Newbie Run!

I’m a little behind on this, but could not let it slip by.  Last weekend, my cousin Liz visited from NY.  The main purpose of her visit was to run the Harpoon 5 Miler, her very first race.

On January 1st, we had a text message exchange that went something like this:
Liz: My new year’s resolution is to run a race.
Me: Hooray!
Liz: Maybe I can find a race in Boston and use it as an excuse to visit too.
Me: Woohoo!  I’ll find us some races and we can figure out what will work.

One of the things I love most about running is the feeling of accomplishment that comes from completing something challenging.  A new distance.  A new pace. I get excited when I train with first time marathoners when they run their first 16 miler, first 18 miler, first 20 miler…sometimes I may be more excited than they are.

So needless to say, I was excited for my cousin’s race, and not just because I secretly hoped it would provide me with a running buddy when I head home for holidays from now on.

Five months, and a marathon later (for me), it was race day.  I offered to run with Liz, which she accepted.  She said it was so she wouldn’t stop and walk, but I know she is way too competitive to have let that happen.

She was running really well and in the last mile, she did start to get tired.  I told her we were going to pick someone in front of us and just focus on passing that person.  We would forget about how far away the finish line was.  Girl in the pink shorts.  Check.  Girl in the blue shirt.  Check.  Guy in the red shirt.  Check.  Suddenly the finish line was in sight.

With about 25 yards to go, she broke out into a sprint.  With about 5 yards to go, she moved to the left, putting me behind another runner and crossing the finish line 1 second ahead of me.  The little stinker.

Liz was awesome, and she even had a good time.  She left the following morning and by 6:00 that night was asking me about 1/2 marathons.  As the week went on, she bought a GPS watch and found a local half in October she plans to register for.

Congratulations Liz.  And welcome to the world of running!