We got up early and, with a small breakfast in the car, made our way downtown ahead of the 8am start time. Once there, we pinned our numbers on chests and went for a walk to stretch out legs and figure out where the actual starting line was.
As people gathered we ran into others we knew and talked some while the starting time ticked closer and closer. Miri got a little sunscreen in her right eye and it started tearing up. She was getting sad over it as the sting was getting worse and while I was finishing helping her out the race started!
Miri's reaction was immediate... Off she went! For the first 3 blocks or so all I heard from her was constant giggling and laughter. She was LOVING it! Her race was finally here!
I would say she ran the first 1/8th of the whole race without stopping! From our weekend runs she had remembered the trick of running slow to run far and she kept at it. We then went into a walking and running pattern at her direction. She'd walk for a while then say "That's enough!" or "Let's go!" and take off again at a not-all-out pace. She really knew not to wear herself out with all out running! She also knew that she was in charge and could walk all we wanted in this race. So we were just having fun. And Grandma managed to keep up with us too (and take some great pictures!).
About 1/4 of the way through we hit the waterstation that serves runners in both directions. We got some to drink and Miri then continued on running! She was slowly starting to take some more walking breaks and the breaks were taking longer too. It didn't matter though, we were talking lots about racing, how fun it was, and talking with other racers about pretty much anything else. We continued and the next thing we saw up ahead was the state capitol and the turnaround point.
At this point Miri met another girl and started talking a bunch. They became instant running friends and stuck together most of the way back. They had a great time and would wait for the other if one of them got too far ahead. It was cool to be a part of that.
Once we hit the waterstation again (at the 3/4 mark) we stopped to hydrate and lingered for a moment. Rather than charging off we walked on for a while. It was getting tiring and the sun was starting to get higher in the sky. It was around then that Miri said matter of factly, "Daddy, I think I'll run the 1k next time." :) It was pretty cute. She said she was having fun and would run 5k again but wants to run 1k's for a while instead. All that mattered to me was that she was having fun with her first race and she was. I also thought that it was pretty cool that she was running her first 5k at 5 years old. It was also my first 5k and my Mom's (Grandma's) as well. We were all having a good time with it!
As we got closer to finishing Miri starting getting high five's from the police that we'd pass in the intersections. I also then notices that we were in the back as there was a police car a block or so behind us marking the end of the race and letting traffic get back to normal. Then, when Miri saw the finish line a couple blocks away and around a corner, she stormed off at her fastest pace of the race and completed her first 5k with a strong finish!
We all did it! And since this was my first official 5k race, my 5k PR is the same as Miri's at 57:07. I may not run another 5k for a while so it stays that way. :)
After the finish, we swapped out our running shoes and walked around the finish area. First, we got some poweraid, orange slices and banana halves.
Grandma was "finished" and I was feeling good but hot from the sun. Miri still had energy! (How do kids do that?) So off she went bouncing around in one of those kids play areas and celebrated her first race!
Miri finished off the celebrations with a finishers medal and an ice cream sandwich. Now that's how it always should be! :) We had a great time and it's an experience none of us will forget. Most of us came out of it with more motivation but Mom declared her retirement from racing soon afterwards. Miri says she wants to do 1k's before another 5k, and I'm looking forward to my first full marathon. I think Grandma would do it again if asked by a certain little someone... ;) (our official results - Miri actually did a second better than I)
PS: This is a picture of an older woman who passed us at about the 2/3 mark. Sure it's funny to get passed by someone so old, but I really found her to be inspiring as she ran by (and didn't walk once). That's where I want to be at that age!
