First 5K Run

It was my first 5K race.  The Dash Down Greenville in Dallas, Texas.  I didn’t feel ready for it.  I had only been running for two short months. 

I placed myself near the back of the thousands of people running that day.  Yes, thousands of runners.  Over twenty-one hundred runners to be exact. I put myself at the back because I didn’t want to be in the way of the serious racers.  I soon discovered this to be a common “rookie" mistake.

At 8:30 a.m. the race began. The gun sounded and the race was on.

I tried to weave my way through the other runners.  Squeezing through gaps and quickly running faster to pass only to be caught behind others. Keeping a running pace in the beginning was impossible. I found myself dodging dogs on leashes and kids in strollers. It was encouraging for me to be passing people.  I weaved in and out making my way through the crowd.  It was energizing and fun.

I was trying not to go too fast.  I didn’t want to wear myself out and I really had no idea how far I had been running. 

After a few minutes I heard a woman behind me say, “We’ve already made it to the first mile." 

Being new to running, I had no idea how she knew we had gone a mile.  I assume there were markers on the road but I couldn’t see where. There was a water station a little ways down.  I figured that must be the halfway point.  My goal for the event was just to keep running and not stop. 

I was maintaining my pace fairly easily when I hit the hill.  The whole pack of runners began to slow down.  My legs were beginning to feel the burn of the hill so I was comfortable slowing down for the moment. 

I was behind this little boy with his grandmother and mother.   The boy was short, around ten or twelve years old, and appeared to be running his first 5K too.  He was having trouble getting up the hill.  He was tired and breathing heavily.  Sweat was falling from his face.  His mom had one hand and his grandmother had the other hand.  The boy’s mom was trying to encourage him with her own running stories. 

She told him, “This is why mommy runs with her girlfriends.  Because sometimes I don’t want to run anymore and I want to give up and they encourage me and tell me to keep going." 

We reached the top of the hill and his grandmother said to him, “Be thankful for little things.  Now we’re going downhill." 

The little boy looked up from his feet on the ground and said, “Mom this is a ‘Wow’ isn’t it?  This is a ‘Wow’." 

I wasn’t sure what he was talking about but as I looked forward I saw what he had meant.  When I reached the top of the hill, I saw the crowd of people running in front of me.  It really was a ‘wow’.  A great moment.   I felt like I was part of something pretty amazing.  We were all challenging ourselves.  And although we ran at different abilities and different speeds we were all a part of this elite club.  I was running this race and all I kept thinking about was the end.  Where was the end?  How far have I gone?  Where will I place?  I was running the race but I wasn’t in the race.  I was thinking about the end and not living in the moment.  I almost missed the most important part. And although he didn’t know it, that little twelve-year-old boy inspired a thirty-year-old runner that day. 

As I came down the hill, there was a man standing at the side shouting,  “You’re almost there, it’s just around the corner." 

I turned that corner and saw the finish line.  I hadn’t stopped.  I ran the whole way.  My husband and kids were waiting on the side of the road.  I gave them all a high five and finished the race.  It really felt great.  I wasn’t the fastest but I had accomplished something that two months ago I never could have done. And now, thanks to that little boy, it’s no longer just a challenge or goal for me to run.  It’s an experience and something enjoy.

» left by Susan Thom

3 years 228 days ago.
174 fans.

hi jamie, this was a well written, interesting, and thought provoking article. the power of the mind is a great thing. thanks for sharing, and keep writing! best regards, sue thom

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» left by may from illionios 3 years 106 days ago.

This was a very inspiring story. i am 13 and very elite for my age and are hoping that you keep running because i want to get more people to see the fun of this amazing sport! Good for you and keep running! :)

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