The Texas Tech chapter of Alpha Delta Pi does a 5k (the OSU chapter also did a 5k for years and years and I don't know what happened). The TTU 5k is a "flashlight dash" where you wear glow sticks and run at night. I REALLY like this concept. It's a little difficult to prepare for because I'm nervous all day about what I should eat (too much? not enough? carbs? protein??). Overall, it's unique and I really enjoy it. I ran it last year.
Notice that it's still light outside? Maybe that wasn't the greatest planning.... but it was still fun.
I've had this year's race marked on my calendar for months. Glaring at me. Shanna, you better start training or you're gonna look like a fool!
Shelby is smart. The first time she saw me (which was last week) "Hey Shanna, wanna be my runner this year?" Then I was committed. I wanted to back out because I didn't feel very prepared. Now I have Shelby counting on me... and I already gave her my $20.
It dawned on me the other day that I have only ever done Adeepi 5ks. I really believe in the philanthropy (The Ronald McDonald House) and if I have to put in a few hours of work to help out those poor families then I'm going to do it. I could always just write a check, but there's something about making a physical commitment (paired with a monetary element) that makes me feel like I'm saying "I'm all in."
You might not see it that way, but I'll ask you again how you feel after you complete mile 3.
The race this year had a good turnout. Even Raider Red came out. He doesn't know that I'm doing the "Go Pokes" sign.
Oh, and here's an interesting story. Miyuki is in our program. She is a very nice girl. She lives on the other side of town and she came down to the basement before I was heading out to the race. She was really discouraged because she missed the bus and thought she was going to have to stay the night at the school because she couldn't get home. This perplexed me. Stay at the school? No way! I told her I had a race to run in a few minutes, but after I was done I would be happy to take her home. She said she had heard about the race and it sounded fun but she thought it was in the morning. You could see the little wheels turning in her head thinking "I would like to run in this race!"
I told her that if she wanted to she was more than welcome. I also told her that it would be $25, which I thought was a little steep, especially because I know how much we make around here. I told her about some other really fun races coming up (like a color run) that she may be interested in when she has more time and she's more prepared.
I went out to the starting area, said my hellos, took some pictures and got to the starting line. Mikyuki comes up and tells me good luck. You could tell she still kind of wanted to do the race. I told her that if she wanted to she totally could and she didn't have to pay. I mean, who is going to stop her from running around campus? I'm the advisor and I pretend that I have a lot of authority that I may not have, and I told her that it's totally fine. She seemed like she wanted to wait. The whistle blew so I took off. I was just in my own little head thinking "Wow, I feel great. I think I started my pace too fast so I might not be able to keep this up, but I feel great!" I was passing people. ME PASSING PEOPLE. Then there were groups of people who apparently decided to quit after the first 1/4 mile. Why on earth would you pay $20 to run a race, show up for it, and then just quit? I wanted to satisfaction of beating those 30 people that I know dropped out. Wimps!
So I'm running along and I hear this swishing sound coming up to me quickly. It's Miyuki just booking it.
I think, "Way to go girl!" Then I was mostly just in my own head and feeling great the whole way. I never really got tired and now thinking back I don't know why I didn't just run faster, especially for the last kilometer. I was just running along and throwing up diamonds when I passed the Adeepis. I got to the finish line and realized that it wasn't a 5k. It was a 4.6K. Well, that's cheating. So I just kept running. People were like, "Wrong way!" "Where are you going!" and I yelled back "It's not a real 5k!"
Then Miyuki comes along with a medal around her neck. She's running with me because she wanted to complete a whole 5k too. I asked, "Did you win???" She said "Yes, I won for the women". Get. Out. Of. Town.
The woman decides to run AFTER the whistle blows (I learned later, about 30 seconds after the whistle blew) and she WON FOR THE WOMEN!
So afterwards to celebrate our victory (her win and my completion) we take a picture.
Notice anything?
Look a little closer.
JEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And look at her. Not so much as a glisten of sweat on her face.
GET. OUT. OF. TOWN.
Miyuki is my new hero.
If you have any interest at all in running a 5k, I really encourage you to take the first steps. There's lots of great smart phone aps out there to help you get going. When I first started, and what changed my life as a runner for ever was an event running around Boomer Lake in Stillwater (why on earth would they name a lake in Stillwater "Boomer"??).
I was traveling around the lake (a 5k around) and I would run run run and then walk then run run run then walk. I hated it. It hurt.
Then I saw a couple of people in front of me running together. But they weren't running. They were jogging. Very slowly. I though, heck, I could keep up THAT pace for a long time. The next day I ran half a 5k straight. A few weeks later, I ran the ENTIRE 5k. That was when I realized I could be a runner. It's about knowing yourself and just being a better version of yourself each time.
Find a cause you're passionate about and sign up for something that supports it. Pair a little guilt with the notion that if you don't actually do it, you're letting down more than just yourself (guilt works well on me). Or sign up for something fun like a color run or do-nut run (seems counter productive) OR they even have Zombie runs out there (google it!).
Now I'm looking for the next 5k while I'm still in shape to do it...
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