Back to the Start Line

The last time I wrote about a race was back in 2019. That year I ran two half marathons in one trip, and before that I wrote about still running my own race, a year after my first marathon.

A lot has happened since then. COVID, years of RV adventures, and somewhere along the way, a farm. Goats, chickens, pigs, gardens. Running didn’t disappear completely, but it definitely took a back seat.

So this year I decided it was time to start again.

Signing up

On January 16th, I registered for Rock the Parkway here in Kansas City. I signed up for the half marathon. I figured if I put a real goal on the calendar, I’d have a reason to lace up.

And for a while, it worked. I got out there in January, including one run in 14-degree weather. When I went away for a weekend with my cousin Kim in February, we even hit the hotel treadmills.

In February I downloaded a half marathon training schedule. I had every intention of following it.

Real life had other plans

Did I follow it? Not really.

Between the farm, work, and a trip to Key West in March, my training was more “when I can” than “on the plan.” I kept running, but not consistently. And as race day got closer, I had to be honest with myself: I wasn’t ready for 13.1 miles, and I knew pretending I was probably wasn’t going to end well.

So I switched to the 5K.

I’ll admit that stung a little. The version of me who ran a marathon would have pushed through. But I’m not that runner anymore. Starting again doesn’t mean picking up exactly where you left off. It means showing up where you actually are.

Race day

The night before, I laid out everything: my Rock Fest t-shirt, bib, shoes. My classic “flat Deb.”

On April 8th, I ran the Rock the Parkway 5K and finished in 43:37, with an average pace of 14:02.

The weather was pretty much perfect, around 60 degrees, but the course was hilly, and I walked a lot. This wasn’t about setting a speed record. It was about getting myself back to a starting line and actually crossing the finish line.

It’s not the fastest 5K I’ve ever run, and it’s not the half I signed up for. But it’s the first race I’ve crossed the finish line of in over a year, and I’m proud of it. And considering how little I’d trained, I’ll take it.

Starting again

I’m not chasing perfection. I’m just trying to feel better today than I did yesterday. This time, that meant a 5K instead of a half. And for now, that’s enough.

The start line is still the start line. I’m just glad I’m back on it.