Run For Your Life 5k

Another great 5k is in the books! This was my third 5k and it was my first year running this particular race. The run for your life 5k helped raise money for the American Stroke Association and had a ton of local sponsors. The course was beautiful and was in an area of my town I had not explored before. I arrived at 7:30 am, 30 minutes before the start of the race and I started to warm up. I took a few small trails that ran along the river and sometimes would stop to take in the scenery. I arrived back at the starting line with 6 minutes to spare. We all lined up and payed our respects to the flag as the Start Spangled Banner played. 1 minute later, it was go time! The first mile had a pretty steep hill, but I was already prepared for it. After clearing the hill, I was holding third place. I kept switching between third place and second place as me and another runner were staying neck and neck. Shortly after hitting mile two, we came up to another hill, which I was not expecting. This hill brought us up onto the levee by the river where we turned around and started heading back to the finish line. By this time, I could feel the guy behind me start to slowly get closer and closer. I was still staying neck and neck with the guy in second place. At almost the 3 mile mark, I surged ahead and took over second place. But it was at that moment that I realized that yet another hill awaited me right before the finish line! I had some energy left to spare and began to realize that my second place finish was being challenged by Zachary, the guy in third place, He was creeping up on me fast and I kicked it into gear, putting out everything I had left to get to the finish line. I crossed the finish about 4 seconds faster than him, sealing my first ever 2nd overall finish in a race! After crossing, I turned around and shook his hand, thanking him for pushing me to a strong finish. I walked away from the finish line and got to meet the first place finisher who I talked to for a few minutes. He was a track coach from Texas and was a genuinely nice guy. Zachary and I spent most of the time talking about our previous 5k together back in October of last year where he came in first place. Overall the event was great and well organized. I do not think the reality of me coming in top three overall for the first time has sunk in yet. But the best thing I gained from this race is two new friends and memories I wont soon forget!

Micah (the first place finisher) and I talking after the race.