Gearing up for a 5k run

I've been in the pool a few times lately but with the Jones Pool at EMU being closed for maintenance I never get a very good workout at the outdoor pool at Fuller. I've been running lately to get up for my yearly 5k run. I do the "Kensington Challenge" each year at the end of September. It's a fun race, I've done it the past three years. The first year was decent because I did a few months of running prior to the race. The second year was a little slower due to less running and this past year was borderline horrible. I'm determined to run a best time this year.

I enjoy telling my 5k stories because I get to make fun of myself. I normally begin the race at a decent pace, keeping up with people my own age and good runners of all ages for the first mile. At the two mile mark I start getting passed by elderly gentlemen, then come the women... Just after the two mile mark I start getting passed by older men and women along with the occasional mothers with strollers. This is where it starts to hurt my self esteem. Around the 2.5 mile mark I'm having a hard time fending off the 10 year old kids... they're skipping along with big smiles on their faces as I'm watching my life flash before my eyes. They're lucky I'm too tired to pick up a stick or branch at this point. I always try to finish strong and sprint the finish just before my legs fall off.

Overall it's a great activity and proves to me that I'm really only decent at one sport. It's a humbling experience to say the least. I tried out an iPod Shuffle my cousin Brian gave me during my run last night, I've never tried running to music. Somehow music makes it a lot less excruciating. Someday I'd like to try a Triathlon