From Dream to Reality: My First Sanctioned 10k

Preface
For years I was told I would be unable to run again. The damage to my knee was "too serious" and I would need surgery and rehab to fix the issues. Even IF I took those steps, I was told running was NOT in my future.

At the time, none of that really mattered. I was a hefty 240+ pounds, and running was the last thing on my mind (except for maybe running to the fridge to get a snack or three).  :)

Once I started my journey, however, it began to bother me. I knew running was a great way to drop weight and get into shape - and I wanted to be a runner god dammit! As the pounds started coming off, my knee started to bother me less and less. "Hmm..." I thought. Maybe the doctors were full of shit, and it was really my weight that was causing the majority of the pain? Turns out that after carefully lifting weights and walking a few miles on a daily basis, I was able to reduce my knee pain to almost nothing! After a few months of wearing my knee brace "just in case", I was able to run without it for the first time in 10 years! (tears ensued that day - of joy of course!)

Around this time last year, I told my wife that I was going to run a 10k next year. Not only that, I told her I was going to do it in an hour! Being the awesome wife that she is, she didn't doubt me for a second, and gave me one of her patented "I know you can do anything you put your mind to" speeches. (Thanks again babe!)

Race Day
I woke up around 8am - and immediately ran to the bathroom! A bit of dry heaving and some stomach issues? - Awesome! Lol. But that was to be expected. I get nervous sometimes and that is just what happens when I do. After 15 minutes of that non-sense, I was dressed and ready for the event. Time to make the drive, which thankfully was only 10 minutes from my house!

Having never been to a running event, let alone participated in one, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of athletes attending. People on all phases of their journey were coming together for a great cause - Boobies! Ok not boobies, but Breast Cancer. Though I don't know anyone personally who has dealt with this particular form of cancer, three people that I am very close with are cancer survivors - so it felt great to raise awareness & money for the cause.

As 10am approached, I made my way to the start/finish line, while munching on a Detour Bar and a banana. I have been mentioning Detour Bars for the last couple of weeks, and I have become quite accustomed to munching one down right before I run longer distances. I like them quite a bit actually. Before you ask, yes they sent me some to try, and no, I wouldn't lie and tell you I liked them if I didn't. That would be stupid - lol. They are some of the better tasting protein bars out there, and these ones in particular are low-sugar, which I like. They seem to give me a little more energy than the plain granola bars I had been eating before running - so what more can I ask for? If you would like to try some, leave a comment below and I will pick one of you at random to be the winner!

One minute till start! HOLY SH!T THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING! I setup RunKeeper to help me keep my pace (I didn't want to burn out early) and got my 311 playlist going - I was ready! Boom! The clock started! Having never been part of a mass start, I can say that the first half-mile is CRAZY! Instead of worrying about your speed, you are mostly concerned with not tripping or tripping someone else. Once you get past that, the crowd thins out, and it becomes you and the road. Phew!

I made it to the 2 mile mark and was right on time - 20:00 on the dot. Sweet! Looking good! I ran and grabbed a water from someones hand and briefly felt like an Olympic athlete on a marathon. Bad ass. Then it hit me. I had to pee. Not just a little bit, A LOT! LOL. NO NO NO! I thought to myself. I saw another water station ahead and found only a women's restroom open - dammit! I went around back and found some shrubbery and did the deed. No time to worry about it - I wasn't losing sight of my goal due to a "Mother Nature" calling! I got back on the route and started running in about a minute flat. All I could think about was missing my time and washing my hands (I can't STAND not washing my hands ever since I got my first iPhone!) - neither of which could I really focus on at the moment!

After climbing 3 of the biggest hills I had ever come across while running, I made it to the half way point. No timer here - dammit! I sped back down the hills and hit the flatland - hitting my stride full-on. I could see the 4 mile marker and OMG it was right at 40:00 when I passed it! "I can do this" I thought - and kept pushing. I was exhausted, but I had to keep going. All I could think about was my goal, my wife telling me that she knew I could do it, & all of YOU. When I started this blog, I wanted to help others. I had never taken into account how much the others would help me. Thank you!

Soon I was approaching the 6 mile mark, right on schedule - but I could feel my legs getting weaker. As I pushed my hardest through the crowd of the 2 mile walking participants, I could see the finish line. All the sudden - I could hear the cheers of all of those waiting at the line to congratulate us for our efforts - and then I felt no pain at all - just joy! I crossed the finish line at exactly 1:01:35 and looked down at my iPhone - ONE HOUR ON THE NOSE! (I didn't start RunKeeper until I actually crossed the starting line and I paused it to pee!)

Tears started flowing, and at that EXACT moment, I realized that I DID IT! Me! A previously 240+ pound guy, now weighing 150 pounds, just ran his first race, and managed to shave 7 minutes off his best time!

In Conclusion (I made myself do this or else I would ramble on FOREVER!)

I have learned many important things during my journey up to this point, but I had some additional clarity that fine day. I learned that I CAN accomplish anything that I put my mind to - including beating all the odds (and doctor's prognosis') and have become a runner! I also learned that I need to make sure and pee right before the race starts - or at least find some decent shrubbery to hide behind mid-race....

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. It means a lot to share this with all of you, as all of you are just as inspiring to me as I am told that I am to some of you. A special thanks goes out to my lovely wife, my family and friends, and of course all of you for your unwavering support of my journey...

Wherever you are at on YOUR journey, know that you not only CAN reach your goals, but you most definitely WILL with determination, sweat, training, and Detour Bars. (Totally kidding about the Detour Bars - they aren't a requirement, but they sure are yummy. Seriously!)

BTW - I signed up for more 10k races over the next two months! They are very addicting!