I’m linking up today with Erika, Patty, and April for Tuesdays on the Run. We’re talking about our first race. Do you remember it? I remember mine, although it’s pretty vague.
I ran track in middle school and a couple miles here and there on my own in high school but once I hit college, all running came to an abrupt halt.
I didn’t start running again until my 30’s as a way to “lean out” because I was into strength training then. I started with just a mile on the mill, keeping a towel over the display because it was sheer torture to see how slowly the numbers rose. We moved overseas and I continued plugging away, gradually working my way up to 7 miles.
When we returned to the states in 2000, I decided I was finally “fit enough” to attempt a 5k. I chose a small neighborhood race and got my sister to run it with me. I was so intimidated by the thought of running with “real runners” I studied what Deena Kastor wore and went and got myself a periwinkle Brooks singlet and shorts (thank heavens I didn’t go for the booty shorts).
So race day came and I promised my sister I’d run with her. She has exercise-induced asthma so we took it easy, stopped at the water station and I felt so darn official being in a race. 3/4 of the way through, my sis needed to stop and use her inhaler so she told me to go ahead. So I did and finished in 27:something. In hindsight, not too shabby at all.
I wish I had pics of the race but that was the pre-digital stoneage so no luck, but I managed to excavate the race shirt from a basement closet. I laugh because it’s a large. I definitely considered myself still large then, even though I was probably thinner than I am now. Body dysmorphic tendencies were in full-swing back then.
What was super weird about this race, was afterward, they singled out runners wearing a lot of mixed brands and the one wearing the most got a prize. I was too new to the racing scene to realize just how strange this was. I mean really, I mix brands all. the. time. Who cares?
I ran that very same race again in 2003 (after Thing 1 was born) but other than those two, I did not race at all again until 2006 (after Thing 2 was born) when I did my first 10k and 10 miler. It was then I slipped into the vortex of higher mileage. I ran my first half and full marathons in 2007.
How about you? What/when/where was your first race? Do you wear all one brand or mix? Time is running out on my giveaway.
I still have yet to run my first race 🙂
Great story! You have a really good memory for it, too. I like that you have gone back and repeated it. I had to really think about my first–I knew my second was a 10k and the first a 5k, but I couldn’t remember which! This is because I was using them to prep for a tri, so they weren’t my main event. But after a little mind digging, I remembered–it was a 5k here in town that I did with Mr. Zippy and a few other friends. Very low key and just right for a first one!
My first race was a 5k in the ‘burbs likely around 1980. I think my family ran it and we did zero training for it. I can remember bits and pieces, but mainly that I ran most of it and got a t-shirt there which I owned for a few years. Would be cool if I still had it.
My first adult race was one I did as part of a team. It was the 5k International Women’s Day run. I went with my sister, niece and a friend. I was the only one that ran the whole way and managed to get in under 25 mins – which I thought was amazing. So I entered another 5k race and got an age group placing. And then I was hooked.
My first was a half marathon in Philadelphia- I’ve been wanting to get back and run it again!
Yes, I wear mixed brands! My first was a 5K in 2008.
I dove in a ran a half probably about 7 years ago.
But didn’t get hooked and din’t race again until probably about 2010.
My first race was in the 90s–most likely a 5K, altho I’m not exactly sure which one I did! I think I mostly wore Nike stuff back then. I know I was loyal to Nike Air Pegasus for many years. So funny to look back!
That’s the weirdest prize ever! I don’t think I’ve ever worn less than 4 brands at least! My first race I had NO idea what I was doing. It was a winter 5K and I was wearing earmuffs. I feel like I don’t need to say any more than that. Ear. Muffs.
I remember my first race…it was in Chicago. 😉
It still amazes me when I hear that you didn’t start running long races until 2007. It just seems like it’s in your blood. And no, 27 something is not bad at all.
I love your race shirt, how cool you saved them. I’ve tossed out the vast majority of my shirts (even many from last year) and a few I regret. I couldn’t even tell you my first race outside of middle school track meet….wow, this will have me thinking all day long. Probably had to be the summer of 1980. Yes, 1980!
I saw a woman at the gym yesterday that had these really cool tights on with a PINK Nike swoosh at the bottom. I thought, “I wonder if I can wear those tights with my Kinvaras.” 🙂
my first race was in 2009 at the ING half marathon in Atlanta. I should probably go back and blog about it just for fun. And lawd, I am pretty sure I wore nike tempo shorts over capris??? the shame.
Pretty awesome time! I have never heard of anyone even noticing if you mixed brands, it would be weirder to wear everything of the same brand. Thanks for linking up with us this week!
I’ve never been a cool kid and even today I still mix brands – oops!!!
My first race after my days as a high school and college runner was in grad school. I raced almost every weekend when I lived in Alabama – just 5Ks, 8Ks, 5 miles and 10Ks plus one half marathon – all fun!!!