I *Might* Be a Little Competitive

First, corrections to my last post:

*The race benefits the Second Harvest Food Bank.  I'm all for that.  :-)

*The course didn't include Elam St.  :-(  I was kinda bummed.  But I took Elam street heading back to my car after the race, and I ran it then.  Mostly because I was so cold - and running warms me up!

K.  Glad I got those things cleared up.  Now, about the race...

The Running of the Balls was a 5K for runners and a walk.  Between both events, over 2500 people were registered.  That's important.  I'll tell you why later.  :-)

And I should say - I had to keep reminding myself that this was mostly 'just for fun'.  I'm SO competitive.  Even if I'm only really competing against my own time.  So throughout the evening, I had to keep telling myself to 'just have a good time', 'and enjoy the neighborhood lights', and 'quit thinking about what your time is going to be', and 'think about having fun'.  It was a bit of a battle - to stay relaxed about it.

I had a little trouble with packet pick-up - wound up in 3 different lines, and it took F O R E V E R.  So by the time I got to the starting line, it was almost 6pm, and there was a really big crowd already there.  My competitive self pushed me to try to get as close to the start line as I could - because I didn't want to be slowed down by all those people in front of me.  My rational self kept saying 'just have fun, Shannon - it doesn't matter how fast you run this one'.

The race started late, and I didn't even hear the official 'GO!'.  The crowd just started moving.  So I moved with them.

At a snail's pace.  It was torture.

I spent the first mile (which, thanks to MapMyRun, I know took me at least 2 full minutes longer than my typical 'first mile') trying to get past all the slow people (and I mean that in the kindest way possible) AND arguing with my competitive self to *just.calm.down* and have fun.

Pass a few people.  'Just have fun, Shannon.'  Get stuck behind more slow people.  'It's just about having a good time, Shannon.'  'WOULD YOU PEOPLE GET OUT OF MY WAY ALREADY?!?!'  'Shannon, you've GOT to get a grip.'  Pass a few more slow people.

This lasted about a mile.  The argument between competitive me and rational me.  And then, the crowd thinned out a little, I was able to run a little faster and freer, and I thought this:

You know what?  I might be doing this race just for fun because I love my Ella Belle.  BUT... *this mama* (Elliana's, Seth's, Missy's, Levi's and Elijah's mama) is competitive.  I'm done 'just having fun'.  I haven't changed THAT much!

So I ran.  And (I don't *think* I'm saying this arrogantly.  Just... well, it was just so fun!)... do you KNOW how many people I passed??  A LOT.

This is where the 2500 registered participants part is important.  :-)

Not all 2500 were runners - a bunch of those were walkers.  I'm not sure how many were actually running.  And of all the ones running, less than 150 were 'chip-timed' runners.  I was one of the 150.  Cuz... umm... *competitive*.)

Anyway, like I said, I'm not sure how many people ran.  A bunch.  But.. I know where I placed among all those runners.  :-)

I'm kinda proud of this.  It's not specTACular or anything, but... I was happy with it.

You ready for this?

I placed 45th overall.  I was the 45th person to cross the finish line.  And that made me happy.  Kinda feel like I kicked butt in that race.  And that girl... *the competitive, get-outta-my-way, I'm-gonna-KICK-YOUR-BUTT girl*... THAT girl - is Elliana's mama.  :-)