Tired of School

-So there I was after training for a half marathon this year and, as many of you know, had scheduled to run my first 5K event today in Columbia, MO. The event is a memorial for a friend of mine who passed away nine years ago. I have been running in my neighborhood so I would be able to complete in this 5K without embarrassing myself.

 -So there I was, getting ready for the run this morning and the weather is showing the temperature in the upper 30’s. I decided to show up for the run about an hour early because I know some of the event organizers from when I went to college and wanted to catch up. Ann and I drive up to the start and notice a large group of people running already.  Do’h! I think that I have mixed up the start time for the run.  I walk over to the start line and find my friend, Kim, who is in charge and point over to the runners going down the next street and say “I thought this started at 10.”  She let me know that is was originally planned for 10, but because of another race in town she had to change the start time. 

-So there I was, all trained and dressed for a run and they had already started. I asked Kim if it was too late to register and run. She said that I probably was, but I could just run with the group and check in after-wards.

-So there I was, running (according to the sign, I was starting a mile in.)  I ran the other 2 miles of the 5K and lo and behold, the finish line was not where I told Ann to meet me!  I had a choice to make: I could stop there and wait forever for Ann to figure out where the finish line was or I could keep running with the 10K runners and hope that Ann had found the finish line by the time I got back.

-So there I was, running with the 10K runners.  Keep in mind that previous to this, I have only run 5K on my own in my neighborhood. About half an hour later, I come into the finish line again.  I explain to the nice folks at the finish line that I got started late so I don’t have an ankle bracelet.

-So there I was, looking around for Ann.  I don’t see her, I don’t have a phone to call her, she did not answer when I borrowed a phone, and my parents are probably at the “wrong” finish line now too waiting for me. 

-So there I was, walking back to the start line.  I walked around the buildings, turned the corner to the start line, and I see a large crowd of people at the start line.  I walk up to the registration table and discover that the 5K I was trying to run is was not pushed earlier, but was starting later than originally planned. I had been running with the race participants!

-So there I was, running another 5K for the event I had actually registered for.  I picked up my well deserved T-shirt, and hobbled to the car.  It turns out that I ran about 8 miles total today.  I am limping a little and I hope that goes away soon, but I think I am closer to running that half-marathon than I thought.