Town and Gown

On October 18th, Ter and I ran in the annual Town & Gown 5K run - Theresa's first race. Despite her concerns, I was trying to convince Theresa that she was adequately trained to run the race. I let her know that when I ran my first 5K, it was the farthest distance I had ever run! On the other hand, Ter had run the distance three times a week for at least a month. I wanted her to really run hard for the first time to prove that she was in great shape.

It was a bit chilly that morning and I planned to be her "pace runner" so that she could be pushed, but not push her so fast that she would completely vomit (which sadly, some people did - probably students who stayed out all night). Anyway, at the crowded starting line, Ter just took off - adrenaline going wild!

I knew that the first challenge would come at about the one mile marker - this is when the body is not quite warm enough to breathe easily but the body is working hard after running a mile. At this point, Ter pulled up with an aching look on her face saying "I can't do it at this speed." But after that initial test, she came around and finished at a consistent pace over the race. Hopefully that confidence will carry her to another race in the future.

Check out the results

The initial conversation about this race was started by Jeff and Heather Prall, who feigned interest in running early in the summer. The gauntlet was thrown down as they challenged us to complete the race and to get Ter to run. I also remember some time ago when Heather thought that 5K was too short and that she was more interested in a longer run (though she quickly brushed off the 4 mile race in the Dells). The Pralls' enthusiasm toward the run quickly waned. On top of that was a rough week with sinus problems, but Heather completed the race (though there are no photos that I know of that actually prove this). Alos I'm not sure if Jeff was one of the vomiters at the end :)

But we all made it. Will there be a next time for us? I mentioned to all the idea of the 5K at the Illinois Marathon, in Champaign, on the day before Easter. Can we all come up with combined times that are better than the Town & Gown? A new gauntlet is thrown...