Woodward, Okla. — Another 5K! Woohoo!

Several of my friends, along with my husband, and I, decided to enter the Freedom Red Bluff Classic 5K last Saturday. We arrived with great anticipation of what the run would mean to each of us. For some it was their first 5K, for others it was hoping to set a personal record (PR), and for me it was just the hope of not coming in behind all of my other friends who had never participated in a 5K before, but . . .

Things just never turn out as you envisioned them.

It was only 8 a.m. and already felt like a sauna! Let me say I have certain, shall we say, "quirks" that have to be in place in order for me to perform, well that's what I call it. (You know you have some too, so don't be judging.) First I need gum (cotton mouth), shoes laced just so (for circulation), shorts (that don't ride up, some of you know what I'm talking about), ipod (turned up so I don't have to listen to myself breath), and most of all the weather has to be cool. NOT HOT! Such as the case was this last Saturday.

As I headed toward the bend off the new bridge to the old one, I noticed that my itouch had not relayed a message to my headset about how far I had gone.

This is a major malfunction to my mind set! I have to know how fast I was running and how far I have left to go before I die! This can't be happening! So I slowed down long enough to read just the settings. When I glanced back up I realized that I had fallen behind (nothing too new here), so I sped up following the course that had been laid out before me. And it was laid out, but that never stops a directionally challenged person from getting.......LOST!!!

Yep that's right, you heard me correctly, I was lost in the little town of Freedom, Okla.

At this point I had only gone one block difference, so I stopped to ask where I went next, I was informed to follow that "kid". Okay, so I was on the right path, or so I thought. As I caught up with the "kid" it looked as if he was picking up the flags that where intended to mark the route. So, I proceeded to let him know to please leave the markers so that the others behind me would know where to turn, (OK at my last inspection of who was behind me . . . there where people behind me). He just looked at me and said "Um, okay. " That's when I noticed that what he actually held in his hand was a MAP!!! Oh, my gosh! He was lost too!

So we partnered up and headed back toward Main Street, I knew we should end at the bank at least. Hoping to receive some insight as to where we went wrong, we stopped another Freedom resident and showed her the map. Still no clarification, so onward we ran. Making this turn or that in hopes of finding the correct route again. Upon arriving to the main highway toward the rodeo arena, we spotted runners who had already finished. Asking them where we were to head, they pointed to the correct street.

As Izzy, my new running buddy, and I ran toward  the area that had been indicated, we came upon my husband. Now I don't know about you but I would have been laughing hysterically at him, but he just politely said "Did you get lost?" all the while trying to hold back his laughter.

Needless to say I was last...again. But here is the best part of the story, I placed second in my age group (I think there where only 2, LOL) and Izzy placed first in his age division! That in itself was worth the whole ordeal.

We also added more distance than the others. I've been accused of being an overachiever, but it was a great day!

Thanks to Izzy. It was nice to know that someone else was in the same situation. It will be a story I will tell for a lifetime. It still brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart.

So, for all of the runners and want-to-be runners, just enjoy the moment. The only thing that matters is did you do your best? We all have our "off" days, so don't beat yourself up. Most of all try to set small goals to achieve, they will encourage you to a greater success.



Sheila Gay is advertising manager of the Woodward News