Run Like a Mother

I felt like a little kid lost at an amusement park looking for my Mommy. Technically I was at an amusement part and there were a lot of kids and it was on Mothers Day, so I guess that was about right. The feelings are probably close to right on as well because I couldn't find the start line and I was missing my Mom because it was an all women Mothers Day 5K.

I also got to the 5K WAY too early, probably due to my nerves, and found myself sitting on the creaky bench of a half rotted picnic table. This 5K turned into a family event with Dad's toting around their little tikes and cheering on their wives as they stretched and chatted at the start line. Grandma and Grandpas lined the cement of the small family friendly amusement park staking out the best spots to view the finish line. I just sat. No cell phone on me and my car key in my sports bra (hopefully it didn't jiggle itself out) waiting for the race to start. A girl looking to be about my age, but with long blond hair, and skinnier then I sat kind of diagonal from me on the opposing picnic table. I figured this was her gajillionth race because she had a Nike running hat on and earphones (that's know you know their hardcore). I decided to say hi because she was sitting alone and I figured that was one thing we had in common. Come to find out this was her first 5K. Automatically feeling like the "veteran" having run only one more 5K then her, I shared what my first 5K experience was like (see blog "5K NO WAY"). In turn she shared her own story. In the last 2 years she had lost 70 pounds! Instantly being knocked off my high horse I asked her to share some tips and explained my own weight loss journey and troubles.

We talked till a few minutes before the race and I asked her if she wanted to run together. I felt like I was asking someone to prom which was weird because I never attended prom. She said yes and waved to her Grandma who was their to support and also offered to hold my lone car key so the "twins" wouldn't fight over it and lose it during the race. I realized once I handed over my key to my (newly) loan paid off car that I had no idea who this Granny was, and maybe this was the ploy of my new friend and her and her Granny had targeted me from the time I pulled in the parking lot. I just shrugged my shoulders and said to myself "oh well, I can run faster then her anyway."

The race started and my new friend and I were off. Out of the amusement park and into the neighborhood of Sellwood, which is just south of Portland, OR. I brought my purple Wal-Mart watch that doesn't time me after 30 minutes of running just to keep some variables the same from my last successful race (I'm not superstitious...well kinda). I was trying to stick to the same strategy as before and was going to walk at 10 minutes. When the time came my friend turned to me and say "no let's keep going." At first I thought "wow Miss I just met you bossy pants!" Then I was like " no, Jill you can run stop crying and GO!" I'm glad I did because before I knew we were at the 1.5 mile mark. A new goal for me, I ran a whole 1.5 mile without stopping YIPPIE! Then I needed to walk. I was getting very winded and tired from my insides cheering and leaping for joy (or was that the Goldfish crackers I had for breakfast?) Anyway, I finished strong in 33 minutes and 33 seconds, (Larry Birds number twice...I'm just saying thought that was pretty fitting and lucky) and wearing race number 242 (24 is my favorite number and my current age. Coincidence? I think not) My friend ran the whole thing the whole time and if i remember right finished in about 31 and something minutes?

Either way it was a great race with an amazing supportive atmosphere. After the race every woman received a carnation in honor of Mothers Day and everyone was walking around saying Happy Mothers Day. Oh yeah, even better then that IT DIDN'T RAIN! Always a success in Oregon.
Can't wait for my next!