All Dressed Up and Nowhere (Dry) to Go

After weeks of anticipation, five training sessions, and several 5K-related purchases, I was all set for my first 5K. Until the weather turned bad.

About a week before the race, the extended forecasts began to look grim. Sure enough, on the morning of April 25th, we had heavy rain, thunderstorms, and the possibility of hail and tornadoes in the Atlanta area. I was prepared for heavy rain thanks to my purchase of a new poncho (the cheap kind that was recommended to me by a seasoned runner). I had the right gear thanks to the “What to Wear” feature at Runner’s World. I had great new flesh-toned Juzo compression hose which allowed me to wear knee-length workout pants without looking too goofy. (The cute, affordable compression socks do not have enough compression, so I’m stuck with the $65 Juzos.) I also had a cute Nathan 5K Runner’s Waist Pack (much to my daughter’s horror) which was big enough to hold my phone, ID, lip balm, and unopened poncho but small enough to stay flush against my body and not get in my way. I even got a visor to help keep the rain out of my eyes.

I picked up my packet the day before and packed my bag that night with my post-race shake items (I can’t stand the taste of the Progenex, but I paid too much for it to give it away or let it go to waste.) and Larabars (which I could live off of). I was one ready chick. I was ready to trek through the rain, but I was not ready for thunderstorms or mud. So I decided that since the 5K was a fundraiser and that my funds had already been contributed when I signed up for it, there was no harm in staying warm, dry, and safe in my happy little home.

Of course, it stormed the whole time I would have been driving the 14-mile drive, then stopped around the time the race would have started. By the time I would have finished (45 minutes later), the sun was peeking through the clouds and the birds were chirping.

Instead, I went to the gym and worked on my Oly lifts. I’m proud to say that I no longer have to use the training bar for my snatches!!!!! I even PR’d on my 5-rep back squats (115 lbs).

The next day was packed full of activities, but it was such a beautiful day- sunny and breezy- that I was determined to do a 5K. I signed up for a virtual 5K through Fit, Fab, and Lean and hit the trail that evening. I am proud to say that I completed my first 5K and will be receiving a medal in the mail.

That leads me to my next choice: do I go for speed and try to work my way to running a 5K, or do I go for distance and work my way to walking a 10K? For now, I’ve decided on walking a 10K because that seems to be a much more doable tasks. I love the idea of running, but my body does not. Maybe one day. For now, I walk.