First 5K

This spring I decided to give a program a try called "Couch to 5K." The name of the program "Couch to 5K" pretty much summed up what I needed to change about my activity level and what I wanted to accomplish. I needed to get my butt off the couch and I wanted to run in my very first 5K ever. So I laced up my Nikes and hit the road. I stuck really closely to the training program and on the eighth week we ran in a 5K.


I was very nervous before the race started, I kept thinking "Whose stupid idea was this" and "Why am I doing this" so as the start signal went off for the race to begin I decided to slow my normal running pace down and just plug through these three miles. As we got through the first mile my mom was pulling away from me, and I just stuck to my nice slow pace but my wonderful mother would slow down, wait for me and then keep going.


As we neared the three mile mark I could see the finish line and the GIANT clock tick tick ticking I get a burst of energy and start to sprint. I catch up to my mom and yell "MOM, WE GOTTA GO" and continue to sprint by her. Now I have to say that my mom could make grocery shopping a competitive sport. She LOVES to win. I on the other hand am not competitive, at least not with other people. I like to set goals for myself and I like to conquer them but I don't get a competitive bug with other people. My mom loves to win but she was out of steam to keep up with me and I ended up crossing the finish line 14 seconds before she did. As she finished I walked over to her feeling so proud with what she just accomplished and she looked at me and said "What the HELL was that?" I was totally caught off guard and was like "HUH?" She replied "I waited for you like the whole race and then you blow past me with the chariots of fire going at full speed!" At this point I start laughing because I realize how upset she is because in her mind I BEAT her, when I knew full well she could have finished ahead of me if she didn't wait around for me. It did take a LONG ten minutes before she was able to laugh about her reaction, however 6 weeks after the race I still hear her grumbling about how I left her in the dust at mile three when all she really wanted was to cross the finish line holding my hand.


Whether we are holding hands at the finish line or I am fourteen seconds ahead of her there is no one I would have rather had by my side to cross this item off my bucket list. Thanks for waiting for me Mom, this is me publicly admitting you are a faster runner than I am! ha ha....I love you!!!