During this time I discovered that I also loved to ride my bike. So I would alternate running and then biking each day. I found that it was easier to go biking, especially after the kids returned to school. I would pull Aleeya behind me in the cart, and she loved it. Each day she would ask to go on as bike ride. I tried running with her in the cart or in a stroller but I just couldn't go very far, and I hated it. So this past few weeks I haven't ran very much. But I was determined to try and beat my previous time when I did the 5K.
I headed to Shelley at 5:45 am. I was supposed to meet Anna at 6:30 at the elementary school. I had printed of directions to the school to follow, since I don't know my way around Shelley at all. It turned out that my directions were not very helpful or I'm just no good at following them. I got lost a couple of times and wondered if in would make it before the run started. Finally I found it and got checked in.
 |
| Anna and I at the start with all the other runner behind us. |
Andrea from work came over to the school to see us off at the start of the race. Anna kept telling me that I would be leaving her behind, but I figured she could stay with me for the first little while but turns out she was right, I left her right after the race started. So one again I had to run by myself. It felt great to run and I was even passing people most of the way. I wanted to stop a few times and walk but I wouldn't let myself. Finally when we were about 3/4 of a mile from the end some lady came running up to me and said " were just about there". I ran with her for as little bit, then she would walk, I would catch up and then she would run again. Finally when I figured we had to be getting close she starting to walk and as I ran up to her I told her " no, we can do this" and so she kept running. She was able to finish just before me a couple of runners. But as I came across the finish line she came up to me and thanked me and gave me a quick hug. It was nice to help someone finish strong. I remembered at the Pioneer day run just when I wanted to quit I ran by someone that told me " you go girl", it meant a lot to me and helped me finish. It was nice to return the favor.
I had set as goal to finish this run faster than my previous time of 36:47. I was hoping for 35 minutes, but I want that fast. But I did do it faster than before in 35:33. And I was the 90th person to cross the finish line. I'm not sure if all those were running the 5K or one of the other races, but I was very proud of myself for doing better.
 |
| Anna and I at the finish line. |
Anna also met her goal of finishing in under an hour. I encouraged her to do it in 45 minutes and she almost did she finished with a time of 48:03. Not bad for someone that has struggled with the altitude her whole training time. I was glad she ran with me, it was a lot of fun. We will have to do it again.
