I did it, and then I thought I was going to die, alone

I ran my first official 5k, the Disney’s Cinderella Royal Family 5k.  I ran it in 42 minutes.  I was very excited and so very proud of myself.

I was in wave 3 of 5.  16 minutes after the first runners started, it was my turn.  It started in the EPCOT parking lot and I started out strong.  I passed by a bunch of people, and was passed by a few that took off fast.  Everyone had told me that there was so much excitement and music, so don’t wear headphones, so I didn’t turn my music on.  The first mile was quiet and through nothingness.  It was tough and I was starting to doubt my ability to do it.  I passed mile 1 and slowed down a little bit so that I could turn my music on to give me some momentum.

Shortly after that, I entered EPCOT, around Mexico.  That is when there was music and cast members cheering and all kinds of excitement (of course, right after I turned my music on).  I ran around EPCOT, past Norway and China, by Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, and France.  I walked for about 10 seconds up the hill heading over to the United Kingdom around mile marker 2, but picked back up the run.  We ran behind the United Kingdom and came back by Canada.  We ran up to the front of the park, around Spaceship Earth and then back up toward it and out the side of the park into the parking lot.   I saw mile marker 3 and knew that I was almost there.  I rounded the bend and saw the finish line.  I felt okay, but all I wanted was to see my family.  I kept running, but I kept looking and then I saw them – my wonderful husband and my two beautiful children.  That gave me everything I needed to cross the finish line.   I finished and I got my medal!

We had a wonderful vacation until the day we were returning home.  Then I started to feel horrible.  I had terrible abdominal pains.  Then I threw up the entire flight home.  So, we went to urgent care straight from the airport, and they sent me to the ER with appendicitis.

So, here I am 2 weeks after my first official 5k, with 3 holes in my abdomen.  And they say running is good for you.  I am here to say, it is not!