I came, I saw and I conquered!!

I drove my truck up to Minocqua in scattered pouring rain. I was almost positive I would not participate in the Only Fools Run At Midnoght 5k. I been shopping earlier in the day and everytime I'd get out of my vehicle or come out of a building my lungs would tighten up.

I had never been to Minocqua before so, I had to stop somewhere to get directions to the American Legion. I missed the parking lot(Boy, do they have a lot of one way streets for a northern Wisconsin town!!) and had to drive around a bit to get back to it. I sat there in the parking lot trying to decide should I just go get my goodie bag and scratch or since I'm up here should I go ahead and participate. I had all the gear need to participate along. It had stopped raining. I sat there a good 20 minutes trying to decide. When I stopped to get directions my lungs didn't tighten up like they had all day.....that was the weight that tipped the scale! I started something and darn it all I was going to finish it!! I was not going to quit.

Certain aspects of the event I felt could have been handled different. Twenty minutes before the race started at 12AM a guy came out and started talking to/directing us. Then he got us near the starting line. Then he started trying to talk to us via a bull horn to tell us about the race....every so often I would hear something he would say but, the indians were restless. I started out at the front of the walkers but, as the walk went on I fell more behind. I am pretty sure I didn't finish last but, I was disappointed in myself because I have done 4.5 mph at a level for incline on the treadmill at ost. In my defense though I can say I ran into crosswinds blowing wood smoke which caused my lungs to tighten up, walked up 4 mild inclines in 40 degree weather, got passed by a guy(on 2 seperate occasions) wearing aftershave or cologne that caused my lungs to tighten up and I ran into to strong headwind (tailwinds don't bother my lungs) six times which made it hard to breathe. My solution each time was to either slow down temporarily or permanently. I did 5k in 56minutes. I thought 5k was 2.5 miles until I looked it up on the internet tonight. 5K is 3.1 miles.

I drove home afterwards and about the time I hit Hawkins I was glad to know where I was cause I was very tired. I usually have a tough time getting to sleep. When I got home I don't think my head was resting on my pillow 5 minutes and I was OUT!!