This was most likely my final 5K of the year, but it was one that I was looking forward to. I first ran it back in 2019, and I would have run it last year, but I had a 5K that kept getting re-scheduled that was ultimately held on the same day as this race. So when I knew registration was open for this year’s race, I definitely had to sign up.

This race is in honor of GySgt Thomas J. Sullivan who was killed in 2015 at a naval reserve center in Tennessee but was originally from the area where I live. It’s held at the bar and restaurant owned by his family, one that I enjoy going to and also where Josh and I have gone to trivia.

My goal for this race was just to finish and have fun. I’ve been running 2-3 times a week but after having COVID this summer, I’m still not in running shape like I used to be. But I was doing this race to support this cause and Sullivan’s family. I met up with a co-worker and also saw one of the girls from the ice cream shop who was running, so it was nice to catch up with her.

Since we were running out on main roads, police were stationed at intersections to direct traffic; last time there were officers out there, too, but not as many as this time around. I felt safer running with the traffic on the road, and most of the roads had sidewalks I could run up on if I needed to.

I was toward the end of the runners, and behind me was a group of Marines running together. There was a similar group last time, and I kept telling myself I needed to stay ahead of the group. Well, throughout the race, the group and I ended up passing each other a few times—like when I stopped to walk—but at the end, I made sure I was going to finish before them. They were my motivation to keep running.

My final time was 34:54, which was similar to my times for my first two runs this year. I’m happy with a sub-35 minute time. I was 73rd out of 100 runners.

There was an after party, so that meant I had a beer before 11:30 a.m. 🤷🏻‍♀️ There was a buffet lunch of salad and pasta, so I got that and finished my pumpkin beer before heading home after 12:00 p.m.

I went home and showered before Josh came over to watch football; I made crockpot mac and cheese and read snuggled under a blanket. Plus I got to pet a German Shepherd puppy at the race, so overall, I’d say it was a good day.