So, food poisoning. That was one hell of an unexpected curve ball of the weekend. The weekend -- in case you didn't know -- when I had planned to run my first 5K. The 5K I had been training for since early January.
Mike lovingly brought Kyle to have lunch with me on Friday and since we're 1) off meat for March and 2) trying to save every last penny we can, we decided to split some spinach and mushroom enchiladas.
Listen closely: eating vegetables will bring you nothing but actual pain.
We both woke up Saturday morning, hunched over in pain and, well, hunched over the toilet, too, if I'm being straight with you. I was supposed to leave for Austin (where the 5K was happening) hours later and I didn't know how I was supposed to do that. Or how I was supposed to leave Mike (still hunched over himself) to care for Kyle.
I decided to go anyway. Even if I had to crawl across the finish line, I wanted to finish. It wasn't how I wanted this weekend to go down, no, but I wouldn't let that stop me from strapping on my shoes and finishing, somehow.
And, people, I was convinced "somehow" would include lots and lots of walking and lots of lots of kicking myself for those damn enchiladas.
I felt better by the time I got to Austin, but I didn't feel great. Not even close. But, still, finishing. That was my goal.
I woke up at an ungodly hour this morning, an hour I don't want to ever see again, quite honestly. My stomach was killing me, but I couldn't tell if it was lingering enchilada issues or nerves. At that ungodly hour with that knotted-up stomach, I could have easily been talked out of running. You could have suggested just about any alternate activity, and I would have jumped at it. Doing the dishes? Sure! Laundry? Bring it! Tax paying? Sounds fun! But, I was running with some friends in a relay, and not one suggested doing anything but getting in the car and going to do what I had been training to do for months. Damn them, I kept thinking.
When we got to the race, we had some down time, so we stretched and shivered. Funny, it's colder before the sun rises. Who knew! Also: runners are an annoyingly perky bunch. There was far too much chattering at 6:30 am for my taste.
I was the first in the relay (each relay runner did the same 5K course), and until the gun went off I wasn't sure how it was going to unfold. I was talking nicely to myself: do what you can, it's OK if you walk, just finish just finish just finish.
And I repeated your running advice to myself over and over. I started off sloooooowly. I started off so slowly, speed walkers were zooming right by. But I didn't get discouraged. I didn't get frustrated. I just kept going.
I ran the entire damn time.
I know! I was shocked too!
The first mile was a breeze in that I didn't want to die. Success! The second mile was tougher in that dying wasn't an unreasonable thought. Also, I couldn't shake these two seven-year-old kids. Children! Giving me a run for my money. So, mile two wasn't my favorite. The third mile got a lot better because I was close! People were starting to cheer! I hadn't puked once! The seven-year-olds were in my dust!
I sprinted to the finish and felt as fantastic as I can remember feeling apart from giving birth. And this time there were no stitches in my crotch! And there were also bagels at the race. That's one thing Kyle's birth was missing: carbs.
I have to thank Julie personally for suggesting Melissa Etheridge's "I Run for Life" as the perfect finish line song because it was just that. Also, to Lizzie, for suggesting I repeat some motivating words to myself throughout. Other than all the great advice and all the training and the incredible atmosphere, this is what I credit with helping me check off this huge goal. For the entire three miles I repeated the same thing, over and over and over.
I said this:
I am a runner.
**
Thank you so much for all your support and encouragement and faith the last few months. You were a huge part of this, you have no idea, and I wish I could have gathered you all there at the finish line to celebrate together.
I'm already planning my next one for May.
Also, I got to have lunch with Natalie after the race, and it was one of those amazing couple hours that restored my faith in the Internet. She is adorable and funny and refreshing and she was a perfect person to toast my success with.