Weekend Update, Leprechaun Edition
I haven’t run a 5k since 2005, when my sister and I signed up to “trot” a Race for the Cure in Portland and then on race day, about twenty minutes before we were set to briskly walk with the rest of the meanders, she asked if we could run. We have different memories of this day, but I remember knowing we would run even though we had said we were going to walk. I also remember that while she was a great cheerleader and kept pace with me when I couldn’t keep pace with her, I don’t remember 3.1 miles being longer than it was that day. I hurt, and I wasn’t confident I could finish, and afterward? I wanted to curl up in the fetal position and never talk about running again.
Yesterday morning I revisited the crazy that is signing up for a race on an early Sunday morning, with friends as (awesome! and) crazy as you are, and then freaking out for 48 hours before said race because you are extremely adept at concocting ridiculous scenarios in your head that will never actually happen. (I do this for job interviews, too. It’s the neurosis that keeps on giving!)
“But what if I can’t run like I want to; what if I have to walk the entire race? Or what if I break my leg or something, or I’m too nervous to even start the race, OR the officials think I’m not running fast enough and tell me I should have just signed up for the Shamrock Stride, and what am I doing thinking I can run 3.1 miles anyway? What if they kick me out because I’m not wearing any green? OMG, what if I’m the very last runner across the finish line?”
Yesterday morning Kali and I galloped our way from the start to the finish of the Shamrock Run, and while it quickly became very apparent I need to be fitted for running shoes that don’t make my feet ache and throb and oh hey, fall completely ASLEEP while running, I felt better than I ever have at that distance, and I knew I could finish, and finish strong. I was bummed we couldn’t find Rhi before the start (it was madness down at the waterfront), but it was hard not to grin at the sheer energy bouncing around like the runners who were gearing up to put their feet to pavement on a crisp but clear spring Sunday morning.
It seems a little nuts on paper: paying money to get up way too early on a weekend morning to join throngs of strangers to run a distance you could run without worrying about packet pick-ups, nerves, crowds, parking. But the second I was standing in Waterfront Park, freezing and bouncing and stretching, I remembered why races are exciting, why they sell out year after year. It’s the energy, electric and contagious, bouncing off every single person who made the commitment to show up and participate, radiating to the friends and family members (and complete strangers) who line the route and clap and cheer as people pass by, pushing themselves to reach a finish line that is as much mental as it is physical.
Kali was an amazing running partner, and we laughed at the ridiculously chipper race announcer and his affinity for calling everyone “Leprechauns,” and watched people running in bright green tu-tus and huge hats and even saw a guy jogging while playing a banjo.
I was nervous about the distance and about doing it sans iPod, and about the incline up Broadway around mile two that was admittedly pretty brutal, but once we rounded that corner and started the last leg of the race heading downhill, I had to fight the urge to start laughing, because I was DOING THIS and feeling awesome (despite not really being able to feel my right foot, whoops), and I had forgotten how hard you can push your body and see it respond favorably. I had forgotten how far you can go even when you think you’re not ready.
I know to anyone who runs distance regularly 3.1 miles is a walk in the park.
To this girl it was one of the best things I’ve done with my body for years. And I’m admittedly excited to do it again. You know, when my legs stop screaming obscenities at me.
Way to go! You kicked more ass this weekend than I have in, oh, eight months.
Congratulations! That is awesome.
Congratulations – that is so great!
I’ve got my own 5k coming up in a few months – Eeeeee…
Oh my goodness, what amazing progress you’ve been making with your running! I so lack the consistency to keep this up on a regular basis. I feel like if the dogs didn’t need a 40+ min walk every day I would be able to do it but that really eats my time!
I love how you just get out there and do it, maybe that’s what I need to try… We’ll see =)
Go, YOU. Proud of you, Kerri. And love you, too (but you know that).
Yippee! Proud of you!
That is so awesome – congratulations!
You’re so right about the energy of a race, with all the runners and the spectators. I did my first one ever last summer and now I just love running races for exactly that reason. Having some event to train for keeps me motivated, too.
Anyway, I thought I should leave a comment and say hello on your blog properly (instead of just twitter) because I’ve been reading here for a while now and I am the kind of person who lurks around quietly without ever saying anything. So hello!
Also, I love your superheroine plans – it sounds like you’re due for some amazing things coming your way.
Yay! Congratulations on the race! There’s just something about a race environment that makes it actually FUN, isn’t there? And dammit, now I want to run one too!
You were freaking awesome. And I’ll totally do it again, and this time we’ll find Rhi! Running buddies for life!
Maybe let’s find a race that promises to be a) warmer at 7 a.m., and b) equipped with more water.
I’m still thirsty!
Good on ya, deary!
I have a half marathon that I’m doing next (!!!) Sunday, one I have not trained enough for. But I promised my bffs that I would do it anyway, so I’m going to slog through it for the 2.5+ hours that it requires. OH WELL.
But hey, the medal at the end is pretty cool!
I’m so proud of you! Inspiring, definitely.
:) Yay! So proud of you guys, I knew you all could do it!
Yay! This is good to read as I approach my first ever running 5K on May 1. And I am wondering why I’d pay to get up early to run a distance I can run for free in my neighborhood at any time of the day I choose. Also wondering whether I’ll be the only one running for whom 5K is a real strenuous challenge. Thanks for being an encouragement!
You are awesome. Love you!
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Haa! The very moment you were leaving me this comment I was writing you an email. We are INTERNET PSYCHIC.
Awesome! Congratulations on the race… Getting up super early after I’ve paid money to run with a crowd of people is one of my favorite things to do in the world! :-)
WHOHOO!! road races are some of my favorite memories…Bloomsday is always so much fun. BUT what i love the most is doing something that you are not quite sure if you can complete, and then crossing the finish line only to realize that it is not as bad as it was in your head!
Lets do a race together some day!!!
Aw, this is great. Sounds like you had an absolute blast (wonky foot not withstanding).
Congrats! So awesome! I know what you mean about the race-day excitement! It’s hard not to push your body because it is so exciting!
You go girl! :)
5k is definitely not a walk in the park to me! Huge congrats to you. It’s so, so fun, isn’t it?!
A walk in the park? HA! I’m entirely impressed. I’m up to running 90 seconds at a stretch right now. My goal is a 5K by May, but man, it’s hard. Inspire me Kerri, inspire me!
Great job, Kerri! I’ll never forget my first 5K when I had 5 year olds passing me. ;) Running is so addictive. Keep it up!
I just started running 5ks last fall, now on 10ks, on my way to a half marathon. It feels ridiculously great milling around with a GOOD running buddy at the start line (making fun of the real runners). You find out who you can really hang with around mile 4 when Britney and Kanye are just not cutting it. Congrats!
Hey, awesome website. I actually came across this on Bing, and I am really happy I did. I will definately be coming back here more often. Wish I could add to the conversation and bring a bit more to the table, but am just taking in as much info as I can at the moment.
Thank You
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