Mercury News Run/Walk

7:00 AM
I'm up early, way too early for a Sunday morning. I'm running in the Mercury News Run/Walk along with 8,000 other people. It's a fundraising event to benefit local schools.

8:00 AM
The morning sky is so clear and it is in the mid-60s. A beautiful day for running. I register and make my way to the starting line for the 5K run that will start soon. My goal is to complete it under thirty minutes.

9:00 AM
It begins. The first mile is the most frustrating. I find myself trying to break free from the herd of walkers and get ahead of the pack. To make up for the lost time, I run faster than my typical pace.

Mile 2.5
I'm beginning to regret the decision to make up time. My legs are fighting me and I alternate between walking and running.

Mile 2.75
As I come up the other side of an underpass, I'm greeted with the sounds of a school band seated along a stretch of sidewalk. Half expecting to hear the theme from Rocky as I come over the rise, I must be dehydrated.

Mile 3
I'm feeling disappointed and very slow. I suddenly I see the finish line banner off in the distance. My legs somehow find the strength to continue running and complete the race.

9:30 AM
I walk back to Discovery Meadow with a sense of relief. There are a number of booths providing runners with bottled water, juice, apples, bananas, breads, biscotti and even coffee. After drinking three bottles of water to rehydrate, I enjoy my first cup of delicious coffee.

4:00 PM
I'm online to check my official time. I find my name and instantly shut my eyes. If I don't look, maybe the number will shrink. I open my left eye slowly and read the time... 27:34! That's an 8:52 minute mile.

I was happily surprised. I now have a faster time to shoot for in the next race. For the record, the fastest runner completed the course in 15:52.