Just starting

[Bonnie]

Edgar, it is normal to feel as though it is not your body, happened to me, you will get used to it, but the feeling of accomplishment will propel along, congratulations ! As far as your run, give it all you have, that is all you can expect from yourself. I'm sure you will do fine & keep in mind this is the first one, it could possibly be a learning experience you can draw on in the future, best of luck to you

[fitoverforty]

Go Edgar!!! Good luck on your first 5K race tomorrow. I am so excited for you! Like Bonnie said, just give it all you've got. You know how far you have come to get to this point, now enjoy the benefits.
And remember to run with your heart, let every stride be a celebration of your achievement thus far, and every mile be a promise of what you have yet to accomplish. This is just the beginning for you - and as you "toe up" to the starting line, think about what it took to get there - relish the moment, soak it in, you've earned it, you deserve it - so enjoy it!!!
Take pictures!!!!

[Boss Man]

It could be worse on the face comments. I think someone saying your face looked thin, would be better than saying you looked a bit gaunt. By that point, it sounds like someone is viewing the person, as someone that is becoming a bit sickly looking or slightly amaciated.

Sometimes I wonder if gaunt, isn't a polite way of saying "my god you're starting to look like crap"

[EdgarHF]

Thanks for the encourage everyone I wish the run was today. I have today off and drove out to Mundelein and picked up my packet for the 5K. I've been trying to stay busy all day. Before leaving for Mundelein I brought my laundry to the cleaners then went and got a haircut. Since I am not running Sunday I will do my long run Tuesday. I plan to stretch it out to 4 miles. I made myself a playlist for my iPod to listen to Tuesday to while running. (See below) Anything to keep me busy My nieces are coming out to cheer me tomorrow so I will ask them to take some pictures.

These Days 3:25 R.E.M.
Bullet the Blue Sky 4:32 U2
Paranoid Android 6:23 Radiohead
Can't You Hear Me Knocking 7:16 The Rolling Stones
Train to Nowhere 4:15 Savoy Brown
Once In a Lifetime 4:20 Talking Heads
Red Clay Halo 3:15 Gillian Welch
Midnight Blues 4:58 Gary Moore
Armadillo Stomp (1973 Austin, TX) 2:00 Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen & His Lost Planet Airmen
Big Sky Country 4:45 Chris Whitley
Born On the Bayou 5:15 Creedence Clearwater Revival
Killing Floor 2:50 Howlin' Wolf
Freeway Jam 4:58 Jeff Beck
The Weight 4:39 The Band
Cannonball 5:10 Damien Rice
Spanish Castle Magic 3:05 The Jimi Hendrix Experience
It's Beginning to Get to Me 4:34 Snow Patrol
Ballerina 7:03 Van Morrison

[Boss Man]

Talking my language there with a lot of that stuff. Hendrix was the ultimate, but Jeff Beck was and still is a maestro of the axcraft.

John Fogherty's vocals on Born on the Bayou were really good, as well as Around The Bend and Fortunate Son. It's a pity CCR disbanded, as they had a uniqueness and style, especially with those vocals, that nobody else could really be likened to.

[EdgarHF]

John Fogherty's vocals on Born on the Bayou were really good, as well as Around The Bend and Fortunate Son. It's a pity CCR disbanded, as they had a uniqueness and style, especially with those vocals, that nobody else could really be likened to.

Luckly I got to see them live before they broke up

[feelin-great]

Good luck Edgar - I will be thinking about you You're gonna do great

[EdgarHF]

I got my running gear laid out, my chip attached to my shoe. Everything else I need I have in a bag blocking my front door so I don't forget anything. I have my alarm set for 5:00AM. I am going to bed. Goodnight everyone.

[fitoverforty]

Goodnight Edgar! Good luck tomorrow! I can't wait to hear all about it.

I got my running gear laid out, my chip attached to my shoe. Everything else I need I have in a bag blocking my front door so I don't forget anything

that is such a "running thing" to do....I LOVE IT!!! Have fun!

[EdgarHF]

I was definitely thinking about you during my own 5k this morning. It was like I wasn't running alone!! How'd you do? Addicted yet?

I was addicted before the race And how did you do?

