Hi, my name is Cassandra and I’m addicted to racing….
I realize that I must be addicted to racing as I registered
for the MWR’s Spring Fling 5k and completed it… at 37 ½ weeks pregnant... It
doesn’t really seem that far-fetched considering many women remain active well
through their pregnancies, some up to delivery even. However with my first two pregnancies I wasn’t
as active as I should have been, and it definitely showed, It’s how I ended up
so large and horribly out of shape. I
vowed that this time I would take care of myself better (hey third time is the
charm!)
Of course I was most defiantly walking this race… my running
days have long been over.. my belly just got too big and it was no longer
comfortable to run. I kept my activity
up however by walking and using our exercise bike so I knew walking this 5k
would be a walk in the park so to speak ;)
Of course I was afraid racing was going to lose its appeal
since now in Germany, far away from my best running buddies I was all alone…
and racing with friends is part of what makes it so enjoyable. But I ended up lucking out this time, my
husband said he would join me on the walk, AND push the kids in the stroller…
score! My kids love coming out on races, although with our third baby on the
way and my daughter stretching the limits of the suggested height/weight requirements
of our double jogger this just might be our last race together as a family.
After having a week of wonderful warm spring weather of
course we woke up to overcast windy and chilly weather. .. BUMMER! But hey a
race was a race and I was still excited, so I loaded up the kids in the car and
grabbed some snacks, drinks etc (logistically bringing kids on a race takes
some careful planning!) and we were off!
We picked up our race bibs and let the kids run around the
track area while we waited for it to start… several people saw me with my
number pinned to my giant belly and remarked “oh you are racing??” to which I
replied “not really racing just walking!” I got some approving nods, but some
people still looked at me amazed like I should be at home in bed with my feet up… but let’s be real.. I already have 2 kids
my days of laying down with my feet up are few and far between anyways!
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| All the (slower) strollers |
When it was time to line up, of course we went right to the
end with all the other strollers (and holy moly there were a lot!) Might have
something to do with the fact they had a prize for the first mother AND first
place father pushing strollers, which I think is really great! More races
should do that!
The gun went off and so did we.. I had no idea what the
course was supposed to be but I knew we would be going off post… and off post
we went to a beautiful forest trail I had no idea existed. It was a very nice trail that looped back to
post and even went by a playground… I’m putting that location away in the back
of my mind for when I’m back to post baby running :)
In true European fashion the course was marked off in kilometer
increments.. so each time we passed a sign, I would point it out to the kids,
look we have walked 2k’s!! only 3 to go! It’s nice on a short race to have it
marked like that, the markers are close together, and makes you feel like you
are making progress better… but if I ever do a longer race here on I think I
will have to ignore all the markings… it make it seems so LONG! Like my german
teacher says, oh you run half marathons? 21 kilometers? Wow das ist super!! While
I should be like yeah I run 21 kilometers!! The same way I say Yeah I run 13.1
miles!! It just doesn’t feel as bad ass.. it feels more like what I run that
far?? That seems crazy…
I started to run out of energy and feel a little hungry once
we got to the 3k mark.. but its all good I hijacked the kids cereal baggies and
stuffed my face with cereal while I chugged water… it was epic… but it made me
feel better, well between that and the fact a kid who had been walking with
their mom slowed way down and I actually got to pass them! (hey don’t judge me
for being happy I passed a kid!) we were also on our way to the finish, halfway
through, and it was all downhill.. after climbing uphill for a bit it was a
nice break. ..
 |
| Coming off the downhill ahh |
It was a much needed break because the last push before we
got back on post and to the finish was a very steep uphill… it was hard on me
and I was only carrying myself… poor victor was pushing the kids… whose
combined weight is over 100lbs… good thing he is strong ;)
The kids were getting antsy at this point and were ready to
get out and walk on their own... so once we made it to the track to complete
the last bit we let them lose… which was very entertaining… needless to say we
are working on building up their stamina for the future :) and maybe next time Victoria
can walk/ run with us so we can still race as a family!
Victoria crossed the finish line running, all excited and
everyone was cheering for her, she
thought was really awesome… and of course Victor was jealous, he thought it was
messed up she stole our thunder since she knows she was sitting in the stroller
being pushed the whole way!
Overall it was a blast and I’m glad I got out there and did
it! Of course its bittersweet because I have no idea when I will be able to run
(or race)… as I sit here and write this my baby is overdue.. and there is a 5
mile race at the end of may… victor keeps asking me if I will do it, and as
much as I am dying to scream YES YES I
will do it! The rational side of me says that with this baby in no hurry to
make an appearance, I will have to sit it out… but the next race… oh its ON!
