.

The longer version...

Before having children both my husband and I were quite active. We ran or cycled or swam. We played tennis at least once a week with some friends.

But children have a way of changing things. A bit like a snow globe. Everything is beautiful and calm and serene, then all of a sudden someone shakes it up. It is still beautiful and you know it will settle but it can be hard to see anything other than the snow for a little while.
I enjoy being a Mum. Sure, they are turning me grey and I do yell sometimes, but all up it's a fab job.
Exercising didn't seem so important.
Coupled with that is my fantastic metabolism. I am one of  'those' people - I can pretty much eat whatever I want and I don't really put on weight. For 8 years I did barely any exercise except the odd bike ride with the kids - but even that was at snails pace.

Every few years I'd say to my husband "I want to get fit again. I'm going running tomorrow" or something along those lines. Then for one or two days I'd run and then I'd give up.
I'd give up for any number of reasons (read excuses). It was too hot or too cold or it was raining or it was embarrassing. If you've been there you know what I mean.

So what changed? I really wish I could tell you that I had a lightbulb moment but I honestly didn't.
It was a few things added up. My Dad had had two heart attacks (survived both, the second finally made him change his ways), my eldest son who was 8 at the time was getting annoyed that I couldn't keep up in chasing type games, some of my size 10 stuff was getting snug (for me that was big) and I just wasn't all that happy with what I saw in the mirror.

Another Mum for the primary school where our children went told me about an outdoor class. I thought I'd give it a go. I even hooked up with another friend and promised to pick her up each week. That way I couldn't back out if I woke at 5.30am and it was raining or cold - I'd committed myself to picking her up. So I went. First week was hard. I had no idea what burpees were and could barely do 2 push ups on my knees! I was embarrassed but the group in general were all so lovely and didn't make me feel like a complete idiot.

The trainer is the absolute best and I could write a whole separate blog just praising her.

I don't think I could sit down for a couple of days after that first session. But it was kind of fun. So I went back the next week, and the week after that.
It did take me a few weeks to notice my own improvement but it was the feeling of doing something and getting better at it that was the fun part.

Due to my size I did get a few 'looks' from some who were bigger than me. I don't think bigger people realise that they make the very same assumptions and judgements on thinner people that they think people make on them for being big.
Does that make sense?
For example, I heard talk that went along with those stares about my right to be at the group because I wasn't big so why did I need to be there.

Anyway, after about 6 months of this once a week outdoor group I realised that my overall fitness and running had improved. At school I always enjoyed distance running and would get to zone or regionals for cross country.
Running was something I could fit in at a time that suited me. It is free and, best of all, I found that it allowed me to clear my head. For someone who thinks waaayyy too much it was a great thought sorter.
Running was also something I could do with my children.
I worked my way up slowly. First it was 2 or 3kms, then 4 or 5km for a couple of months. Then 8 or 9km. My children would ride beside me and tell me about their day. Win win.

After 4 months I reached 10km for the first time. I was so excited. A few people started getting into my head suggesting that I could do the Gold Coast Half in July. I wasn't so sure. I kept running, my distances kept improving and then about 6 weeks ago I finally believed in myself enough to sign up for the half.
The mental hurdle is a bitch (sorry, no other word suits it better).
Once I passed that I was even more excited and more determined.
Nerves still creep in. As I type this I have 4 weeks to go.
Thinking about it makes me have butterflies in my stomach.
I am hoping that I don't go out too hard so have been working on my pace and even doing a few runs without my RK lady in my ear.

So, in 4 weeks I am 'popping my race cherry'. I have done no other (organised) races in preparation. That does scare me a little but I think it will also make race day all that more exciting.


Wish me luck!