17:24

17:24 was my pace at the Run Among the Lakes 5K here in Windermere, my first race in 9 years. Another of my “seemed like a good idea at the time”, back when I signed up. I have been trying to walk more ever since I got such a dismal score on my Dexascsn bone density test. My back and hips are none too good, my femores, especially the left, are osteoporotic. Meh. I thought the challenge of a 5K would spur me on.

Grant and I strolled occasionally around the neighborhood, but it was so hot, I didn’t have much enthusiasm to do it often. I also walked inside once or twice a week, in the air conditioning, following a YouTube video. I thought I’d been making progress, until I hustled along the sand blocks of Oakdale Street to a meeting at Town Hall. (The block in front of our house is one of only a few streets paved in Windermere.) My hips were really sore after that. Perhaps I should walk the course a couple of times before the race.

My first time was at a 22:21 minute per mile pace. At least I made the whole distance and didn’t have to call Grant for a pickup. Three days later, I had it down to 18:35, just by paying attention to keeping up my pace. I was good to go.

Looking back, I think having just buttered popcorn and a large Crooked Can IPA at the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert movie was not the best pre-race dinner plan. When I woke up Saturday morning, my gut was unhappy. I had a small bowl of cereal and a sip of coffee and hoped for the best. Grant drove me the 6 blocks to Central Park since I didn’t want to waste any energy. From there, I walked over to Town Hall. The realty company at the corner of Main and 5th was handing out mimosas and cookies. I passed, afraid that might put my iffy gut over the edge. 

I’ve learned to wait patiently before races, so I found a bench to sit down to watch the 10K racers line up and start. Then I had 25 minutes to sit until wandering over to the starting chute. Certainly easier on my legs than standing the whole time.

My stated position was all I wanted was not to be the last person in. I had revised that to just finishing the race. However, I used my old marathon coach Howard Ekland’s suggestion to imagine a rubber band around me and a person several people in front. Just let the band draw me to them, then throw it onto the next person. Little by little, I caught up and passed other walkers. 

When I had walked the course, I had started at my house, so the “hill” on 1st Avenue now came at the 2.5 mile mark rather than the beginning. I crossed Main and got to Butler when I heard an ambulance. At the top of the hill, a man had collapsed, evidently with a heart attack. Fortunately for him, a doctor lives right there, and she had started CPR almost immediately. I just continued walking on since the only thing I could do to help was to keep out of the way. I hope he is okay.

At the end, I had almost caught up with 2 ladies wearing tutus over their leggings: my last rubber band capture. But they decided to run to the finish. Ah, well. I got my medal, then wandered around, looking at the sponsors’ booths. Coffee, cookies, a banana to save until it’s a little more ripe. I called Grant to pick me up. He’d fallen back asleep and missed coming down to the end of our street to cheer me on.

Afterwards, the realtors were still there, but when I inquired if there were any mimosas, I learned they’d run out of orange juice, so only had champagne. I made do.

I’m thinking this may be a resurgence of my running career. I came in 6th of the 9 entries in females 70-79. If I get my pace to 15:00, I could finish in the top 3. That might be doable. Seems like a good idea.