My goal before the race was to beat 38 min. I had said I would be happy coming in under 40 min. When I first saw the beginning of the course I got worried. The race was in a Northern suburb of Chicago, but not flat like Chicago. This area was gently rolling hills. That may be nice for a weekend drive, but the sight of it unnerved me for the prospect of running my first 5K. The course was an out and back and from the start line I could see the course went downhill for about the first half mile before rising again and disappearing around a curve. I knew that at the end of the race I would be running the last 1/2 mile uphill. I did not know what it would be like after the curve, but I expected it to be hilly. I really had butterflys in my stomach at the start. When the start gate open and I began the run I knew I was in trouble I looked down at my watch and saw that I was going at too fast a pace. I knew I had to slow down as not to burn myself out at the beginning. After the downhill stretch and going uphill around the curve I got my pace above 11 min where I planned it to be. After the curve the hills were not long or steep so it wasn't so bad. I finished the first mile in just under 12 min according to what I saw on the pace readout of my watch. The second mile was not too bad, but the hills were taking a toll on my legs. At the 2 mile mark I took some water and dumped it on my head. I was able to get a second cup and tossed the water in my mouth. I looked at my watch and the pace read 12:06. My legs were getting tired. As I climbed the hill to get to the home stretch my watch showed my pace slowing and I didn't feel like I had the energy to speed up. At the top of the curve my pace was 12:35. I really didn't pick up speed on the last downhill before that last 1/2 mile uphill to the finish. Halfway up the hill I was teetering above 13:00. I felt like my heart was breaking. I was not going to break 38:00. I had about a quarter of a mile to go and I felt like I could not go on. I wanted to quit, but I still thought I had a chance of beating 40 min. At that point I could not see anyone in front of me so I knew I had to be pretty far back. I could see the finish line, but no runners. In that last quarter and got my pace back down to 12:45. Then I got close enough to see the clock, 37:10. When I saw that my heart leaped and suddenly I had the energy to break into a sprint. 37:16 ... 37:18.... I crossed the finish. My official chip time 37:13:90. Its not the fastest time in the world, but it is good for a first time. Now I have a PR to beat!!! My Garmin showed 37:10 for the race so it was pretty close. By the way I am proud of my time as slow as it is.

The picture is of me and my nieces after the race.





Overall
Time: 00:37:10
Distance: 3.11 mi
Elevation Gain: 27 ft
Calories: 530 C

Timing
Time: 00:37:10
Moving Time: 00:37:04
Elapsed Time: 00:37:10
Avg Speed: 5.0 mph
Avg Moving Speed: 5.0 mph
Max Speed: 6.8 mph
Avg Pace: 11:56 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace: 11:54 min/mi
Best Pace: 08:52 min/mi
SpeedPaceElevation
Elevation Gain: 27 ft
Elevation Loss: 35 ft
Min Elevation: 781 ft
Max Elevation: 827 ft
Laps 4
View Splits SplitSplit Hour:Minute:SecondTime MilesDistance Minutes per MileAvg Pace
Summary 00:37:10 3.11 11:56
1 00:11:13 1.00 11:13
2 00:11:59 1.00 11:59
3 00:12:41 1.00 12:41
4 00:01:15 0.11 11:21

[fitoverforty]

Wow Edgar!! What an awesome story! I love how you described the course and how you felt along the different parts of it. I read your post aloud to my son, and showed him your finishing pic. He thought it was WAY cool that you finished under 38:00 and reached your goal. He thought your watch was cool too! I am so proud of you, you proved to yourself that you can push yourself when you don't think you have anything left - the mark of a true athlete!
Congrats Edgar! You are an inspiration to all.

[EdgarHF]

I think I should be able to shed 15 lbs before the next race. My goal for the next race is to beat 35 min.

PS: Lynne, I hope you read the post after I corrected the worst of the grammar.

[Bonnie]

Very well described indeed, way to go edgar

[feelin-great]

Way to go, I am sooooo proud of you - as you should be as well

[EdgarHF]

Its a rest day today. It feels strange not going out for a run on Sunday. I have to admit my legs are a bit sore, but not really that bad. Tomorrow is my gym day and then back to running on Tuesday. I am going to make it a 4 mile run. I am already excited about my next 5K. Well, not really my next one. My next one is September 19th, but that one is going to be the tune up for the one I run on September 25th. The one on the 19th is one I am running with someone from work. Now, that I have finally run a 5k I have something to build on. I want to build up my weekly mileage to at least 15 miles a week by the time of the next race. I think that is a reasonable goal. I also should, as stated in another post, drop at least another 15 lbs by then. And as I said before in another post my tenative goal is to beat 35 minutes for that race. But, that could change as time gets closer to race date.