I did it!!!!

Well, it's all over.

I can't believe it.

What an amazing experience. Seriously!

We left Cameron Park at 3:00 on Saturday in order to make it on time to the 5:00 Pasta Party in San Francisco four our PETA Pack Team. Unfortunately, we didn't think there would be traffic on a Saturday afternoon.....and we didn't arrive until sometime after 6:00. We drove around in circles attempting to find parking, but eventually gave up and decided to meet Justine for dinner instead. She took us to what I thought was a lovely Vietnamese restaurant. However, my husband had a differing opinion. Reason Number 4534596456 to be a vegetarian: You don't have to worry about food poisoning. Mike ordered what he thought was curry chicken, but what came out of the kitchen was definitely not chicken. It was a mangled meat in an odd brown color. He wouldn't touch it. I however, had a lovely meal consisting of crispy chow mein noodles with steamed veggies and fried tofu. I was in heaven!
We went to Coldstone afterwards because I was still hungry. Running makes you eat like a horse, no lie. I wolfed down a Like It of Birthday Cake Remix, and we wandered around the mall for a while. Then we went back to Justine's and got all comfy and sat around talking......
.......until 12:30am. And I still wasn't tired. I was so hyped up for the 5k that I couldn't sleep at all. I bumbled around the room getting things ready and after what seemed like a good hour, looked at my watch before I settled in to bed. 12:47am. Great.

I finally fell asleep, and after what felt like 5 minutes, my 5:30 alarm went off. I jumped out of bed, half because I was startled and half because I was excited. I put on my running outfit and woke up my disgruntled husband, and out the door we went. Not before leaving the Kamariotis Family a thank you note, of course. =)

We left before dawn. I was in awe that there were actually cars on the road. We arrived in the parking area at 6:30, and it was packed. Runners were milling around everywhere, and the parking lot was already full. I could not believe it. How could this many people voluntarily get up before dawn to go running???? So Mike dropped me off at the shuttles and went to find a parking spot near the finish line.

I was so nervous. And cold. It was a balmy 44 degrees outside and there I was wearing my running pants and a t shirt. Again with the insanity of it all!!! We boarded the bright yellow school bus shuttle and I could feel the excitement in the air. People were yelling "GO TEAM!" and clapping their hands. They were wayyyy too chipper for 6:30 in the morning.

By the time we got to the start area, it was around 7:00. I found the rest of the PETA Pack members, went to the bathroom in the lovely port-a-potties, and downed the first of my two Cliff Shots. Chocolate flavor, of course. Then came time to line up! My heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to give up!!! I made sure to stretch for the entire 20 minutes I stood waiting for the start. I stretched out my rebellious calves, and had an internal chat with them. I explained that they just had to get through 3.1 miles, and they'd never have to do it again. I wasn't sure if they agreed, but I felt better.

The start line was packed with spectators, and I could barely hear the mumblings of the announcer. I was hoping he didn't say anything too important, like "The 5k is cancelled, you are all running 13 miles!!!" because I couldn't hear a word he was saying over the noise of the 10,000 excited runners. They put on some booty shakin' music and led group stretches. Again, I couldn't hear, so I just followed what everyone else was doing.

Then they had a lovely woman (I assume she was lovely, but I couldn't see her so I have no idea) sing the National Anthem. Now call me a Rainbow Girl, but I was trained to always put my hand over my heart and shut the heck up when the National Anthem is being sung. However, the other 9,999 runners apparently weren't Rainbow Girls. I was a bit uncomfortable standing there like that while the people around me giggled and talked, and occasionally stared at me. But you know, whatever. It's all about the respect, right?

Next they invited some dude from a Fire Station or something to countdown to the start. I want to know how to qualify for that job. "Hey, can you count backwards from 10? Great, you're hired!". My heart beat with greater intensity with every number closer to 1. I just wanted it to be over. Finally, we were off! And.....walking? Everyone was walking! I couldn't believe it! Then I realized exactly how far away from the start line we were! And who wants to RUN to the start line?

