12/31/24, 6:44 pm: It’s the night before my first 5k of 2025! I’ve stuck to what I’ve done for my other 5ks–running 3 miles every day except for on weekends. Today I only did a 1 mile run because the night before a big race I always go easier. 

I’ve stuck to carbohydrate rich foods all day to give me energy for tomorrow. Lots of water. Gentle stretching. Everything that I can think of to give me an edge tomorrow. 

Sadly I won’t be able to run with my normal running partner, Henry. He has to be out of town during the race. I know I should be feeling more nervous for the race as I usually am, but I’m not. What normally happens is that I’m excited for my XC races (because of the atmosphere, team aspect, shorter races, etc.) and nervous for my 5ks (many more people, I’m on my own, longer distance). Currently, I have that XC excitement, and I’m going to hang on to that feeling for as long as possible.

1/1/25, 3:49 pm:  I just finished the First Day 5k! I slept in until 8:00 and wore the race provided T-shirt and leggings to stay warm. It was in the 40s, my ideal racing weather. We drove to the venue and did stretches indoors. Still, I was not nervous, which made me nervous. I rely on the adrenaline to help me get a good time on my races.

Before the race started, I was talking to a boy next to me. He flew in from Florida and was wearing jeans to race. I had to laugh at this. “It ain’t fun unless it’s hard,” he said. A musician started to play the national anthem on a saxophone. Once that was done it was one minute to start time. I heard someone yell out ‘ready!’ and we were off. I got a good start off and found my pacing around the street turn. Florida boy started off at a full sprint and I shook my head disappointedly. 

Race was going well. About .2 miles in I saw the boy from Florida walking. As I do in most 5ks, I try and get walkers to jog next to me and keep their spirits up. The sprint took a lot out of him because within 2 minutes he was walking again. 

The rest of the race went smoothly with not much to mention. The only difficulty I had was around mile 2 ½ I got stitches and that made going up and down hills much more difficult. Other than that it was just like my other 5ks.

I was about 200 meters back when I saw the finish line. I quickened my pace significantly. I sprinted the last 100 meters or so. I heard 2 other racers cheering me on. I came in around 30’24 and in 279th place.

1/2/24, 10:48 am: I just got VERY exciting news! A news channel covered the event and they caught me front and center at the start off! How lucky!