10KM (killing me) Run

 I have not done this for a while so stay with me as I attempt a new blog.
 It was Saturday night before my very first 10km race and do you think I could sleep?  Not a chance as I could not get past the feeling in my gut from the three pieces of cake I ate with the kids.  For all you runners write this down, "no cake the night before a race".
 Sleep eventually came and so did 7am, really quick, my wake up time to prepare for the upcoming 10KM's.  I felt great and after a small bowl of cereal and a bottle of water I was ready to go.  The only one awake from my cheering section was Mutt, my 6 year old son, leaving me with doubts about them making it to the race.  I should have known better as my wife knew the importance of this race and managed to wrangle up the kids, without feeding them, and made it on time.  As for me I made it to the race in plenty of time to get comfortable with my surroundings and properly prepare for the race.

My nipples are sore!

 What is involved in prepping for a race you ask?  First is washroom break #1 (tip given to me was to always bring your own T.P. as porta potties are not reliable), than check in your bag (hopefully you won't need that T.P. anymore), go for a 5-10 minute run to help loosen up the muscles and get your heart rate up, some light stretching of legs and, for me, shoulders, washroom break #2 to clear out the bladder, then head to the start line.  When you hear there is 5 minutes remaining to start time you have one last chance for washroom break #3 (which cannot happen at the 5km mark of your race as fellow runners don't like you peeing in the bushes or on a lamp post).
 The gun goes off and I now start slowly, working my way through the runners that should be further back, building to a comfortable pace.  At the 2.5km mark I think how previous races I am half way home, but not today, today I am a long way from my turnaround.  As the lead runners pass me on their way back I think how it must be very cool to run at that pace and still have something left at the end, but I also think how I am 20 years older and only been running for a year, excuses have started.  At the turn around I think of my nephews and how a couple weeks earlier they ran 10k in 44 and 46 minutes.  To think that up until this moment I actually liked these guys and now I want them to get fat and old, maybe just for a week.

Cheering section

  "Your almost there" is something you hear as you get close to the end and all I want to yell back is "than you finish the race for me".  Today, it is a comforting thing to hear as I am looking forward to seeing my cheering section waiting for me near the finish.  As I run the final 100 metres I see the kids and my wife cheering me on and I run past them for hi-fives from all of them.  I have never felt better at a finish line than I did today.
 To my nephews all I can say is congrats on your run and don't worry I will let you win the next one as well.  To my cheering section, I could not ask for anything better, I love all of them and they inspire me every day.  I only hope my running inspires them to get active and stay active.