My Very First 5K.
Victory, sweet victory, is what I thought when I crossed the finish line of my very first 5K just the other day. With my dad running at my side, and my mom and Grandma Melinda cheering me on from the sidelines, life just couldn’t get any better. Not only was completing the race doable, it was EASY.
Way back in the day, when I was much younger, my parents decided to sponsor a 5K put on by my high school. My dad proudly ran in it, but on race day, I was nowhere to be found. Just running a mile on a treadmill at the Y was challenging enough for me. When my freshman English teacher took one look at my legs and said, “You must be a runner!” I laughed at her and said no.
However, as I have recently discovered, no challenge is insurmountable, and nothing is impossible. These last few weeks have been very beneficial for me, and have turned me from a spectator into a true runner. Training for the 5K on the 6th of April was one of the most rewarding things that I have ever done in my life.
My dad’s philosophy with running is to over-prepare and overcompensate, so that on the big day of the race, everything goes without a hitch. I found this strategy to very lucrative. For a couple weeks before the 5K on April 6th, we were regularly running 3.5 miles at a time. A 5K is roughly 3.1 miles, just to let you know.
I looked forward to the 6th Annual Stronger Families Safer Kids 5K from the moment my dad and I registered, and when race day finally arrived, I was giddy with anticipation. The chilly morning weather in Oxnard Shores did nothing to quell my bourgeoning need for cardiovascular exercise. As soon as we were off, I reminded myself to not expend all of my energy right away, and to save some resources so that my dad and I could finish the race strong.
I very much enjoyed the route, and of course appreciated the volunteers who pointed us where to go. Something about the “officialness” of the event really caused me to bring my A Game. Think of studying for a test, versus actually taking said test. There were something about the circumstances of the race that really lit a fire under my feet, and the resulting experience was one that I will never forget, even though my dad and I are, even now, regularly running 4.5+ miles at a time without a sweat.
Right as the finish line came into view, I poured on the steam and took the final few seconds at a sprint. The startled onlookers let out a cheer of surprise, and I could just feel them thinking, Look at that guy go!
To conclude, I wish to reflect back on that day when my high school English teacher asked me if I was a runner and I said “No.” That statement was both a mistake and a lie. The proper answer is: “Yes! Of course I am!”
Me & my dad finishing my first 5K.