WOW! What a feeling this is to finally have this crossed off my list!
I was super nervous and had no idea at all what to expect. I was overwhelmed with the amount of people there to run in the PEI Marathon. I totally felt like I did not belong! But after a few deep breaths I noticed that I was not the only one who was running their very first 5 km. I may have been the only one there who was running for the very first time ALONE!
I showed up nervous.....you know, the kind of nervousness that you feel like you could puke. I didn't know a sole, nor did I know how to put my chip on my sneaker properly or pin my bib on properly. I had my awesome Naturally Fit t-shirt on and my awesome purple and black tights.....which turns out didn't match very well at all!!
So I get there in my mis-matched outfit, beyond nervous.....don't know a sole there.....no one there to cheer me on.....(I thought it was a pretty big deal....but maybe I was wrong) Anyway, I did spot a familiar face. One of the teachers from the daycare my daughters go was there, and she was running in her very first 5 km race too. Phew, at least it was someone to start with and it really helped me not to run away!
We make our way to the starting position.....The only thing I could think of was, I hope I don't have to pee....I have my gum...and Oh my God, what in the hell was I thinking!! I get outside and see just one giant sea of people.....so again panic set in and it was really hard to convince myself not to run and hide.
We strategically planned to start in the middle.....blend in? Nope I figured if I started in the front I would get run over by all the "racers" and if I was at the end, I would get lost if I fell behind.....so the middle is where I stood.....Nervous and excited all at once......and the horn blew and people took off running......again I panicked....I thought I was going to throw up and I felt like my feet were glued to the pavement...... I totally forgot how to run, let alone move my legs! haha
That quickly passed and I was off trotting along.....again thinking what the hell am I doing, there is no way I can do this.........I quickly changed my state of mind and thought of all the runners in my running group that I am now leading. How are they supposed to listen to my advice and encouragement if I can't even do this 5 km race. What kind of leader would that be. That is when I told myself I have to do it. I need to do this! I have my running group as my motivation. I set out with a goal to run from start to finish, and with the exception of an untied shoe lace, that is exactly what I did! I ran the whole race!
I was so focused on not falling as I was approaching the finish line that I didn't even hear them calling my name! There was people everywhere cheering me on, people who didn't even know me. Wistling, hooting and yelling out Great Job!! Way to go! That was the extra push I needed to pick up the pace and sail across that wonderful finish line. I finished my very first 5 km race in 31 minutes and 28 seconds! WOW
Waiting at the end of the finish line was a very good friend, co-worker and motivator. She gave be a big tearful hug and simply said, You Did It! and she was right I did it. I freakin' just ran my first 5 km race! Holding back tears I gave her the biggest hug. She knew how big of a deal this was, she seen the struggles and was right by my side pushing through just as hard as I was with the training leading up to this race. She wasn't able to run in this race with me, but I will be running by her side next year as she completes her 5km goal in the PEI Marathon.
I also had the opportunity to stand at the finish line and watch as others crossed that milestone of their own. What a feeling that was! There were sisters crossing the line hand in hand, husband and wife crossing the line hand in hand, the tears, the triumph, and the sense of accomplishment were more that words could ever describe. I soon found tears coming to my eyes as I seen the emotions as they crossed the finish. I was there standing all alone, smiling, tearing up with happiness and joy just watching everyone else cross that line.
Next year, even if you will not be participating in the PEI Marathon events, I strongly recommend you take the opportunity to cheer on some of the runners and take in the awesome feeling of being a part of their big deal! You never know, they may be running alone too, and your cheers will mean as much to them as they did to me.
