Update: The 5K!

I got so worked up I forgot to talk about the 5K I ran last weekend! Actually the real reason I forgot is because I became so immediately sick afterward that I was immobilized for. . . oh, the entire week, and still have yet to entirely recover.
     But that's beside the point! 5K's are hardly serious races. . . not for "real" runners anyway, I suppose, but it was nonetheless the first and only race of my life so far. Due to a scheduling mishap, I happened to be out dancing at a rave the night before until 3 am. Stupidly.
     Anyway, so I dragged my aching butt out of bed (this seems to be how most of my stories start, doesn't it?) and got myself to the starting line, where my friends and I helped pin on each other's numbers and nervously stretch. I was so tired that I laid down on the grass and zoned out until about ten minutes before the race. I still hold to it that I would've gotten a better time if I hadn't been exhausted/getting sick. But, excuses, excuses. . .
     We were off by 11:00 sharpish, and I took off at a good steady pace. I ran the rest to the best of my (at the time) ability. When I neared the finish line, I tried to pour on extra speed and it sort of worked, but my reserves were sapped and there wasn't much left to draw on, I quickly figured out. Nonetheless, I dashed across the finish line. . .

This is actually a simulated reconstruction of the event afterward.Just for the sake of bein' real!

. . . with 27:23 as my time. That averages to about 8.5 minutes per mile. Considering my condition that's not terrible, so I was pretty happy with it. I was 40th out of 102 runners. It was my first race okay?
    But I know what to work on for the next one--my pacing, and my prep leading up to the event. Hint: don't take a nap on the grass immediately prior.

Afterward I was just happy with myself for finishing out well and having a good time with my friends. And doing a 5K for a good cause, which was to send medical supplies to foreign countries. (By the way, I don't prefer to post photos of just myself, but I do not have permission from said friends to spread their images about on the internet. Ya know, cuz this blog is so famous and all).
     Anyway, they had some delicious bagels and bananas for us at the end. So altogether it was a great experience. . . and I promptly staggered home afterward and became horrendously ill for the next week. My lungs are still suffering (seriously, pneumonia??) and it was altogether pretty dumb of me, but . . everybody's gotta be dumb once or twice.
      :)