5K Results

The Louisville 2008 Race for the Cure 5K is over and I finished! Thanks everyone, um, I mean you 4 for your donations. In all seriousness, I was humbled by your financial generosity and for those not able to give, I'm sure you would have if you were able! Overall, I was able to gather $415.00. The foundation suggested we have total donations goals of $175.00 per runner, but I knew I could do better due to the caliber of friends and family with which God has blessed me...as well has how God has blessed each of us.

I thought I was just signing up to 1) Raise donations and 2) Run in a 5K. But it became so much more than that. When I registered for the 5K I just knew one person who was fighting Breast Cancer and by the end of the event I knew two. First and foremost it's beatable, they had hundreds (a whole parade) of surviviors at the event...surviviors from 30+ of the diagonis! But it's also hard, it's nasty, and often it hurts, surely more than I currently know. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have and are fighting Breast Cancer. In particular Tammy and Pam and your family and friends that are walking along side you as you currently in this trial.

As you may recall and be reminded of Paul's writtings daily, hourly, or even by the minute...

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Regarding me and my mad runnin skillz...this is what I learned on Saturday...

1) If I think you've tested myself and found myself to be above average...I need to increase my sample size because...I'm likely be more average than I thought! There were about 9000 people taking part in the race...and for 24 minutes 50 sec. (my race time) I was constantly passing others...and I was constantly being passed.

2) I will attain more if I have set goals. I know, I know this isn't earth shattering or new info. but it was reinforced Saturday. At home, on a treadmill...my best training time was right at 30 min but I had nothing really pushing me nor a real goal in front of me. However in a race situation, I always had the next person in front of me to beat and that pushed me to set my goals and be able to pass them one by one.

3) Lastly (to lighten the tone) I learned that some people puke upon the conclusion of a 5K. I was not one of them but I saw a poor teenage girl loose it right after crossing the finish line. She collapsed into her fathers arms and out came what looked like orange juice ;-P