Green Bay Marathon ---my 5k report

Whew what an experience! I am totally recharged and ready to kick my running up a few notches, I am totally inspired! So Friday on our way down to my sister-in-law's house we stopped at Lambeau to get my packet as well as my brother-in-law's packet. We got there about 3:45 p.m., 15 minutes before the expo/packet pick up opened and there was a line outside. My youngest came with me (as she is going through this phase where she can't be parted from me) and my other two and my husband waited in the car. Once inside I got our packets, scanned our chips to make sure they were programed right, got our tshirts, goodie bags, and posters, I took a quick look through the expo and headed out to my waiting family. Considering I had no idea what I was doing, just following the crowd, it was very smooth and quick!

Sunday morning we got up at 5:00 a.m., I ate a protien bar and drank water, got dressed (it was 35 degrees outside), woke up my three children, packed the car (as we were headed back to the U.P. after the race) and headed to Green Bay. My brother-in-law has ran for a while, but this was his first race as well. We parked right at Lambeau, snapped a quick picture, our familes headed off to cheer and Chris and I headed to find a bathroom and the start line.



I hit the bathroom and heard the announcement for 2 minutes to start, we hoped the guard rails and slid into start, we were towards the back and had just a moment to get our iPods situated and we were off. There was no time to be nervous! My first race, 6 months after I started running, only one month after I had ever ran in public. There I was, feeling strong and confident, excited and ready. There were so many people, I was weaving in and out of people, hopping the curb and up on the grass to pass people the entore way. Looking back I only remember 2 songs on my iPod, one at the water station, and the other while running through Lambeau. I was focused and so in the moment that I am not sure I even heard my music. I saw my family and my sister-in-law and her kids at mile 1, it was great to have their support, all the crowd was amazing. I know now how important support and encouragment is, it meant so much to me on my little run, I can only imagine how it feels on long races.

The water station was at the half way mark, I stopped briefly to drink a bit of gatorade and I was off again. This is another part where I was up in the grass dodging people, kids, wagons...There was one small hill on the course and I ran up it, I said in my head "I love hills" it worked. I ran past strong looking men who were walking up it, it made me smile. Once I saw Lambeau around the corner I knew I was in the home stretch. I ran down into the building which was so bloody hot I thought for a split second I could puke, ran out through the tunnel onto the field. This is where I remember my iPod and started singing along to the music as I was feeling tired, my family was in the stands cheering me on with their signs, it was great.








Back into the tunnel where again it was so hot, I was tired, I am sure I looked pained, I was a rookie and didn't smile, didn't put my arms in the air etc. If a picture was taken it will suck. I looked up at the time and saw 38 and felt ok about it, my goal for myself was 35 minutes, I was happy to learn that my offical chip time was 00:35:49. Not bad for all the dodging I had to do, certainly that ate up at least a minute LOL.

Chris finished his first race with a 00:27:31! We celebrated with a few post-race beers at 8:00 a.m.!