5k | Living My Full Life

I hope my blog isn’t one of those blogs where my life always comes off as happy and perfect. Cause it isn’t. At all. I have days where I feel really sad or stressed. (Just yesterday I was CRYING over homework for no reason-now that I think of it, it was quite funny). I hate to whine and complain, so I suppose that is why I don’t admit things all the time. But today I will.

I’m afraid to race. (I just typed that and felt so silly.)

I haven’t ran a running race since June 4th.

The race was a hilly 5 miler. I got a time of 35:00 (7:00 minute pace on the dot). I was sore immediately after the race because I know I went too hard.

Ever since that race I have had problems with my knee.

Now i’m afraid to race because I don’t want to feel pain in my knee anymore.

BLEH!

I should remind myself how much fun I have had racing this past year. Commence photo time.

A local 5k in May.

A cold 10k in April.

My 2nd half marathon. (In March)

A costume race in October. (I was batman)

Pittsburgh Pirates 5k in early April.

I guess I am putting too much stress on myself to run great races every single race. When I look at these pictures I can see how happy I was and I didn’t run perfectly in every race but I had fun.

I’m thinking about doing a costume race the day before Halloween (the same one as last year!). This should give me enough time to become confident in my running.

I hate complaining and admitting i’m afraid to run a race when my own grandfather was just diagnosed with bone cancer. But everyone struggles with different battles and mine is always fear.

*****

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

On Saturday I competed my first open water race!

It was a 5k swim in Keystone State Park’s lake. The course was a large 1k loop around buoys; 5 laps = 5k. My dad also decided to swim the race with me!! Registration was from 8:15AM-10:15AM

(Ignore my sleepy state of dress and my sloppy whiteish hair)

My dad and I decided to do this race the day before it was held. We were really excited because it was The Children’s Hospital’s first annual charity open water swim! We had to raise $100 dollars (each) and pay a $75 entry fee. LUCKILY my dad’s company sponsored us! SCORE!

We all had to get a number on our arm and wear a certain color swim cap. Green caps for individual swimmers and orange for relay teams.

I am very proud that my dad can swim 3 miles! It must have been all of that swimming in the Navy 😉

We warmed up about 50 minutes before the race. I was so happy the water was warm! It was so strange to not be able to see the bottom of the lake but I got used to it quickly.

The race director was the 833 person to swim the English Channel! I talked to him for a bit and he was so humble and excited about this charity event. Guess who else was there?! Jimmy!!! My boyfriend is so awesome for always coming to see me race 🙂

Love. Him.

After some safety briefings, all of the swimmers entered the water for a floating start because the lake bed is filled with rocks. Some people were intimidating because they had full wet suits on but when I race, I focus on competing with myself. The race director blew a whistle and we were off!

Yes, their was some kicking and roughness but thankfully it calmed down after everyone spread out.

Open water swimming is a lot harder than swimming in a pool but I enjoyed it! I had a hard time sighting all of the buoys because the sun was in my eyes. I didn’t stop once and I didn’t swim any stroke but freestyle. I saw a few glimpses of my dad along the way when I lapped him (lol!) and he always yelled “Hi!!”.

I swam the 5k in 1 hour and 23 minutes. I placed 5th overall and second in my age group.

(We had to slap the buoy and call out our race # when we were done)

My dad hadn’t swam in a while-he finished in 2 hours and 40 minutes. He came in last place but he didn’t give up!! He also placed 3rd in has age group. Go dad!

I’m so glad we were able to do this race together and for a good cause! Wahooo!!!