Hiatus/First 5K

Hey everyone, yes it has been quite sometime since I've last posted. I didn't think anyone was really reading this so I didn't really feel obligated to type anything, I figured my ideas and thoughts were fine in my head and that's where they'd stay. Until a friend from work said

"you're not blogging anymore?"

"huh?" I replied somewhat confused

"your fat running blog, you're not blogging anymore?"

"you're reading it?!?"

"yea!"

"oh...hmm....I guess I'll have to post again, Thanks Brandon!"

He's a good guy and always makes me laugh when I'm having a crummy day at work.

Well, to catch up I have run 2 5K races and will be training for a third. Two jobs, school, moving, and family have all taken up most of my time which is another factor as to why I have been slacking in the blog posting department. Some time has finally been carved out and sitting in front of the keyboard is once again a possibility.

The first 5K was called Jet to Jetty located in Manhattan Beach. What a great view since it was along the coast! Very flat course and a great turnout. At the time I didn't think it was a flat course, but that was until I ran my second 5K which I'll tell you about in the next blog. There were two water stations and I learned that I need to practice drinking while running...actually while walking, I couldn't get the water down!!! Strange experience, not being able to swallow water.

After the race I hugged and kissed my wife, which she later admitted to me that she was so proud of me that she nearly teared up. Her telling me that nearly teared me up. She is the greatest cheerleader I could have ever asked for. The other runners were amazing too. Such considerate, amiable people. Everyone had a smile and no one hesitated to greet one another. When you go running in a race like this you truly are running with your closest friends. These people know what you've been through; the training and sacrifices, the early morning runs and the sweaty returns from lunch breaks.

I met a nice fella named Mark. Around 50 years old. We toed the line together and began chatting it up before the start. He was with his wife and daughter. "I can totally beat this guy" I thought to myself "He's gonna be eating my dust" I thought "He's going DOWN"....I thought.

I thought.

4......3.......2......1.....HOONNNKK

Off we went. Mark and I paced together for a while still talking. He told me to go on if he was holding me back or if I felt strong enough to go faster. psh. Of course I felt stronger to go faster. So I went faster. Then just fast. Then slower. Then slow.

Going out too fast is common. That's what I hear at least. I truly did feel strong to go out that pace and there was no problem.

Mile 1 - 8:17

Alright, that's the fastest I've run a mile....post high school that is. Mark was way behind me. This was awesome, I felt great. I couldn't believe that I was running a 5K! This large mass of skin and bone and organs (and fat of course) was actually doing it! 40 pounds lighter than the first day of 2009.

Mile 2 - 17:30 (or some time close to that)

Oh man, this is starting to hurt a little bit. However I know pain can go away, and it did. Kept on moving. I wonder if Mark is still going?

Mile 2.7

"Hey Dan!"

....wha?...

"oh" I responded to the voice "How's it going Mark?"

Mile 3.1 - 26:42

I placed 127th out of 444 runners. 95th out of 197 male runners and 12th out of 21 runners in my age division. My bib number was 492.

Mark unknowingly taught me the importance and value of pacing yourself. My average pace was about 8:35 and his was 8:33.


Mark's time?



26: 40