Saturday, June 8

Kyle's Special Heart 5K

I should have bought lottery tickets today.  I was sure lucky.

Two people I went to high school with had a baby with a heart defect.  The surgeries are going to be expensive so a bunch of us in the community collectively put together a few events.  The first one was a 5K/10K run/walk.  The other event, to be named later, in the summer/fall.

I've been somewhat preparing for this so I didn't die afterwards.  I started back up running again late January, mostly because I love food.  I work out because I love food.  I was just going to run for the cause.

We all gathered at Wilkowksi Park, in Rainier, shared stories, visited and registered.  There were games and face painting for the kids as well as food and goods being sold as fundraisers.  As it approached 9, we all gathered near the starting line, listened to the rules and then, we were off.

I tried to keep a steady pace.  I actually passed a few people.  As long as I stayed in front of Josh Frunz I was happy.  I ran with Megan for a while and then I kicked into "I wanna be done with this race" so I ran faster.  Doug was about a minute ahead of me, Jody and Amy were running the 10K and Fitzy and her mom were walking the 5K.  Lindsay decided not to run because she had to go to work so she was one of the timers.   Mom spent the time, while we were running, sewing the binding in the quilt she made for them to raffle off.


There was a water station near Tipsoo Loop that was being manned by Wendy Larson and Marleah Dilley.  In between the beats of my music, I heard Wendy say, ...and there's Val.

I got to the turn around point for the 5K and Paul Kimble was there with the camera, refreshments and some words of encouragement.  I smiled for my picture, said hi to Paul and made the turn.  I tried to increase the speed in my pace.  I really wanted to get done.  Also, I really wanted to beat my previous 5K time, which was 30:04 from the end of March.  I saw that Doug was not too far ahead of me.  I may catch up to him.  Along the way back, people cheered each other on.  I offered some woo's and applause's and almost there's.  When I got to the trestle I so wanted to be done.  I started running faster.  I really wanted to be under 30 minutes.  I rounded the last corner and I saw the finish line.  My mind said sprint but my body said no.  I pushed through it and crossed with a time of 28:15.


YES!  Under 30 minutes!

I was given some water and I took a rest nearby where mom was still sewing binding on the quilt.  I talked to Lindsay, Morgan and a few other people near the finish line.  Megan crossed the finish line a few minutes later and wanted me to walk with her down the trail to grab her pull over.  She took it off during the first part of the race.  It was a nice cool down.  We chatted about random things on our small walk there and back.  When we did get back, I talked to Fitzy, Lindsay and Sylvia.  A while later, I talked to Doug and Luke came by to say hi.


It was almost 11.  I told mom to wrap the binding up because we really had to go soon.  I was intercepted by Emily and Tara after they figured out the prizes for each race and gender, and they told me I was the top female runner for the 5K.  I was like, are you sure?  Because there was a girl a head of Doug who finished before I did.  They looked back through the results and saw according to the registration forms and the numbers and times I was the winner.  I said okay and accepted an award that was made by Paul Kimble.


A while later I learned that the girl who was a head of me, wasn't actually registered with her name but was running under Jonathan Sprouffske's name and number.  I told Emily and Tara thank you, we visited with Sylvia a little bit longer and then I got a phone call from Bev asking when they were suppose to pick us up for the geocaching event.  I told her 11:15 at my house.  I had grandma meet us there as well.  I grabbed mom, we drove home, got ready quickly and headed to Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, north of Enumclaw.

Here are the top 10 results from the race:


For more information about the race, Kyle or the fundraisers visit these sites:

https://www.facebook.com/events/422924574470912/?ref=2

http://kylesspecialheart.wix.com/klsh

https://www.facebook.com/Kylesspecialheart

Next Adventure:  GeoTour Kick Off Celebration at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park.

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