Poppies and Pinwheels: Run, Run, Running

I have never ever been a runner, at least distance wise. I played basketball in school and got used to sprinting and stopping, but was never keen on the idea of distance running. Angie and I started using the couch to 5K program in March. My participation was sporadic until August when Angie and I joined a running group. We have been training for the 5K Pit Run that took place today. It is a race to honor a fallen trooper and since I've lived here for almost 14 years I've always wanted to do it. It is a certified 10K race and they added the 5K about 6 years ago. It is also special to me because my husband is a state trooper and I am all too aware of the sacrifice displayed by these men and women daily.

So...up until today I have ran the route without stopping to walk only a couple of times. Typically my time is around 36 minutes or less. I was so psyched for today because I thought the adrenaline would push me through. Well, it did the opposite for me. I was so excited initially and then a little into it, I went to catch my breath and had a hard time. I think that I was so worried about disappointing people who came to cheer me on, especially my husband who had to work during the race but I knew I would pass by, that my chest tightened. Not to mention that my iPod kept playing the same song over and over. I did end up walking a few times to catch my breath. Thankfully, my friend Lori was with me through the whole thing. Towards the end of the race there was a woman slumped over on the track and a man trying to help her off. Lori and I stopped to assist him in getting her moved and then realized she was completely disoriented and incoherent. People ran for a medic but it seemed like forever before anyone came. The woman looked to be having a seizure so we tipped her to her side and I tried to cool her down with water. Lori's husband took over so we could finish our run and we ran across the line at 41 minutes. We have decided to shave about 4 minutes off due to our detour :) I know the woman was taken to the hospital and I just hope she is okay. Hopefully, I will continue to train and feel much better about my performance next year. Here are a couple collages I made of the women in my running group today. My husband got a picture of all but one as they passed by him. We had shirts made that said "Power of the Pack" and listed the reasons we ran on the back. I dedicated my run to my mother-in-law Prudie who passed suddenly in March.