Column: After all the training, the big day was here

Unfortunately, this is my last column so I’m going to make it my best one yet!

Now on to the topic of the Reindeer Romp 5K held on Dec. 5.

When I hopped out of the car at 7:30 a.m., I was almost immediately frozen in my tracks. Fountain Park looked like a Winter Wonderland! There were so many decorative reindeer antlers sitting on people’s heads, and there was a Ferris wheel set up for Christmasville. The water from the fountain misted the crowd, giving the park a little snow effect.

I also had stopped dead in my tracks because it was freezing cold!

Right before the race was going to begin one of my teammates gave us pedometers. We took them and started eagerly jogging in place to see who could get the most steps. We didn’t get very many though because the announcer said it was time for the race to start. My team lined up all the way in the back so it took us a while to get to the starting line but when we did, we took off – at a steady pace of course.

After a mile, I started to get a teensy bit tired, but I remembered what we said about perseverance, and pushing through even if we don’t feel like it. So I continued on. Later, my ankles started hurting. My running buddy, Tonya Speaks of Girls World Style, said my Achilles tendons were just a little sore, so I walked for a little while.

I was walking when I suddenly saw the finish line come into view, and that motivated me to run all the way to the finish. After I crossed the line, a volunteer handed me a Reindeer Romp medal. Also at the finish line there were bananas, bagels, chocolate caramel bites and water.

As I walked away from the excitement of people crossing the finish line and getting awarded with a medal I thought about what all led up to the big 5K event. I realized that the lessons got us ready for the race more than the running did. What makes Girls On the Run great is that it builds up girls’ self esteem while increasing their passion to run.

I hope that you will encourage any girls you know grades three to eight to sign up for Girls on the Run or Heart & Sole next season.

This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 9:44 AM with the headline "Column: After all the training, the big day was here."