This past weekend Tim and I completed our FIRST 5K TOGETHER! This was Tim’s first race ever so I was really pumped to see how he would do and of course his naturally running ability kicked in right away and he stayed with me the entire time!
Tim and I before the race!
The race was at Buckeye Woods park in Medina and while I usually LOVE that park and really enjoy running there it was way too crowded. 500 people on one course that goes into the woods on a pretty narrow path was not the best for running. Honestly at about a mile in it really wasn’t too bad. Everyone started to break up a little bit and we ran at a very steady 10:21 pace which is honestly faster than I have been at. But that initial mile- gosh I bet at some points we were at like a 13 min/mile pace trying to dodge in and out of other people.
But enough with the complaining and on to the good stuff! This race was at night and as you can imagine from the name we were meant to look like little lightning bugs and ya know what? We did! Our t-shirts were dark green but the bug on them lit up and Tim and I both wore a necklace and bracelets made out of glow sticks. I thought we looked pretty darn awesome until I noticed what the other people were wearing! One group of girls actually like weaved in their glow sticks into their laces on the tennis shoes so they looked really cool! On little kid accidentally busted open his glow stick so his face had the actually glow stuff on it (and his clothes for that matter which his mom did not seem too pleased with) and while I’m sure it felt gross it looked really cool!
So after breaking away from the pack by some miracle we found my and friend and fellow CrossFitter Ashley! I never would have thought out of 500 people I would actually find her but turns our our pace is pretty similar so there we were.. running together! Her friend Becky was awesome too- they were both working hard and I was impressed! There is just something about being surrounded by people that work hard and do their best that inspires me. Those girls were awesome and I’ll tell you what.. I was ridiculously inspired by Tim. I was so impressed by how well he did and how he stuck with us the entire time. We clocked in at just over 32 min which I think considering the very slow first mile was an awesome time! Realistically I think we could have been right at or under 30 if we hadn’t had such a slow start.
Tim and I after the race! YAY!
Even better than the race was when Tim said to me “I see why you like these races” and then even proceeded to say that he would participate in the Susan G Komen race. If you can remember last year at Komen I hit my best 5K time yet clocking in under 29 min… my goal was to finish under 30. It is the one race that I really consider to be my timed competitive race. Other than that one I enjoy doing them but don’t beat myself to come in at some amazing time. For me, races are mostly about having fun.
The reason I think everyone should do a race just one time is because it is awesome. Clearly Tim is a good example of this… he claimed he would never race and due to some weird things happening he had to race with me on Saturday and he enjoyed it. There is seriously something so amazing about a group of strangers coming together for a common cause (I love when it is like a cause for good) to inspire each other and participate in something amazing. The Komen run for example is all about running for those men and women who are truly inspirational. Those that beat such a terrible disease and those that fought and didn’t win but were strong and amazing. Even if you do not consider yourself a runner…. which Tim does not at all… I think getting into one race is an experience you will enjoy and never forget. The entire concept of it is just a really cool things to be part of.
Plus, after the race they always have good snacks to eat 
Do you have a favorite race you participate in every year?!
Any races in the Akron/Cleveland and/or Charlotte area you want to share?
