Race #1: Michigan (Detroit) July 22, 2018

One down. Only 49 more to go

The adventure is underway and I could not be more excited about it. I barely slept the night before the race because my adrenaline was pumping so hard. But a midnight ham sandwich and a couple glasses of chardonnay got me through it.

Like any undertaking, that first step (literally) is the hardest part. You can plan to do something, tell people you’re going to do it, buy stuff you’ll need to do it, but until you actually take that first step it’s just something you might do. Now that this first race is in the books, my 50 Before 60 journey is something I am actually doing and that feels great!

Detroit is where my heart is

The race was called the Ice Cream Sundae 5K and was held in Detroit. Yeah! It was in my city and there was free ice cream at the end? Sign me up! No brainer.  The race was held on Belle Isle…on a Sunday. Very clever. If you’re not familiar with it, Belle Isle is one of the gems of the city. It’s an island park in the Detroit River with an aquarium, botanical gardens, nature center, and a ton more. It’s a beautiful place to run.

It was really important for me to run the first race in Detroit. I grew up north of the city on the mean streets of Romeo, MI (yes, where Kid Rock is from). We lived in constant fear of being trapped on the road behind a tractor — in a no passing zone. NOOOOO! I was one of the lucky ones who made it out. I lost a lot of friends to cow tipping accidents.

For the past 17 years, I have lived in Detroit. Not in the suburbs like a lot of people who claim to be from Detroit. No, I am an actual Detroiter. I love this city, so I had to represent the “D” to start things off.

Love, Support, and Bitching

This race was extra special because my daughter, Kendall, ran it with me. It was her first 5K ever! I can’t describe how much it meant to have her there at the beginning with me, even if she did bitch and moan the whole time. Before it even started she threatened to just go home at the sound of the pistol. But she hung in there and made it to the end. I am so proud of her for doing it. The highlight of the race for me was seeing Kendall do a cartwheel across the finish line. I love that kid.

The support I have gotten from family, friends, and even strangers when I tell them about my goal has filled me with inspiration. I cannot thank you all enough. I will take all of the encouragement (and wine) I can get along the way, so please keep it coming (especially the wine).

Not a typical process

If you ask anyone who knows me they will tell you:
1) I have no filter between my brain and my mouth
2) Your outside voice is my inside voice
3) I am far from ordinary

That last one is obvious when you look at my pre-race rituals.

The night before this race I ate pasta for dinner. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “But Linda, all runners carb up with pasta the night before a race.” OK, sure. Do all runners wash it down with a glass or three of chardonnay? I didn’t think so. #drinkingoutsidethebox

The morning of the race, I kept it light with peanut butter toast and coffee. No wine…I swear. I also peed like eight times. That is very important, by the way. Always pee before a race. If I don’t go right before that gun goes off, I can almost guarantee that 2.5 miles into it I will piss my pants. Sorry to everyone behind me, but you should have brought a towel with you.

Music is probably the most important part of running a 5K, at least for me. Since this race was all about representing Detroit, I went with my boys Bob Seger, Eminem, and of course Kid Rock. Can you imagine that concert? OMG! Anyway, they rocked my run and kept me on a good pace.

I was pretty happy with my stats for the race:

Time to finish: 32.36 minutes
Pace: 10.44-minute mile
Rank in age bracket: 12 out of 74

When I got home, I pushed the first pin in my 50 Before 60 map. This map hangs in my kitchen to remind me, several times a day, of the goal I am working towards — and that it’s OK to have a second bowl of pasta.

I pushed that first pin in Detroit, smiled a satisfied smile, then made a Bloody Mary. Hey, don’t judge me. I deserved it.

Next race is in Cleveland, OH so…

WATCH OUT CLEVELAND, HERE I COME!