Flashback Friday – My First 5K

This weekend is the Freihofer’s Run for Women. This make always makes me feel nostalgic–it was my first race back in 2009.

Since it was exactly four years ago this weekend when I ran it, and it was before I had this blog, I figured I’d write about it!

I ran it again in 2010!

I can’t remember what exactly prompted me to sign up for a 5K. I think a few co-workers told me I should. They knew I had started running and that I should run a race. My goal was to run the 5K without stopping. I had never run 3.1 miles before–I think I had just trained up to a few miles (I can’t really remember!) All I remember is that I didn’t use a training plan. I had been jogging a few times a week, I had no running watch to keep track of my pace or distance, I just wanted to finish. But I was really excited (and nervous) to run my first race.

My younger cousin was running it too, and we wanted to stay together for most of the race. I remember thinking how good it feel to be out running with so many other strong women! We ran up the hill, through the park and down Western Avenue, and back through the park; the course I ran for the first time, the course I now know like the back of my hand. We ran through the park for the last mile of the race, and soon I was running as fast as I could down the Madison Avenue hill to the finish line!