5K number 2 now in the books

Ballooned arch and volunteers at the finish line.

Here I am, happy to be finished with the 5K.

    The scene was set Saturday morning at North Scott High School in Eldridge: An arch of red-and-white balloons wafted in the breeze as the starter used his megaphone: "Ready, Set, Go!"

    A group of us, more than 140 men and women, teens and children, took off down the bike path across the street from the high school. A 5K "Fun Run," was sponsored by the North Scott Athletic Boosters and it was fun.

    I was looking for a 5K event to end the summer. I did my first one back in June and in July, took part in the two-mile event associated with the Quad-City Times Bix 7. There was a 5K in Moline connected to the Quad-Cities Marathon on Sunday but I eventually made a choice to stay closer to home. 

    It was perfect for this newbie runner. The weather was cool but the sun shined brightly. The North Scott dance team, the Silver Shakers, showed up in force. A loudspeaker blared out rock music on the grounds.

    I appeared to be one of the older participants (I'm 63 years old), and certainly was the only one wearing Iowa State Cyclones attire. Most of the others had chosen the long-sleeved North Scott Homecoming tee shirt that came with the $20 entry fee. It was a friendly, congenial crowd.

    Age and genetics are important indicators when it comes to heart health. I'm just 10 years younger than my father, Emery Cox, was when he died of a sudden cardiac arrest. That happened in October, 1989, when Dad was 73 years old.

    That fact contributed to this idea about running. It started last January, during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Husband Steve and I both had COVID the first week of the month but we recovered fairly quickly. I have had a treadmill since I first started exercising regularly, almost exactly 14 years ago. I watch television while on the treadmill and eventually started running through the commercials. 

    That's what gave me the idea to try it even more. So far, so good.

    Many folks I talk to say they "used to run," but something happened to make them stop. I'm hoping to keep this up for a few years, anyway. It helps to have a 5K event every so often.

    According to https://www.womensrunning.com/training/the-truth-about-running-after-fifty/ there is a case to be made for vigorous exercise as you age.

    But can you name all the folks who have health issues while exercising? Heart attacks, worn knees or ankles. The list goes on.

    Still, aerobic exercise, strength training and stretching exercise are key, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine,  https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/3-kinds-of-exercise-that-boost-heart-health 

    I use the word "running" loosely. My 14-15 minute pace-per-mile is pretty slow and I try to be very careful. The course on Saturday was measured at 3.44 miles, slightly longer than the traditional 5K. I was able to do it mostly on pace, with some walking involved. The finish time was 42-43 minutes. (This was the first year of the event so organizers did not have a clock.)

    The Silver Shakers dance team lined up to cheer those who finished the Fun Run and we passed through the balloon arch. That was the most fun!

    I'd try this again next year, for sure.