I have always found running to be a fun hobby; however, I was always hesitant when considering entering a public race. Now after having experienced one, I encourage all that may have an interest in running to try out a 5k race.

Because of yard signs placed outside my local Taco Bell this past summer, I became aware of a 5k run happening in my home town of Rock Falls, Illinois. The run was for the local animal shelter, Happy Tails, and was called the “Paws and Claws Run for Rescues.” I figured the name was adorable and the race was for a good cause, so I marked it in my calendar and forgot about it until the night before.

I had always found running to be a stress relieving hobby with the benefit of keeping me in shape, but the idea of racing made me nervous. I didn’t want to get embarrassed by a bunch of experienced runners dusting me. Additionally, I figured that the runners I would see there would have done a bit more preparation than I had. Despite these hesitant thoughts, I decided to set my alarm and force myself to go in the morning.

After lots of caffeine, I showed up to the race site early to get registered. My nerves kicked into high gear as I saw people stretching and getting pumped up for the race. While it seemed to be taken pretty seriously by some, others brought their dogs to run the race with them because a special prize would be allotted to the top canine finishers.

My nerves subsided as I walked around and met various runners and dogs that were getting ready for the race. Local sponsors gave out free merchandise, and food vendors set up shop. While this would be a competitive race, I saw a strong sense of community that I had never known about.

As the race began, I put in my earbuds and the adrenaline went to work. I started off strong and kept a steady pace throughout. Stands placed along the route had water available for runners passing by. The miles felt like they went by quicker than they would have on a track or treadmill as the route went through different roads and nature trails. Once I could see the finish line, I put in my best effort to end strong.

After everyone crossed the finish line, the awards ceremony began. To my surprise, nearly everyone that placed ahead of me appeared to be at least ten years older. I ended up placing seventh overall and first in my age group. Regardless of how I performed, I am glad to have participated. Not only was I glad to run for a good cause, but also because I was able to have a fun experience with friendly people. For this reason, I urge anyone that has ever thought about the prospect of participating in a race to do so.