It happened few years ago, 2007. I never forgot about this every year in May. This race experience really inspiring me to run. I might started thinking about running again. Not jogging. Maybe not this year. I still couldn't believe that I was one of hundreds participant of the beach run series years ago. 

There were 8 sets of  run series in every Thursday. I remembered that I just took 4 out of 8 races. There were 3 types of race, 1 mile (1.6km), 5km and 10km. I would consider myself as a beginner runner. So I learned to run 1 mile as a beginning for a long distant runner. I never ran 5k or 10k but I would love to try.

My running race began when hubby invited me to join race with him. He loves running and winning titled was not his target even he won many awards of  races. Running is part of his enjoyment and also challenge him to achieve a good result than other people. He participated a lot and lots of long distance race. This picture below showed him running one of races. It was taken by a professional photographer and published it on the website.
My FIRST time race was in Beaufort, NC. I registered 1 mile (1.6 km) race. 1 mile doesn't seem so far but it worth to try as a beginner runner before trying long distance miles. The race was held on the road. The picture below was taken in Beaufort, NC. I had no idea how I was gonna perform my race that time. Was it like?
The race started at 9:00 am for 1 mile then 9:15 am for 5k and 10k. I finished the race but I felt pretty bad because I didn't do good. I felt weak that time. No stamina. His race started at 9:15 am so I didn't get chance to see him running at the start line. He finished at 45:04 minutes for 10k.
 
It was raining just after 1 mile race ended. The road seems wet and slippery. So 5k and 10k runners running in the rain. We went home after they announced the winner. 
End of Beaufort race

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I learned my lesson when I got left behind in the race in Beaufort. It motivated me to get serious on physical training. I put much effort on my training such as lifting weight, abs workout, running on the paved track and cardio workout with Nordic Track Skier. Some of my training was coached by him. I think that time was crazy because my training was like an athlete.

I joined the beach race for 2nd time race. Running along the beach? Cool huh!!. The race started in the afternoon at 5:30 pm for 1 mile. Personally I had nervous feeling when I was standing in the crowd with the participants. The participants were variety of ages from 12 years old to 60 years old. I had a thought"I just have to run as fast as I could". When I heard the gun shot to the air, I ran with slow paced. I planned to steady run in the first half and run fast in the second half.
Running at the beach was fun and exciting but it was kinda hard when I ran against the wind. It was so windy at the beach. The wind blowing towards me putting extra weight on my body and resisted me to run fast. I hoped that I didn't get left behind. I must go fast. My heart beating faster, my legs started getting heavy due to lactic acid build up in my muscles, my mind started thinking to stop and walk in the middle of the race. I see some participants walking after halfway running.

I remembered him saying this "Once you stop, you lose". Thinking about stop really challenged me mentally. After half mile running, I saw the finish line about 800 meters away and the crowd. It made me to sprint and running hard. I passed a few runners in front of me. I heard people clapping along the way. I really had short breathe. When I stepped on the finish line, the crowd saying "Good job" and smile at me.
The organizer took my number to record my time.  I felt want to vomit at the finish line because I pushed myself really hard in the race. I exhaled and inhaled fast due to lack of oxygen and hubby welcome me with a hug and smile. I said " I succeed to run all the way" He said " You did good" He got me some water. I walked along the beach to recover myself and felt great after that.

His 10k race started at 6:00 pm. When I saw the crowd, I wish I could run 10k but it need a lot of training. They were ready to go and waiting to hear the gun shot.
It took about 35-40 minutes to see 10k runners back to the finish line. I sat on the beach while waiting for him. Finally I saw him running like a wind and I managed to snap one picture of him.

We had great achievement during this beach run series. The organizer didn't announce the winner at the end of the race. They published the race event  and the results in the newspaper "Carteret News Times". The event was held in every week so we had to get weekend newspaper to see our result.

The first set of beach race, the result was really unexpected, both of us got the first place! Oh my god, I felt so happy. It worth to kick hard that time.
My time was 9 minutes 16 seconds for a mile and his was 46 minutes 16 seconds for 10k.
We didn't took part for 2nd set, but we participated on the Third set of races. I dropped to the 5th place with the record time 9 minutes 28 seconds. I don't remember this time why I ran so slow.

Then Fourth set of race, I gained and set a new record 9:06 minutes compared to my first set of race. I cut 10 seconds and I got the 3rd place
Then this time, I didn't remember whether i joined or not.. The arrow showed him running with barefoot.
Eventhough I didn't maintain my place in the race, I think I did a good job during the races. He proud of me because I tried and push myself to the limit. I still consider running 9 minutes for a mile was pretty slow. Obviously I need to improve my mile time. My weight currently around 100 lbs (45 kg) so I would achieve to run at least 7 minutes or 8 minutes a mile. I need to practice run fast, workout a lot and motivation.

I wish we would start to join race again someday, one day when we are ready.