My first 5k

OK, so my first goal was to run a 5k. And on July 4, 2009, I did it.

First, lemme tell you about the start line. I showed up an hour early and still had to walk a couple of miles to the start line due to everyone else beating me there (is this normal? Let me know.). But when it was time to line up, I positioned myself near the front of the pack. This may be bad running etiquette, but hey, it was my first race, and I want to clock the best time I could. (Again, please tell me if I'm being a rude runner.)

So the starting gun goes off, and people start FLYING past me. And I mean, old ladies, fat guys, pregnant women. Elementary school kids. Infants in strollers. They are all passing me like I was tied to a post (that's how we say it here in Texas, y'all). I couldn't believe how slow I felt.

And did I mention that I was in the Clydesdale category? It's kind of like when I was little and asked my mom what "Husky" size jeans were. She said they were for boys who were big and strong. Well, now all those "big and strong" boys are running in the Clydesdale category.

I made pretty good time, for me. My official time was 34:27 and my per-mile average was 11:05. I was 223rd place overall, out of 392 runners. I WAS NOT LAST. Not even close to last, really.

Mrs. Gianni and Little F were waiting at the finish line, where she took these stunning photos:

I'm the guy in the white shirt— no, not the one standing there. I'm the one in the smack-dab middle of the photo, running toward the finish line. Maybe next time Mrs. Gianni will bring a real camera and not take pictures with her phone.

And now I'm cooling down, headed for the people who are handing out the Flavor-Ice.

Um, yeah.

My next goal? To run at least one 5k per month, and to run a 30 minute time in a 5k by November 1. That is, if I don't die first in the freaking hot Texas weather. Here's hoping.