Vancouver Sun Run 2010

Today was Mother's Day. It was a sunny day with a nice breeze, perfect conditions for a good 10 km run. This was my first time doing this event. I wasn't really enthusiastic about doing this, but rather I just wanted to say I did it before. So I signed up and here I am. In front of the start line with my buddies. My friends weren't exactly the greatest runners of all time. We chatted and jogged lightly for about 2 km and then they gave up and walked. As for me, I continued running, picking up my pace and making sure I kept my back straight, arms moving and breathing properly. I basically ran this one alone, I didn't see my friends again until after the race as I didn't stop to take a breather. Honestly, I think that if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish it. I am in no way a endurance runner. I don't like cardio, I don't practice or train for it. I just think that if you can push yourself and tell yourself not to quit, you can finish the race with a good time. My time was alright, it was 58:59. In self defense, I had roller hockey and soccer two nights before, then work and hockey the night before the race. So my legs weren't exactly fresh to start out with. But, it was all good, I knew I could push myself no matter how much it hurt. In fact, I wore my tennis shoes with dry fit socks for this race. Big mistake. Since the socks are slippery, they rub against the sole of the shoe. So then I developed a nice blister on the arches of my feet. I really felt it during the last 5 km. But I just kept on trucking. The worst part of the race is that there are so many people obstructing you, that you have to use extra energy to avoid them and pass them. The best part would have to be passing people, it just keeps me motivated to pass as many people as I can while carrying out the same pace for the whole race. I loved passing people on the uphill, it felt so good. Maybe it's my competitiveness. After the race, I got some chocolate milk, bagels, oranges and some juice to refill my body with nutrients. That felt good for a while, then I went back to my friend's workplace where there was a breakfast to be had. We ate a little and then headed out. That was pretty much my day. After that, I showered, played some sc2, watched the Canucks stave off elimination and then sleep. If there's one thing I learned today about myself, it's that I have what it takes to ask more of myself. To push myself further than what I have in me. That's a good feeling.