When I used to perform in the theater, dress rehearsals were a big deal. They were the first real live performances before opening night – we wore full costumes, make-up, and there was no stopping, no breaking character – it was showtime. However, you also knew that it was the last time you could mess up without the eyes of a full auditorium on you.

Well, tonight was my dress rehearsal for the 5k. I was too sore from my 2-mile debacle on Wednesday to run at all Thursday. So I knew tonight would be my last run before the race. I figured to do it right, I would even put my on my race day outfit – yes I have an outfit.

So anyways, my lovely and wise wife thought I should slow down and not run the first few laps so fast, and maybe I could actually make it the full race without dying. She was right. Tonight I forced myself to run a much slower pace than my previous attempts, and to my surprise it wasn’t easy slowing myself down. I even walk fast, so this just didn’t feel right. However, after my third lap I was still feeling pretty good. I was even able to keep a steady pace through the fourth lap, the same lap that had been a disaster a couple nights before. Then the fifth was the first lap I started breathing heavy and feeling the effects of the run, but it wasn’t too bad. By time I got to the sixth lap, I was so excited I actually sped up and started running faster!

I ended up doing 3 miles in 30 minutes. I’m not going to set any records, but at least I may not need an ambulance on Sunday. In fact, as long as the extra .1 miles doesn’t kick my butt, I should be able to cross the finish line while actually running!