6am- Day of The Race 
….Tying shoes on the floor of my living room… 

Me: “Shane… I don’t know if I want to do this. I have to pee I’m so nervous." 

Shane: "Nervous about what? You are just gonna do your best and that’s all there is to it. It will be fun" 

Me: (DEEEEP breath) "BLAH! Ok…  " 

It wasn’t that I DIDN’T want to do the race. I was just intimidated. Had anyone told me a month ago that I would be signing up for a 5k, would have thought they were nuts. 
WHO AM I!? I HATE RUNNING! I am seriously PAYING money to RUN?! Maybe I’M nuts… 

7:50am 
Our little group gets to the race about 20 minutes early. I am bouncing off the walls now due to a mixture of excitement, adrenaline, caffeine, and the need to pee over and over again. (Did I mention I’m a nervous pee-er?) I am hopping around in line for the porta potties, taking it all in. For the most part, I was in a sea of skinny bodies and flat tummies… Beautiful, GIANT people. 
        
[Side note: How is it that these people look AMAZING without a stitch of makeup on?! TELL ME YOUR SECRETS!] 

All I kept thinking was: One day, I’m going to be you. One day. 

I had a little advertisement for my blog pinned to my back and I could hear people reading it out loud. There were a few times I wanted to take it down. Nobody said anything rude or obnoxious but, like really, who am I kidding? Who do I think I am? Whatever. At this point, it would be a hassle to take it down and find a place to stash it. 

8:14am 
Announcer: "1 minute left! Runners make your way to the front, walkers to the back." 

My dad, brother, and Josh bolt their way to the front while my fellow warriors and I congregate in the middle of the 800 or so participants. I yelled after them "GOOD LUCK!” and a “WAIT! JOSH!” but there was a good 200 people between us by that point. I just wanted a good luck kiss…  oh… nevermind then. 

Announcer: “OK! Places everybody! Here we go! 10. 9. 8. 7." 

-I am bouncing back and forth on my heals. Hands clapping.- 

Announcer: "6. 5. 4" 

-Omg. REALLY? I am really doing this right now? OK. 3 miles is a long way. No turning back. Are you sure? maybe…- 

Announcer: 3. 2….1!” **Fog horn blows** 

-No! Here it goes!!- 

8:15am 
It was a slower start then I had anticipated. I found myself tripping over fellow walkers. Ahead of us, I could see the huge mass of runners taking off like bats out of hell. I think I was more taken aback by the little ones! LOOK AT THEM GO! 

I wish I could tell them (the girls especially) I was SO proud of them and they should keep the running in their lives so they don’t end up 8 years later being a fat girl with a sign on her back asking people to follow her blog, trying to get on the righteous path of healthiness. 

But, I figured that would be a little much. 

So I refrained.   

8:35am- Finish 
My warrior giants and I found our stride and kept a steady pace throughout the race. We hit our first mile marker and we were feeling good. We ran on the downhill slopes and made sure to give the 10k and 5k runners that were passing us lots of hoops and hollers for motivation :) 

We passed by Shane first who was keeping pace with the big dogs! Then Joshua, and a few minutes later my dad. High fives and yells of motivation all around! I don’t know if it was just that sensation of seeing someone you know on the course but it was truly exhilarating to see them. 

As time passed, it started to warm up and the sweat started to accumulate. We were coming to the last mile and were so thankful. The last part of the course was a huge hill so we slowed down a smidge. But as I got to the top, I could hear the crowd of people at the finish line. I can’t see anything yet, but we all start walking a little faster. 

Quarter left. 

 I JUST WANT TO GET THIS DONE!  A huge amount of adrenaline comes surging through my body and I take off. I’M GOING FOR IT! 

Disclaimer: * I am sorry fellow warrior giant babes for leaving you at this moment- I just had to go.* 

I run my hardest out of the bike trail and come onto the pavement. 
I can see the finish line. 
Everyone is looking at me. 
Everyone is cheering. 
This is exciting! 
Try to control the jiggle, Sheree. 
Hyoid engaged. 
Stand up straight. 
Omg my shin splints. OMG DO NOT stop. 

The finish line is RIGHT THERE! 

I caught sight of my dad, my brother, and Josh. I am so relieved! They are cheering me on :) 

HI GUYS!! LOOK AT ME! I’M RUNNING! 

Shane comes up and starts a FULL ON SPRINT “COMMON! FASTER!!”  I FULL ON SPRINT my absolute hardest to keep pace with him and make it to the finish line. 

YES!!!!! What a relief! 

A) I was not dead last. 
B) I finished! 

I can say without a doubt: I loved every single second of this race. 

My stats are as follows: 
Rank: 652/748 
Rank in Age Range (19-29):  56/67 
Time: 53:50 
Pace: 17:22min/miles 

I feel so extremely proud of my family, fellow warrior Giant babes, and myself. I am thankful I have such an amazing support group who wanted to join me in this journey at 8am on the 4th of July :) I LOVE YOU GUYS! And I am forever grateful. 

I am also feeling confident that I can beat this time and actually be pretty awesome at the Giants 5k Race in September. I just need to keep training hard and eating healthy to keep me going. 

I SO go this. 

2 months, 6 Days and counting! I AM GOING TO BE GIANT!!!