But then I did the Shred.

And then Kristen and Bill told us we had to do a 5K.

HAHAHAHAHAHAhahahaha. And yet I decided to try -- and kill my lungs the first time I ran.

But then the next time I ran, my lungs were not on fire.

I trained using Robert Ullrey's podcasts. Most of the time, I ran around a junior high school. You see, the first time I went to a "real" course during the Cat's soccer practice, I was late picking him (and his carpool buddy) up - which was bad. So instead, I ran circles around the halls of the junior high where soccer practice was held. BORING. (Plus the janitors thought I was really strange. Or they were looking at my bouncing chest.) But then I realized I could go to my usual around-the-reservoir course and just go part way - then "dash" back.

Once summer ended and both kids were in school, I could do the whole reservoir course. And so of course I signed up for the Reservoir Run Race. The 5K wasn't going to go around the reservoir, so I registered for the 10K. As "training" I did the hilly reservoir loop twice one day, plus tacked on a mile to make it 10.5K. The rest of the days I did just the reservoir loop (2.7 miles) sometimes taking on an extra "run to the .5 mile mark and back to make an extra mile."

So. Let's review: I've walked the reservoir a bazillion times. I've run/walked it many times, but frequently only in that 2.7 or 3.7 mile distance. (And NO, I have never been able to run the whole thing - it has nasty hills that I end up walking. On occasion I've run up a hill, but that means I definitely walk up the others.) Only once did I get to the 10K mark. But - I reasoned - twice of the hills is much harder than only once of the hills plus some flat stuff.

For Sunday I knew the course. I knew the course well. I knew that I'd run 1.6 miles on a slight incline. I'd then run UP to the reservoir (approx .25 mile) do the 2.7 mile loop around it, and then run DOWN a steep incline (approx .25 mile) to the flat part. I'd then finish up with 1.5 miles of a slight downhill. Sure, I'd never run any of it other than the 2.7 loop around the reservoir, but I drive the other sections ALL THE TIME. I can close my eyes and see every landmark.

This knowledge of the course meant everything on race day.

You know when you are going somewhere for the first time it seems to take forever? Well yes, that is why my previous 5K races seemed SO DARN LONG. And yet, my 10K didn't seem long at all.

On Sunday, I was zen for about 10 minutes after I woke up. I then wanted to puke. I got increasingly more nervous. I had hoped to eat a small bowl of Lucky Charms because I thought it would be good luck (get it?) but I ate a banana instead because I didn't trust my stomach with dairy. I then drank a little bit of water, but kept wanting to throw up (though I never did.)

I parked in the designated lot and walked to the race location (while realizing I'd have to trudge uphill back to my car post-race.) It was buzzing with happy energy. I saw a few people I know. (After reading the race results, I discovered I knew a lot of people there, I just didn't see them.) I felt nauseated by the sausage smell of the pancake breakfast, but expect that spectators loved the smell of the food. I smiled at a bagpiper who I'd see halfway through my run. I watched with admiration at the elite runners warming up - lean and tall in stature with well-defined leg muscles, capable of stretching jumps that could clear two of me.

I shivered, but knew I'd soon heat up my body. I smiled, trying to calm my tummy. I watched as the elite milers completed their course in 4.08-4.21 minutes. (They were all capable of way under 4, but this particular course had a complete turn-around, so it isn't surprising they didn't break 4.)

The 5K race took off shortly thereafter, and then we 10Kers lined up. I positioned myself next to the "slow runner / walker" sign, but then moved up to the "15 minute miler" sign. At the starting gun, I turned on my smile. Initially I was going to do the "swearing makes you go faster" tactic, but chose instead the positive energy of a grin.

My first mile was 10:45, which was faster than I thought I'd be given my desire to conserve energy and the slight uphill. Right after the first mile, my hands started to tingle in a scary way. I went numb, and thought about whether to push ahead, or take a walk break. Knowing I had another 5 miles, I chose the walk break. The tingling subsided, and I was able to get back to a run.

When we reached the incline to the reservoir, I was pleased that it wasn't as steep as I thought it would be. Once I was on the familiar course, I smiled again - this was "the hard part" of the race, but it was so familiar that I knew I'd be absolutely fine. I allowed myself to walk the parts I knew were brutal, but then would run again as soon as I knew I was ready. If I felt a stitch in my side or wanted to hurl, I'd go down to a walk for a bit, and remind myself that I was competing only against myself.

Once I reached the downhill portion (and passed some cheering policeman and the bagpiper) I was floating. I reached the flat part that led the loop back to the finish line, and got a bit woozy, so took more walk breaks than I thought I'd need. The last mile seemed pretty long, especially since I saw the neon "10K finish!" sign from about 3/4 of a mile away, yet it didn't seem to get closer.

But then it was closer. And people waved sparkling pom-poms at me and cheered. And I crossed the mat. Then there was another mat. I should have sprinted through the whole finish because I think I stopped before my chip actually went off. I saw 1:19:45 when I crossed, but my "official" time was 1:19:50.

I then wanted to hurl anew. But didn't.

Instead, I trudged around, desperately wanting to sit down, but knowing that I'd not be able to get up. I noticed the awards ceremony had already occurred, and the majority of the times were already posted on a wall. I was #58 of 63 women 30-39, and #417 of the 437 male and female participants of all ages.

Not last place.

And while slow compared to the others, my 10K finish was a victory for me since my very first "run" in a long time was less than five months ago.

I feel terrific. And definitely motivated to try again.