Running Together ... NOT

We did it ... finally!

Evan and I finished our first 5K running ... NOT together! Let's just say that the Princess needs help!

It was the Heal the Burn run on Saturday morning, May 21. Weather was beautiful even though Evan was shivering during our pre-race photo:

perhaps he was shivering because he hadn't eaten his breakfast of champions:

So, I gave Evan plenty of time to get ready, to mentally prepare:

Evan: Uh, mommy, are we going to stay together?

Me: Yes, sure. Why wouldn't we?

And lots of time to eat including bringing half the bagel in the car which he didn't eat. Meanwhile, I am getting ready, mentally preparing and eating, basically do all the "correct" things, right?

So, we arrived at the lovely Reynolda campus of Wake Forest University around 8:30 am and got our numbers:

And our chips that keep track of the time and pace. Yes, I had to ask what they do:

The race started promptly at 9am with circling the curved drive at the Z. Smith Reynolds Library and then going down past Wait Chapel. Shortly after that, Mommy was left in the dust...

Evan kept running. Mommy stopped ... but to walk. Evan kept running. Mommy started running. Evan kept running. Mommy started walking. Evan kept running. Mommy started running...

Until Mommy really was left in the dust, literally, construction dust and chalk messages (from the organizers) on the ground dust like Good Job!

That is until ... Evan stopped to wait and wait and wait until finally he sees    Mommy!

We meet again in the "forest-like" path and jog/walk through the very damp football practice field back through the path. We have made it halfway now!

We stop for water, politely throwing the cups in the trash can and ...

Evan runs. Mommy walks. Evan runs. Mommy runs. Evan runs. Mommy walks. Evan runs...

all the way to the finish line where...

Evan the Turtle places 67th out of 77 runners and then there is Mommy the Princess who places 69th.

So, what is going on here?

First off, the toes on my right foot were in some serious pain. And I knew in the first two minutes that I had not mentally prepared myself properly. Basically the only thing I did correctly was eat a decent breakfast! After some discussion with more experienced runners, I need help in the following ways:

1. new shoes
2. earlier bedtime
3. a quiet/meditation moment before the race
4. more frequent/regular running with Evan

Back to the race, Evan would have run the ENTIRE race had it not been the Princess slowing down the Turtle. Poor thing! He did awesome and really liked it:

Evan: I want to come back to the second annual one, mommy.

Me: We sure will, Evan.

Evan: When is the next one?

Me: Well we will have to find another one to do. I would like to do another one with you but I need to run more often with you after I get some new shoes.

And of course now Evan is hungry, eating cake:

He also enjoyed a turkey sandwich on a bun. We met a few Physician Assistant students who explained what a PA does which is basically 80 percent of what a doctor does like prescribe medicines, perform surgical procedures, etc. Along the route, there were facts about PAs, like it is the third fastest growing profession in the United States. And then there was this:

In the end, we both did finish the race and the world didn't end, as predicted by some people. 

Here are our chip stats:

Evan came in at 40 minutes, 11 seconds with a pace of 12:56. Dianne was 43 minutes, 51 seconds at a pace of 14:07. Evan seriously left Dianne the dust!

But we both made it home, smiling, sort of, and pain-free:

Happy Running!