In Which Jenn Runs A Conference 5K

Hello from the Dallas-Fort Worth airport and my honking ginormous work laptop! (Seriously. It’s HUGE.) As I mentioned earlier this week, I’ve been at a conference the past couple days. And there was a conference 5K!

Features include your very own bib and a waiver acknowledging that if you run, you could die.

I’m actually kind of excited about this post, because this is why we blog, right? I woke up the morning of the 5K and I was all NO5:20AMDONOTWANTICOULDDOTHISONATREADMILLLATER but then I thought GETUPYOUMORONTHERE’SABLOGPOSTINTHIS.

It was not my first run of the trip – I’d already made good use of the hotel gym. Which is another reason why I was reluctant to drag myself out of bed: my runs had only been okay and this would be my third in a row. Oh, and it would be an outdoor run, and we all know how I feel about those. Oh, and at 6:30AM it was already 77 degrees outside (thanks, Texas). Basically the entire time leading up to the start I was assuming my performance would suck.

Not that it mattered, since the 5K was advertised as a fun run/walk, an excuse to get some exercise in and nothing more. There were no chips, no corrals; I even saw people still walking to the starting line as I was beginning the course. My time really wasn’t going to be a real factor here.

So I started out with a light enough heart, all things considering. The course was all on pavement between the hotel’s conference center and their pool complex. There was an out and back and you had to loop around part of the course twice, and while this wasn’t particular exciting it didn’t bother me given the short distance. There wasn’t a hell of a lot in the way of scenery but the sunrise views were nice enough.

But never mind all that. This isn’t runDisney; no one’s expecting that much here. What I’m excited about is this:

I

DID

NOT

SUCK

New Garmin record: 9:13 mile. Final 5K time: 30:50. OUTSIDE. OUTSIDE. OUTSIDE. I usually SUCK outside!

Frankly, I can’t figure it out. Was it the fact that the course was fairly flat? Aside from some gradual inclines there was nary a hill to be found. But then the treadmill doesn’t have inclines either. The temperature was NOT conducive to greater speed. Was it the adrenaline? It was just a conference fun run, though; I was hardly all hyped up about it.

I really don’t know. But I do know this: I feel WAY better about the Marine Corps Marathon now. AND Dopey. Guys, I think maybe I can do this!

And a huge chunk of the reason I got up at all was so I could write about it later. Good show, blogging community, good show.

Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Twitter @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!