The Results Are In! Tammie’s Completed Her First 5K!

For the last three months Theresa Rowe has been training me to run in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Due to our hot humid summers here in Louisiana the majority of my training had been done indoors on a treadmill.

About a month ago, when the temperatures cooled a little, I started training outdoors in order to adjust to the road and humidity conditions. What a difference running outside makes. Even though I had been running the 3.1 miles in 36 minutes on the treadmill without too much trouble I soon discovered that I could only run on the road for about a mile at a stretch. 

I eventually found a way to run on the road so that it didn't seem to bother my breathing, eyes, or my joints. I just reduce my stride so that my feet basically roll along the ground in order that I don't jar much. The only problem is that I'm not able to travel as quickly. But at least now I can run the whole 3 miles where before I could only run about a mile. By the final week of training, I was running the 3.1 miles on the road in 37 minutes.

Race day came and I awakened quite excited before the alarm went off. The morning began early at 5:30 with a temperature of 81 degrees and a sultry 100% humidity, the result of a week’s worth of rain. I was concerned that the humidity would play havoc with my breathing.

We arrived at the race about 6:30 and the temperature had already increased a couple of degrees. 

After retrieving my number I went for a mile walk to warm up. By the time I made it back I was already pouring with sweat. The Zumba instructor was there to do a warm up for the runners and the walkers, however, she was having technical difficulties. 

Long story short, we ended up using my son's truck with his loud stereo system to help her out. By the time we helped out with that situation, many of the runners had already lined up for the race. As a result, we were at the end of the pack. About a minute passed, once we began running, before I even made it to the start line. 

I completed running the entire 3.1 miles in just over 42 minutes. During the last half mile I became very excited when I saw the finish line and increased my speed. I was overwhelmed, felt triumphant, and yet at the same time became very emotional. I was running in honor of my friend Mandy Smart and in memory of my Aunt Anna Hester. 

With a full range of emotions overflowing within me the concerns I had had earlier about my breathing soon became reality as I began to struggle for air. I slowed to just over a jog and calmed myself down until I got my breathing back under control. Then once again I focused on the finish line. How exhilarating it was to finish! 

I was a little discouraged at first about my time which was about 5 minutes slower than what I had been running, but then I found my son who had finished before me. He told me that he ran it in 31 minutes which is about 7 minutes slower than his normal time. On top of that he got sick at the end, I assume from heat exhaustion.

I certainly was not at the top of the charts, but I wasn't at the bottom either, I actually placed 421 out of about 3000! Not too bad for a 192-pound woman who has only been running a few short months!

I give God all the glory and honor, and I thank you all for all of your love, prayers, and encouragement.

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