My first 5k

By Ashley - November 04, 2012

Hello my fellow readers and bloggers!! I know you are all excited to find out how my first 5k was. Well, it was an experience and I can’t wait to do another one. I actually had quite a crazy time last night. First off my running partner (who’s name is also Ashley but we’ll call her B so no one gets confused) and I were supposed to meet up at Lenox Square Mall. That got taken out because 400 south was backed up due to a fatality so I called her and said just meet at the location so as not to get there too late. I’m one of those people that are early, or I try to be, all the time. Its just been ingrained in me from years of band practice and ball practice, “To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, to be late is to be left.” I don’t like being left behind, I like to know what’s going on especially when its my first time doing something. My husband met us there because he had to work but his truck decided to stop shifting into 1st and 5th gears after he got on the road so that was a little stressful. We are taking it today to be looked at so we may have to buy a new car depending on what exactly is wrong. However, everyone got there safely and we went to check in.

This race was the inaugural race and it was called “Night of the Running Zombies” and you could run as a human or a zombie. People pushing strollers or walking the entire time started after Zombies. So the race was Humans, Zombies, then stroller pushers/walkers. It was at night and the course wasn’t well lit and I rolled my ankle. Oh yeah that’s right. I fell down in the middle of a group that was passing me. I moved over so that they could pass because that’s the courtesy but I stepped into a drain that was not lit up and just kind of rolled on the ground. Usually, me being as clumsy as I am, I skid to a stop but no it was a literal roll. I think it was because we were going down hill at the time so that inertia helped soften the blow. I got up and walked it off and once I felt comfortable enough I started jogging again. I did tell some dudes with flashlights about it when I saw them. That could have been a very bad thing, I’m glad I didn’t do anything worse to it.

So, once I got on my third lap I was proud of myself and the closer I got to the finish line the better I was feeling about myself until the cop asked me if I was the last person and I said I don’t think so because I honestly didn’t think I was. So I kept running and then I started seeing people going back to their cars and it hit me I’m the very last person to finish. I felt like shit and it took all I had not to cry. I passed the finish line and the people were clapping for me and I know it was encouragement claps but I saw it as pity claps. I felt horrible. B came to run with me across the finish line and I always thought that was a nice gesture for people to do for the last person but its not. It makes them feel slow and fat and lazy along with the pity claps. I know its all in my head but trying to get into shape and still not quite there, it really did bring me down along with the fact that my ankle was twingy. I broke down after I crossed. I mean tears were streaming. I wanted to curl up and die. Ron tried to hug me and I just pushed him away and walked to the car. I felt so low and its only because I let the cop’s question get to me. I know its because of the competitiveness in me. I don’t like to be last. I don’t mind not being first but I don’t like being last. And I was.

After I calmed down and stretched Ron told me that some people didn’t even finish and I started to feel better about myself. The course was a loop and we were supposed to pass the water station 3 times but after the second time I noticed that there was a significantly less amount of people on the course. I know I’m not fast but there were people who started after me and never passed me and I was the last to cross the finish line. There was a couple of girls who paced themselves on me because I passed them in the beginning and then they would run past me and stop right before me. And then I’d jog for awhile and end up passing them and then they’d do the same but when we came up to the turn to the finish line or keep going around for one more they went to the finish line so I know for a fact they weren’t done. It made me feel like I misheard the organizer when she was explaining all the details but no I was right the other people were the ones who didn’t hear her correctly. Ron said a lot of people got confused and went the wrong way or didn’t finish all three laps. It wasn’t very organized on the course and got a little confusing. So needless to say if I run it again next year it needs to be better organized but it was their first time. I just hope they learn from it because it was a fun race with all the zombies running after you. Some people were even walking down the path opposite of the runners like the walking dead, it was hilarious. They were great zombies! I would die in a zombie apocalypse, I have to step up my game!

Oh yeah I ran the 5k in a little over 55 minutes. It was a very hilly course too. Again, I can’t wait for my next one! Now I have something to race against in my next 5k.

Here are some pictures of me and B at the race.

This is "Zombie Central" were everyone was getting zombified