Day 245

My number for my first 5km Fun Run.  I was inordinately glad that it had a 5 in it.  (For these silly reasons: I'm 55 and I breathe to a count of 5, two in-breaths, three out-breaths, when I'm running.)

I joined everyone stretching and focusing and felt very calm, although I had been nervous all day.  The temperature had cooled a little, to about 90F (32C) but it was still very hot and humid.

After the first loop I was absolutely depleted after a very long uphill climb.  That's where I saw Tim, who had just arrived and thought I was near the end of the course, not knowing about the second loop!  As I ran by I said to him that I didn't know if I could do it, and he shouted after me, "Well, just do what you have to do, Anne!" which made me think, because usually he is very encouraging, and I had expected him to say, "You can do it!" but he put the ball completely in my court, as they say, and I decided to run with that ball, after all.

A short while after the terrible hill, when I felt as though I was on fire, there was a water table with a little girl I know, urging me on, and taking great delight in throwing the water over me when I asked her!  Further down the hill her equally encouraging sister stood at a second water station and she and her friend splashed 4 cups of  deliciously ice-cold water on me which was wonderful!

Once I had turned the u-turn I had about a mile to go, and for the rest of the race I had a police escort, because of course I was the last one.   So one old lady sitting on a bench next to the sea said, as I went by, "Well, you've got a whole bunch of men following you, you're the luckiest runner of all!"

And a little further on, I passed, for the second time, an old couple on their balcony, and as they saw me coming they got slowly to their feet and gave me a standing ovation!

There was a young girl ahead of me, and she kept slowing to a walk, then she would look around time and again, and just as I was about to catch up to her she would sprint off!  I really wanted to beat her, but she had young legs.

The last part is up a long hill, and then you turn into the shorter street, which is a straight run.  Once I had turned, my knees suddenly felt all wobbly, and I thought that I might just  be about to topple over, that I wouldn't make it.   There were people lined up on the side of the road, cheering me on, and a whole enthusiastic crowd at the finish line, and the announcer was telling everyone that the last runner was approaching...

The voice in my head said, "Pull yourself together!" and "Anna Bouwer", according to the announcer, finished the race.   

So, I finished the 5km Fun Run, stone last as I had imagined it would be, but I ran all the way and was just one minute more than my best time.  I am very proud of my 55-year old "permanently damaged" lungs, and the rest of me didn't do too badly either!