My first full 5k! Run Balmoral :-)

[orcadia]

I'm absolutely thrilled to have done the 5k Run Balmoral race yesterday. I graduated in February then caught a really nasty cold, then cough, then hurt my foot - I thought I'd never be able to do this. But I managed my three 30 min runs last week (one during the school day when my class went to a specialist as it was the only way I could fit the run in!) and yesterday I ran my first full 5k! I did a Parkrun a few weeks ago but walked the first 5 minutes as warm-up and then ran.

Yesterday (in the rain) I walked a brisk 20 mins from the carpark, then a wee wander around, then 10 mins brisk walking then I joined in with the official warm-up exercises. I had planned to run what I could and walk when I needed to. At the start someone advised me there was a hill between 1k and 2k and to walk it, which I duly did. Then I did 2 short walks of about 20 seconds between 3k and 4k as I felt I was tightening up a bit. Then I was getting really tired at 4k so did three walks of 40 steps each to keep me going. The longest I've run for before is 32 minutes - so this was more of a challenge but I absolutely loved the run. I was worried about having folk watching but all the stewards and spectators were so encouraging and most of all having lots of children all reaching out their hands to high five you as you passed was actually really motivating and gave me a boost every time it happened.

I was really tiring at the end but seeing the 200m to go sign ahead kept me running - and I amazed myself by speeding up and starting to overtake someone. Then a group of children had their hands out and were getting demoralised when the runners were passing them without high fiving them, so I detoured over to them and got a massive cheer from them - which boosted me to overtake someone and speed over the line! What a feeling of achievement I had - and even more so today on seeing my official time. I had set myself a target of 45 mins when I entered the race 7 weeks ago, but I completed the 5k in a fraction under 35 minutes, totally amazing myself.

What a great experience it was.

[Debston Graduate]

That's brilliant, well done you!

[SaskAlliecat Graduate]

Yes!!! That is AWESOME! 10 minutes faster than your target time with a detour to get and give some kiddo high fives - you ROCK! Way to support the kids, too 💕

[orcadia Graduate]

I should have added - this was my first run without the app to help me pace myself. The race rules said no headphones so I didn't take mine - but there were loads of people wearing headphones in the race on the day!