All the hard work definitely paid off!  Although [my vacation] in London was a lot of fun, I was worried that although I walked an incredible amount, I never did run.  And last week I only had the chance to run one time (6.2 miles!) and not outside like I knew I should. 

But the real push was all the “hype” here at the YMCA and with my family and friends.  We talked about the race continually, from what time to leave, carpooling, reviewing all the information in the race packets, etc.   On Friday I actually was a little nervous: anticipating all the things I was unsure about (if I get injured and if I get too wet). This was also the time I was informed of the “race route” which I could not believe was not more that 6.2 miles!

But by the time we sat down for our big spaghetti dinner with my family (and fellow runners) we laughed all the “what if’s” away and actually went to bed by 8:30 p.m. (a real first for me…I guess it was the exhaustion from all excitement!)

Went we pulled over the bridge into Richmond it seemed like to town was ‘abuzz’; racers everywhere, tons of family members—really this alone got me really feeling great: to participate in such a wonderful event!  I could not believe all the volunteers! Everyone seemed to know their part to make the event run so smoothly. I was in total “awe” of the magnitude of the event!

As I filled in behind the “P Wave” everyone was smiling, joking and encouraging others. 

The “love from the crowd” was incredible! As we started, the cheering from strangers, the babies were waving, people holding hands as they ran/walked: just a feeling I will never forget.

I quickly started running with a couple. They seemed to be at my pace, and they navigated around the crowd well. However, at about two miles they stopped to use the bathrooms, so I began the next two miles independently. 

At about the 4-mile mark, when I was talking myself into maybe walking some, I saw a young man about the age of my son running ahead of me (Patrick was in the “G wave”) who looked to be struggling. So I decided to pace with him, thinking that if he began to slow down I would be his “cheerleader.”

He became my focus for the next two miles, until he began to sprint, leaving me in his dust! 

That last mile was the best. The people yelling “You did it” or “your almost there” inspired me to run even faster. And right before I finished, my family screamed out my name just in time for me to make my usual funny face for a picture!

Sunday, at a large Gates family gathering, I was asked a few times, “did you run the whole thing?” and “Do you hurt today?” I was pleased that I could say to their astonishment and mine: “I ran the WHOLE thing and felt great.”

Then, it occurred to me that this was a pretty big thing to compete with such a great group of athletes: little non-athlete that I am.  And amazingly, we are talking about running more events this year! (My wonderful husband, David, even suggested maybe next weekend….)

This was a life enhancing experience! I’m hooked!

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10K chronicles - part 1
10K chronicles - part 2
10K chronicles - part 3
10K chronicles - part 4
10K chronicles - part 5
Race Results (Powhatan)