Something Creative

Today was the big day…for the 2nd Annual Friends of Don Sather 5k Run/Walk.  Which I was pre-registered to participate in (along with Hubby this year).  First a little backstory on the whole event.

{The inaugural event was July 10th of last year (2008) & was put together to help raise money for medical bills associated with the treatment for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) for a local man.  His classmates (Class of ’71) got together & decided to help Don out.  It was a great success & we raised a significant sum of money to help  him out (along with some of the proceeds going to ALS research).  This past spring Don passed away…but his hope was that our little town would keep the 5k alive in his memory & work to help find a cure for ALS…which brings us back to today.}

After last year’s walk (I did it alone…on a whim) I was determined to do it again this year.  I did set some specific goals for myself in the meantime.  I wanted to be in better shape & prepared to better my time this year.  Did that happen?…well not so much.  With my always irritating gallbladder & life too I rather lost my way in the “get in shape” plan.  I started out pretty good too…was working hard every day, building my stamina and looking forward to a good showing at this year’s race.  Then I got sidetracked, run down & my motivation took the last train out of Slugville.

Still I decided to go ahead & walk this year…while I don’t feel so awesome (damn gallbladder) I decided I could still do it.  So this evening I laced up my new Ryka’s (not brand new…I’ve been using them in my WiiFit workouts so they’re broken in just not road worn), stretched my body out good,

grabbed a water bottle (after I took the shuttle from parking to the starting line…which in this case was a very comfy Lincoln Navigator.  Ahh, I love riding in style) & promptly set off at the sound of the air horn.

This year the course was through Savanna State Park rather than on the highway.  There were pros & cons to the new course.  Being in the park it was much cooler and there was some shade.  Of course we were walking on a narrow gravel road rather than a newly paved two-lane highway…this meant some soft places where the runners especially had to watch out.  Since we were in the park there was no way to avoid any traffic either…this meant sucking on a giant dust cloud every time someone drove past.

As we walked…I picked a pace I was comfortable with which meant we were quickly left behind…the course wound downhill back toward the park entrance.  I was feeling good, enjoying the sunshine filtering through the trees & my mind was alternating between composing the beginning of this post and providing some encouraging thoughts.  We wound up & down hill (this was a con—too many hills!!) to the park entrance.  As we approached the turn I was feeling great…except for the blister I could feel forming on the outside of my right instep.  Our pace was reasonable & we didn’t seem to be too far behind some of the other walkers.  The official time announced for the 1st half was 32 minutes.  I felt pretty good about that…considering I’m almost completely out of shape (no wait round is a shape right?)

So we began our trek back to the finish line…up hill.  The sun was filtering down in longer shadows and the aspen leaves rustled impatiently at our passing.  Wanting to keep on pace I pushed myself up the hills (did I mention the hills?) and lengthened my stride on the few downward slopes.  Of course I’m starting to breathe hard, my legs are feeling it a bit & my gallbladder is hammering against my right side.  Abe in the meantime has had his headphones in, calmly keeping up with me…no accelerated breathing, no sweat pouring down his back.  He didn’t even have to lengthen his stride as I chugged up the hills (yep that’s right…it was hilly).  {Side note: Of course keeping to my pace Abe’s stride was pretty comfortable so unless for some insane reason I broke into a full on run he wouldn’t have to lengthen his stride very much anyway}

I was starting to wear out…my right foot felt like it was on fire (stupid random blister.  I even made sure I wore the right socks, my shoes were broken in properly…I did everything like I was supposed to do it.), my side was getting a bit tight &  I could feel the strain beginning to show.  Yet I kept going…not slowing my stride.  When we came to the final hill…yeppers that right, the end of the course was nothing but uphill all the way… I kept my head down & pushed myself the whole way.

After crossing the finish line I headed straight for the most secluded picnic table where I yanked off my right shoe & sock to reveal a 3″ long raw, blistered spot just below my instep.  Not pretty…it still hurts like crazy but in sandals it doesn’t rub so that helps.  All in all I feel pretty good.  I’ve got some sore muscles but nothing like last year!  My final time was 1:04 so I did just a little bit better than last year’s time without the feeling of an impending heart attack or stroke. Hmm, maybe I am in better shape….

A beautiful back drop to the end of my 5k day.