First 5K Down!

So, this past Saturday was the Susan G. Koman RFTC. The day started out pretty bad, but got a little better.

Friday night, I decided I wanted to get a short run in so that my muscles would be a little warmed up for what awaited me the next day. My sister and I did a 2 mile run, but instead of taking it easy I decided to run hard. I don't know what I was thinking, I just wanted to get in a last "practice" before making it to the real deal. Well, I over did it because my knee started giving me some problems.

The next morning, we woke up at 5:30am to the sound of pouring rain - GREAT (*insert sarcasm*). One thing that had been stressed to me is that the race goes on rain or shine, so rain it was. That's all well and good, but the rain increases my knee pain - so I knew that it was going to be a very trying day. We arrived at the mall, and discovered that there had been a 30 minute delay of the race due to the sighting of lightening. That meant that we would be spending the next hour standing in the pouring rain. There really was no shelter anywhere, so we were absolutely DRENCHED by the time the race started.

I started the race pretty strong, despite the tingling in my knee. Got through 1/2 a mile before I took a "walk break". I walked for about 2 minutes, and then took off running again. Just as I did I felt like someone had stabbed me in my knee cap. The pain was terrible. I'm not sure what happened, what I did, all I knew is that I couldn't give up. I literally had to hobble through most of the course, until I came to the last 1/2 a mile. I just couldn't bear the thought of walking through the finish line, so I sucked up everything I had to ignore the pain and I took off running. I crossed the finish line with no pain, just joy that I had done what I had been working so hard to do.

I managed to finish the race with a time of 48:30. Not great at all, but good taking into consideration that I couldn't run. I'm happy with it, and it just gives me something to work harder on next time.

I have been out of running commission since then, because I apparently I injured my knee pretty badly. It's been 5 days since the race, and I'm still in a little bit of pain. I've been taking it easy, but now it's time to jump back on the horse and start working out again. I just have to take it easy.

So, my weight today: 230.1 lbs!! I just have .1 lbs to lose to hit another 10lb target!!

Here are a couple of pics from the race:

Me, my sister, and my 10 year old daughter before the race.

Me right after I crossed the finish line: