The Coplin Family

11.11.2009

Race for the Cure 5k

The 2009 Komen Memphis-MidSouth Race for the Cure® was held at The Shops of Saddle Creek, Germantown, TN on October 31, 2009.


This was our first race ever and it was a big one!  We chose to do the 5k (3.1 miles).  About 16,000 people signed up and obviously showed up for the race.  There were a lot of walkers and young children.  I must admit (and Luke admitted to me) it seemed to be an emotional race for some people.  I ran across the finish line with a girl crying beside me (not sure if she was hurting or just emotional).  Even Luke felt a little choked up at times when we were encouraged by neighborhood folk that were along the road during the run (even if it was Elvis singing on top of someone's roof or a group of kids dressed up as the Village People doing the YMCA).

I was encouraged by this elderly man (maybe in his 70s?) that was running with a shirt on that said "I run by the grace of God."  It was sweet.  I must say I felt a little defeated when I saw many kids in jeans passing me.  I'm just telling myself that they started the race way before me.  I can, however, brag that I beat Luke by 15 seconds.  I finished in 29 minutes and 15 seconds!  We did not pay for the electronic timing chip, but we just used our watches - hope that was accurate!  I was just glad to get under 30 minutes because of all the people and walkers we had to push, dodge, I mean gladly pass.  So that means we ran an average of 9.1 minute per mile pace.  However, because of all the passing (basically walking at first) I bet we did sprint intervals and went really slow up about 4 hills.  I was hoping for better, but we felt great afterwards!

I hope that I can continue to run and not have hip or knee ailments.  It is (sometimes) fun, great exercise, great prayer time, and a good way for me to exercise Pippet.  I'll just throw in a picture of her for good measure ;)

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