5K Run

October 1, 2006 was the day after my 55th birthday. I spent it running what was supposed to be a 5K cross country run. I participated in my first run three years ago. I enjoy them, especially this one which takes you through a state park.

Things did not go smoothly, this time. The lead runner ploughed through a stop sign and didn't make the initial turn. The rest of us, like lemmings, followed him. This added distance to the race. It got worse. Some of the teenagers who were posted along the field misdirected a few of us, as well. Did I mention it was raining buckets?

The 5K (3.1 miles) officially was called a 4.1 mile run, but those of us who put on the extra distance figured it was closer to 5 miles. I did it all in 48 minutes, so for an old lady who just started competing three years ago, I thought I had done well.

Despite everything, it was a lot of fun. It was the first race for a young woman in her late 20's or early 30's. She had never gone beyond 2 1/2 miles before. She fell in with me. Another lady, who was a few years younger than me, was just ahead of us on the course. We caught up with her after I had to make up some time when a kid sent me right instead of straight. The three of us foraged ahead.

The organizers knew something went wrong at the outset. Eventually, they sent out golf carts to check on people. We did give them an earful! One lady, who was older than me, hitched a ride back to the finish line. The three of us told them that we were going to finish, no matter what!

At that point, we were still about a mile away. We plodded on! I had the fastest pace of the three of us, when we saw the finish line from the distance, I slowed down and said, "Give me a minute to catch my breath." Then I said, "Okay ladies, let's finish this." We did!

The organizers joked about it turning into a 6K (I told them it was more like a 7!) The lady who hitched a ride won first in her age group (since no one else ran against her!)

I didn't place first in my age group, but I did win a cherry pie as a door prize. They gave us a neat backpack and two t-shirts as goody bag items. I had a lot of fun, met some really nice people and crossed the finish line! Life is so short; moments like this, however fleeting, make it worthwhile.