Okay, here’s my attempt at a blog post about Maryland running races, written in the style you requested:
Alright, so I decided to get off my butt and actually do something. I’ve been saying I’d run a race forever, and Maryland has tons, so no excuses, right? I’m no athlete, believe me, but I figured a 5k couldn’t kill me… probably.
First thing I did was hit up the internet, obviously. Just started searching for “Maryland running races” and “5k races near me”. Found a couple of websites listing events. It was kinda overwhelming, honestly. So many choices! Different dates, different locations, different… themes? Who knew there were so many themed runs?
Picking a Race
I narrowed it down by picking a date that wasn’t too soon (I needed some time to, you know, not die) and a location that wasn’t a million miles away. Ended up finding one that was a “Run for the Bagels” 5k. Bagels? I can get behind that.
Registering was the next hurdle. Seemed easy enough. Filled out the online form, paid the fee (ouch, those things are pricier than I thought!), and boom, I was “officially” a runner. Or at least, someone who paid to run.
“Training”
Okay, “training” is a strong word. I basically went for a few jogs around my neighborhood. My “plan” was to not walk the whole race. Low bar, I know, but baby steps!
- Jogged around the block. Felt like death.
- Jogged a little further. Still felt like death, but slightly less.
- Realized I needed better shoes. My old sneakers were killing my feet.
- Tried to run up the hill by my house. Nope. Not happening.
The day of the race, I was nervous! Got there early, saw a bunch of people who looked way more prepared than me. Some had matching outfits, fancy running watches… I had a t-shirt and a prayer.
The Race Itself
The race started, and it was… a lot. So many people! I tried to keep a decent pace, but I definitely walked a bit (okay, more than a bit). The good news? I didn’t collapse! And I finished! And they did have bagels at the end, so mission accomplished.
My time wasn’t amazing, but I did it. I actually ran (and walked) a 5k. I’m not gonna lie, I was sore for days after. But hey, I got a medal (and a bagel) to prove I did something. Maybe I’ll even do another one… eventually.
