I was the 358th runner to cross the finish line (out of 4005). That's the top 9%!
I was the 7th male survivor to finish. I was the youngest in the top ten.
The official results were finally posted. I finished in 27:50. I was the 358th runner to cross the finish line (out of 4005). That's the top 9%! I was the 7th male survivor to finish. I was the youngest in the top ten. I was 30th in my age group (Men 30-34) - out of 188. Going to have to shave 10 minutes off to be first in that group. ;-)
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I ran my first 5K today.
It was part of Miles for Moffitt - a morning of races to raise money for cancer research. It just so happens that Moffitt is where I was treated for my skin cancer, so this race had a personal affect that others have not. It was nice to have so many co-workers from Busch Gardens Zoo Department there as well. I did get a little teary running by the actual hospital (expected) and at the finish line (normal). I believe my time was 27:49, but there seems to be an issue with my official time. There is a '#' where my chip time should be, and it says # = Under USATF OPEN guideline. I've tried to Google what that means, and I don't think I set a record for my age, so who knows? We shall see. I ran as fast as I could go without collapsing or throwing up. I think it was a good showing for only running three times since the marathon on April 13, and with it being 74 degrees at 8am and all. :) So, I've signed up with the Busch Gardens Cares team for the Miles for Moffitt 5K. There are a few other races as well (8K, 1mile, kids' races), but I wanted to start "small" after my marathon. I have run exactly three times in the 25 days since my marathon - a rather nice, relaxing jog in England a few days after the race (it felt so good! my body was like "oh yeah, I remember how this feels!") and then twice in the last two days. I ran 3.1 miles (5K) on Wednesday morning with Kristin's dogs, Stella and Sherman, around the golf course, and then 3.1 miles on the treadmill yesterday afternoon. Both were a little tough - mostly, getting my mind into the "push myself" mentality. I can run it - my lungs can handle it, my legs can handle it - it was just a matter of convincing my mind to keep everything going. I plan on lifting some weights in the gym tonight after work and then the race is early tomorrow morning.
This will be my first 5K ever. Obviously, I ran more than 5K during the marathon, but it will be inspirational for a different reason. Yes, the marathon was an accomplishment. I'm extremely proud of myself for starting that journey and seeing it through to the end. I realize now that running will always be a part of my life (as long as I am able) - I enjoy it and it keeps my healthy. I did fight cancer while training for the marathon and it is this reason that this race will be more emotional. It is for Moffitt, it runs past Moffitt - even going to pick up my race bib on Wednesday was hard. It was hard to see that building, it's hard to see the patients and their families - something I was a part of just over three months ago. It is not fun to realize how many people cancer affects - I will most definitely cry (I have at every race). It will be different this time - it will be simultaneously hard and inspiring seeing all the survivors running yet that is why I'm taking part - so that there are more survivors. I'm grateful to be one of those survivors. I recently had a shocking reminder that some people do not make it through skin cancer. I will get a PR tomorrow, but I will also celebrate my journey so far this year, be grateful for making it through my diagnosis, be hopeful that I won't have to go through it again, and be inspired by those around me who have faced much worse, knowing that I have a larger "family" out there that fights for me and everyone else affected by cancer. |
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