Rainy day, silver lining

They say luck is when preparation meets opportunity, and that's what happened Sunday at the Read Run 5K.

Despite all the worrying and whining I did the other day, I finished in 27:37, my best time yet and a full 28 seconds faster than the last race May 23. I was number 146 out of 427 registered participants.

How did I do it? Don't ask me. I'm just relieved it's over and I didn't throw up.

Here we are shuffling over the start line. This is the first time I didn't wear my "lucky" Brockport cap and the first time I've used my iPod during a race.

Race registration: $20
New running gear: $45
High-fiving the dude dressed in Daffy Duck
costume along the course: Priceless.

It was a good run, and I'm happy with the results, although the weekend was not ideal for a race and all the other stuff -- job #1, job #2, maintaining a social life and the lack of sleep had me overwhelmed to the point where I could not enjoy the achievement until long after the moment had passed. (And after post-race indigestion and nausea had finally passed as well. Come on stomach, work with me! The legs are doing fine!)

I learned a lot from the training leading up to it and the race itself about pacing, eating and drinking properly for running, and adjusting my game plan according to circumstances, such as weather and energy levels, as they change from moment to moment.

After that not-so-great run, er, stroll, on Friday afternoon, I drove to the state park a few hours later to try again, and I ran for real about 2.5 miles with the music pumping in my ears and the trees along the Avenue of Pines sheltering me from the sun. I went to job #2 feeling much better about things.

Later, I took a break to eat some free pizza, and received a stern yet sympathetic pep talk from Mr. Fast Running Saratoga himself. Awesome.

Saturday was rest day and it rained all day so I burrowed inside for most of it before heading to a dinner party, where I met some cool new people, chatted with some cool people I already know and enjoyed lots of delicious things like grilled sausage, potato salad and brownies. I'd say my calorie stores for the next morning's effort were above what was necessary. I also was drinking water nonstop. That was all the preparation part.

It was a nerve-wracking late night Saturday. I came home from work at 3, laid awake for two hours, and then slept for three before somehow forcing myself out of bed and to the library -- getting there was one of the hardest parts.

Mom decided at the last minute to get up early and drive to Saratoga and stand in the rain to cheer me on. Thanks Mom! Her appearance and the fact that it was cool and wet outside Sunday morning helped me to keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep running when I wanted to walk.

I know it's too soon, and I have a lot of miles to cover first, but I can't get the words "half-marathon" out of my head...