Capital City River Run 5K 2007

Finish Time: 28:33
Place in Age Group: 15
Place overall: 242

As Joey and I searched for a FREE parking spot, my anxiety was up, the way it always is up before a race. Why? When has the Lord ever let me down? But no. I get amnesia and freak out...not a whole lot but enough. I did fight it as we pulled into our FREE parking spot at LCC parking ramp. I decided to take my bag 'o stuff which consists of my id, water, towel and camera. I took it knowing I might have to run with it.

We walked toward the start line and I prayed. I asked God to warm the air just a little bit more. I knew full well I was going to run in my sleeveless RivRunners shirt even though there was a cold bite in the air. Turning left toward the Lansing Center, T3 came into view. T3 = Todd, Taylor and Terra Thie. We entered the building and one after the other, people came to me: Arlene, Heather, Christine....I smiled. I felt at ease.

The other RivRunners showed up and just as we were lining up for the start, I saw my nemisis, Ruth. I wasn't sure it was her but I had a feeling. Next time, I'm going to chance and say hi. The race started with Taylor and I pacing each other. I almost immediately hit a wall and had to push my way through it. Tough. Taylor was starting to pull away from me but I couldn't let a 14-year-old beat me! Well, at least not her and right then.

We ran past the capital and I thought about what was taking place inside the building. The fate of our state was being decided. We ran back toward the capital and we ran through the capital parking lot. I saw the lights on inside. I saw the parked cars which weren't nearly as nice as I imagined they would be (some of them were REALLY nice). I wondered if they would cut into our paychecks somehow. I wondered if they would cut into teacher's health insurance. I wondered...and I ran.

The race went by fast. It may have been the fastest race I've ever run. Not that I was fast but that the time...it was like I don't remember running the race. I remember the priest on the corner who yelled, alright # 950, you're almost done! I needed all the encouragement I could get. We turned down the Riverfront and I felt relief. I knew I was almost done. The finish line came up quickly and I tried to sprint. I loved the finish. I loved seeing Christine, Arlene, and Megan cheering for us and hearing Playmakers yell my name.

I love running (tee-hee).