An Anonymous 5K

There is a convention in town for a group of which I am a member and although I loathe and detest any gathering that requires me to mingle with or be jostled by throngs of people and therefore NEVER attend the conventions, I was talked into doing the 5K that was being held as a part of it this morning.

This is the blog approved pic. Another friend took a picture that did not follow the "no full body pictures taken of RBR with skinny bitches" rule, therefore it will not appear in the blog. My blog, my rules.

This is the first race I have done in a loooooooooooooong time (since Barb's Race in August) and only my second organized 5K ever.

The first and only 5K I had run prior to this was 4 years ago at the same convention with the same friend. Three miles was a longish run for me then.

Post Race 4 years ago. I am #153. Skinny bitch is #165, lest there be any confusion. This is prior to the pink hat. Tan hat, bleh. So not me.

I have been sick with a head cold all week and woke up this morning with a head full of snot. I attempted to empty said snot, but half a box of Kleenex later I was largely unsuccessful. To say I was dreading this run was an understatement. I could tell I was feeling insecure when I chose to wear my Napa Valley Marathon t-shirt to run a 5k. I mean, come on. How lame is that?

I guess I was hoping it would tell all the other runners, "I know I am sucking ass today, but look, I ran a marathon at some point in my life."

As I said, lame.

We line up and head out. Many people bolt from the start like there was free pizza at the turn around (there wasn't. I checked) and I just trotted along warming up and enjoying the perfect running weather. My head was feeling better and I was breathing pretty well.

Then something happened that never happens to me. I got competitive. I started picking people off and pushing hard to beat people. I have pushed to beat a time before and maybe beat a particularly irritating person, but typically I do not get rabid about beating people in races because, let's be honest, I can't beat many people.

It was a little fun, but it also reminded me why I prefer long, slow runs; running fast hurts (ok, fast-ish). At heart, I am a marathoner. A trots along-chatting-and-taking pictures marathoner.

Final time: 29:10 PR