Firefly 5k 2012

This was a race that I was supposed to run with all my students. 12 out of 15 of them raised their hands that they were definitely going to participate. Well, only 4 of them actually registered, alas. And then, it was SO HUGE that I couldn't connect with all of THEM. So, the whole point of this 5 k which was to hang out with my students didn't happen, but it did give them something to work toward and I managed to set a personal record.

That sounds a lot more impressive than it probably was since my first 5 k was when I had only been running for slightly more than 3 months. But I did beat it by about 5 minutes! :)

But I am getting ahead of myself.

What a weird way to do a run. Wake up in the crack of dawn and run 14 miles. Go home, shower and eat. Nap. Take 7yo to get her ears pierced. Promptly take her to get for-yo for being so brave about it. Buy the best fitting jeans ever and in the smallest size I have worn since grad school. Jet home to meet Daddy after his bike ride. Jet to mid-town ATL to meet friends for dinner at Yeahburger. (Wonder to self how you can possibly eat anything here and then expect to run a 5k race in an hour and a half.) Eat turkey burger. Get dropped off at entrance to race. Pick up race stuff. Meet back up with family and plan for after.

Realize there are 4 THOUSAND people in the race. Holy moly!

Make way down to start line. Realize start of race is all uphill for about a mile. Okey-dokey.

Race starts.

Bob and weave around a LOT of people. Realize I forgot to start my Garmin. (Dang-it!) Wonder how I am going to make it through some clogs of humanity but manage it anyway. Silently and grudgingly thank race organizers for starting on the uphill as it spread people out very nicely, thank you very much. Get to the top of the hill finally and realize that I am feeling pretty darn good and am running at a pace that is actually a little fast (for me). Wonder briefly if I should slow down but don't.

Pass a BUNCH of people.

GET passed by a bunch of people including -

a fairy
a little kid
three drunk college guys CARRYING beer cans.(I didn't mind so much because they were pretty "easy on the eyes" if you know what I mean)
several MORE fairies of the non-dressed-up variety
and finally, one of my students who was surprisingly VERY fast

Find my family and get some sweet little girl hugs and kisses.

Chip time was 30:28 which just makes me want to break that 30 minute mark all the more!!!