I never thought in a million years I would register and complete a 5km run. My husband’s bank organizes an Environment 5km. So I registered in order to support him. Every year my friends would nag me to register to any runs that was happening, but I never did. It is out of my comfort zone I must say. I don’t like running and never thought I’d ever do it. Once I registered for the event, I sent out an email to my staff at school to register if they were interested. Next thing I knew, most of my P.E. department had already registered. They were already training daily. Was I? NOPE! I kept telling everyone I am going to support my husband and that I didn’t care, nor minded being the last. As the day got closer and closer everyone was talking about it and I still couldn’t believe that I had registered.
A dear friend of mine also registered and we said that we would walk it as princesses and that we would not worry even if we were last.
There were about 10 of us from AIS – it was so good to see people there, some that I didn’t even know had registered. We took pictures, stretched and waited to begin. Right at 8am we started. I began my walk with my friend. We jogged, then walked, and stayed like that till the end. After the first lap I was ready to stop, everyone was passing us on their second round while we were still on our first. We laughed and enjoyed it. When the final round came I kept saying, “Let’s go, 1, 2, 3 run!” We ran for 20 seconds and then she stopped, I continued then walked. I was tired, exhausted and ready to collapse. Mid way on my final round I saw my husband who waited for me so that we could finish together. He said that we were going to
run to the finish line. When we hit the corner, we ran but mid way I stopped because I got cramps in my legs and stomach. He continued and then my friend caught up. As we got closer the cheering and clapping gave me that adrenaline rush and I sprinted the last 30 seconds. I wanted to finish and catch my breath! As I ran through the finish line, seeing everyone felt so good. Next thing I knew, my PE staff came running and hugged me!
I was so happy. It turns out that we weren’t the last and we finished the 5km in 53 minutes. I was shocked because in my mind I thought it would take about 1.5 hours. I was so excited when I saw my name and saw that I wasn’t the last to finish.
Would I do it again? I don’t know. Maybe for next year’s run I will train properly and try to beat 53 minutes and beat 204/211. Who knows?! But I loved the experience and loved that we were all there and the support I got from everyone. I didn’t think I’d complete it and never thought I’d do such a run!
Until my next run!
