As part of the marathon weekend, Gina and I participated in the Dash to the Finish Line 5K! The race started near the United Nations then went down 42nd street and turned uptown in to Central Park, allowing runners to run the last part of the marathon course.
Gina started training for the race when she came to visit about 4 weeks ago. Our plan was to do a run/walk. Unfortunately, during training, her knees started to really bug her. She went to the doctor and found out her right knee was inflamed and that she has Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. Ugh! Gina was super frustrated because she was really liking running and following her training plan. The doctor gave her some exercises, and a prescription for a high dose of ibuprofen… and the okay to run the race! Phew.
So we still did our run walk method, and Gina was awesome! We ran for long stretches of time, then took short walk breaks, until the last mile, when the pain in her knee was too much, and we walked a bit more. We finished in under 45 minutes.
This 5K was a bit on the crazy side. There were tons of runners (10,000) but we never felt crowded. What was crazy was all the costumes, the stopping to take photos, the singing… it felt more like a spectacle than a race! I am all for having fun though, and the craziness did not bug us (except for the pedestrians who kept crossing the street in front of us). It distracted and entertained us! (But it really made me think “I hope the marathon is not like this”)
The finish line is SO COOL. There are country flags on both sides for a really long stretch. And the canopy of trees overhead is so cool. I am excited to run down it tomorrow! When we ran it today, the announcer said Gina’s name!
I am really proud of Gina for doing so well with her knee issues. I hope we can do a race together in the future where she feels better. At the expo yesterday, we were getting ideas for races… Hawaii? Disney? Ha ha. We like to dream big.
Oh, and I am really happy the matching shirts I ordered for us were delivered today after we ran the race. Nice.
Way to go, Gina!! Sounds like a fun race. I hope the marathon isn’t as crazy though. Good luck tomorrow!
Great job Gina! What a fun way to get ready for a big race!
HEY!! Good luck tomorrow! Hope you have a great race and enjoy every minute!!
Great job to both Kim & Gina! Good luck tomorrow!!!!
Boo to patellofemoral syndrome (which I have, too) and late matching shirts. Yay to having a fun 5K in the big city with your friend.
I guess by now you have finished the marathon! Looking forward to hearing about it.
Thanks so much for a fun race Kim! You truly are such an inspiration and great friend to me!!
Great job you two! Sounds like Gina needs some knee braces while she works on strengthening the muscles around her knees.
You are so right on that, Erin.