This morning was Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo's 12th Annual Zoo Run Run 5K.  What a mouthful.  It was the second race of the Busch Gardens Cares Zoo Team.  It was also my second 5K.

I woke up at about 6:15, thinking it only takes twenty minutes to get there and it shouldn't be crowded.  Wrong!  I knew something was up when I saw that my friend Christy had already checked me in there on Facebook at 6:30.  I hurried out the door, miraculously remembering everything I needed after going back in for water and a granola bar, and started the drive.  Not much traffic that early on a Saturday morning, however, when I approached the zoo, cars were backed up in the right lane to turn into the zoo parking lot.  Well, it turns out it was full, but they had no one in the street telling people such.  I had missed the group photo at this point - sorry, Phil, I have a terrible time reading directions!  I finally saw a parking attendant and he said they were directing people back to the main road (and into presumably more traffic).  I was nervous at this point that I wouldn't be there on time (too late!), so I drove through the lot once more, hoping to find somewhere in which to squeeze.  I did...I parallel parking next to a car length section of curb, and made my way to the main gate.

We all have the same shirts, so it was easy to spot my friends.  Christy had my number already, and told me to get in line if I wanted a chip (for timing).  I got my chip, hit the bathroom (hello, unattached toilet seat) and met up with the rest of the team, where Phil scolded me for missing the photo.  I pretty much had about 15 - maybe 20 - minutes between getting my bib from Christy and the start of the race.

It was 75 degrees when I left my apartment, so I'm not sure what it was when the race started, but I knew it was going to be a difficult run.  I ate dessert after my pasta dinner last night (mistake)..probably not a good idea to eat that granola bar either.  Fuel is good for a half marathon, but a 5K is much faster paced than I am used to running.  Still, I started strong - about 8 minute mile pace - faster than normal for me.  After the first mile, I knew I couldn't stay that fast, so I just kept slugging it out with every step.  My music helped me keep up a good pace, and it was fun to run through the zoo for the middle mile.  I heard a few animals over my music, and I got to see the Greater One-Horned rhinoceros - the calf was looking up at the boardwalk.  Note to humanity: wet wood is slippery.  We also ran through the manatee underwater viewing tunnel, where I saw at least two manatees floating underwater.  Also, noticed a guy just run by them without a second glance - weirdo.  We finished the rest of the Florida walkway and headed back across North Boulevard for another loop past the Hillsborough River, and then it was straight to the finish line.  The last half mile or so I picked up the pace, but it was not as fast as I started.  I kept checking my watch, and was positive that I would get a PR.

There were various vendors and restaurants with food to grab, but I just wanted water.  I was drenched.  I found the three other Busch Gardens Cares Zoo Team members that had finished before me - Melissa, Phil and Melissa - and we waited for a few others to come in.  I headed to the finish area to wait with Christy's Dad to see Morgan and Christy finish.  We all met in the post-race reception area for some photos.  Raymond, the Tampa Bay Rays mascot, was there.  I checked the posted results, and I did get a new PR!!!  27:36, 13 seconds faster than my last 5K in May.  I was 15th in my age group, and 120th overall.  The zoo also had some llamas out at the main gate.  I had to work at 10am, but I headed to Panera for some bagels first.

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.  :)