Thoughts on my First 5K.....

This weekend I will be traveling to New York State to run a 5K with an old friend of mine. The wonders of Facebook and other social networking sites have brought together a lot of people from my past, many of which I didn't believe I would have a chance to see again otherwise. We go back a long time.....

This weekend, I believe it will be her first 5K (or at least her first 5K in a long time). It got me thinking about my own first 5K - Ayer Turkey Trot, November 2007.

The cold air and the dampness of a morning rain made standing at the start up an adventure. No one could tell if I was shivering from the cold or from nerves. As we began the run I had no knowledge of the course nor what was in store for me. Coming upon the sign for Mile 1 was a welcome site, however I was also thinking "ONLY Mile 1?"

As we got closer to the end, they threw in a few hills, which may as well have been "Heartbreak Hill" to those of us who were novices to the run/course. We made it and there were tears and hugs at the finish line.

Finishing that 5K was a feeling that I would not forget for a long time - it was a personal WIN...such a feeling of accomplishment. All of a sudden I was a better mother, a better wife, a better person. And I FINISHED IT!

This is only something you feel once.

Of course, we know that since then I have run dozens of these 5Ks. Honestly, I still get excited at the beginning...but now it's mostly out of curiosity to get at the course or to rock out to the newest tunes I have loaded onto the iPod.

I still feel great when I finish and I am always proud - but that first finish is unlike any other.

This weekend's weather will be nice...a far cry from that cold and wet November morning. The run hopes to be a nice one, as it will take us through Saratoga Spa State Park as well as the Performing Arts Center grounds. As we cross the finish line, I have only one hope for my friend.... for her to have that same feeling at the finish line that I had on that cold and wet morning.....

Rock on Laura! See you there.

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