As soon as we reached the start, our group took off like a stampede. It was kind of amazing. All the spectators were screaming and cheering. I felt like an Olympic athlete. And I'm sure the 80 year old woman next to me did too.

Mile One was really tough. My body couldn't believe I was actually doing this. Neither could I, but I wanted to keep going. I was able to jog the first 1/2 mile or so before my calves began to ache. Apparently they did not agree to my pep talk earlier. I stopped and massaged them and stretched out against a curb. Then I kept going.

After Mile 1, I was ok! My calves became numb somehow, and I was able to jog more. The run was so beautiful! We ran through Golden Gate Park, past the botanical gardens, a waterfall, and a ton of beautiful scenery. Sometimes I was so entranced by my surroundings that I forgot to focus on my running.

My only real issue during the run was a pretty major one, in my opinion. Blame it on the Vietnamese food, but I had the worst possible gas through the entire 5k. Of course, what can you do? You can't just let it out, with all those people around! So I had to grin and bear it for 3.1 miles. Only without grinning. Because that would be weird.

After what seemed like forever, one of the super-friendly-chipper volunteers on the sidelines said "LOOK! You're almost there! Half a mile left!". I couldn't believe it! I was almost done! There was no way I was going to walk the remainder of my 5k. So i picked up the pace and ran the rest of the way. I could see the finish line. It was amazing. Tears came to my eyes as I crossed the line. I just ran a 5k. The furthest I have ever run in my life. And the furthest I ever plan to.

My wonderful husband was waiting for me, and took some not-so-flattering pictures. We'll just forget about those.... Then we walked around the Race Expo for a while. I heard these Expos are awesome. Free samples, and all sorts of cool information. However, along with all the cool stuff are some pretty annoying and cruel people handing out flyers. What for, you ask? Well, more 5ks and marathons of course!! Who thought of this idea? "Here, you just finished a 5k! Don't you feel amazing?! Wanna do another one next weekend?". I wanted to slap these people.

So we walked back to the car, which coincidentally, was parked 3847586 miles away. Mike swore it was the only spot he could find, but I think he wanted to see how far I could go before I died.

Afterwards was the PETA Pack Party at the beautiful Fort Mason, right on the marina. We had a blast. Tons of yummy vegan food and ice cream cake!! I even got an award for "Best Effort"! How exciting!!! We were also given these amazing goody bags full of awesome stuff. WAY better than the Wicked rain poncho I got at the race expo.

We had been invited to 2 different superbowl parties yesterday (we're popular, I know), and I was SO looking forward to them. I am a huge football fan, and there is nothing I love more than football and stuffing my face. It's definitely more enjoyable than running. However, Mike and I were so exhausted (me from running, him from being up at such an unnatural hour) that we literally came home and crashed. We slept for 4 solid hours. It felt amazing. Until I tried to get out of bed.

OY the pain. I was convinced that my body was giving up. My hip joint hurt so bad I could barely get in and out of bed. I wanted to die. I got up and ate some leftover pizza, took enough Advil to sedate a horse, and went back to bed.

This morning I woke up feeling somewhat unsettled. I wasn't as sore, but I had a strange feeling of let down. I find it similar to the feeling you get after your wedding. You've spent months planning and/or training, and then it's over. No more daily emails from Chipper Alex. No more mandatory runs around the lake. No more pestering family and friends for donations. It's really over. I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that this isn't such a bad thing, but I'm still in a bit of a funk.

I went for a lovely massage at 11:00 this morning. The masseuse was lovely, and she really worked out some of the damage I had bestowed on my body in the last couple of months. Then I treated myself to tea and a lovely lunch at a cafe nearby, and now here I am. Blogging away.

Again, this has been the most incredible experience. I have changed as a person; I have met amazing people; I have raised money for an organization I care deeply about. All in all, it's been amazing.

Thank you so much for everyone's support and donations and love. I couldn't have done this without you. Truly. I would probably be lying on the sidewalk at Mile 2 right now.

So put a mason jar aside and start throwing your pocket change in it, because I'll need donations again next year!!!!


<3 Jen