Recently I was introduced to Daily Mile’s daily mission.
Normally I just think about the question. Sometimes I’ll respond via Twitter or like someone else’s response on DM.
But yesterday’s daily mission was different.
My mind immediately went back to May 29, 2010. My first race.
I showed up 45 minutes early because I didn’t want to miss anything.
Big mistake. It took me maybe 5 minutes to get registered and grab my bib and shirt. I then had 40 minutes to entertain myself.
I wasn’t so great at entertaining myself but I was awesome at psyching myself out.
I went to the bathroom probably half a dozen times. I needed something, anything to do.
I was convinced that I wouldn’t be able to finish. I would have to walk. There was no way I could run that far.
All of these irrational thoughts kept telling me to go home. I didn’t listen.
I lined up at the start line towards the back. I knew if I had any chance, I’d have to find my own pace, not the one chosen for me by the crowd.
The gun went off. The crowd surged forward.
I left my butterflies and self-doubt at the start line.
When I finished, I knew I was hooked. I had never felt so high on life as I did when I was racing.
I haven’t looked back since.
What do you remember about your first race?
Great post! My first race was an 8K, which I needed to run to sign up for the National half a few months later. I was so nervous too, and I went all by myself in the cold (it was December). But of course I ended up having a great time!
I love bringing back those awesome memories.