Guest Race Reports: Jingle Bell Run 5K

This fall, 11 boys trained hard with me every Tuesday and Thursday to run the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis 5K on December 8.  They each logged over a marathon of miles over the course of 10 weeks.  For some it was their first 5K.  For others, this was a second or third season.  All of the boys did an amazing job and ran a great race!  Here are their race reports.  

My 5K Jingle Bell Race Report by Andrew, Age 9

When I got up three days ago I had to get ready to run a 5K.  I got my running clothes on.  I got my shoes that have jingle bells on them.  It took so long to get to the race.   I got with my running buddy, who is my teacher Miss Van Acker, and I got ready.  It started 20 minutes late.  Since there were about a thousand people in front of me I had to walk for the first five seconds.  I got out of that crowd and then I ran.  I felt relaxed.  In the first mile, though, it felt really long.  At halfway I got a drink of water and I lost my buddy.  From then on my running got faster and faster.  By the second mile, I felt more relaxed than I did in the first mile.  When I got close to the end I did an all out sprint.  When I crossed the finish line I was all out of breath.  I found out later that I was third in my age group!  It was really fun.

My Jingle Bell Race Report by David, Age 10

At the beginning I was kind of nervous.  On the first mile it was tricky because in the beginning there was a big hill, but once I got up the hill it was easier.  I was getting a little tired on the second mile but my Dad/ Running Buddy kept me going.  On the third mile I felt like I was going to pass out.  But once again my dad kept me going .  I felt really relieved when I crossed the finish line.

Jingle Bell 5K Race Report by Gavin, Age 11

We were all cold when we were at the race start, and we had to wait about 25 minutes because some people still were not signed up and did not have their race bibs.  Then when it started, I ran the first mile – A-okay!  I ran the second mile somewhat okay and when I went around the cone and turned the other direction I got to say “hi” to all my friends and cheer them on.  The third mile it started to hurt and I was wearing out when I saw the finish line.  I sprinted the last few seconds.  I wanted to stop but neither me or Shivane could feel our legs so we kept on going to the end.  We finished, finally!  We felt like we needed to barf at the end but when we drank water and ate we were just fine.  When everyone else got to the finish line and it was time for me to go home, I felt awesome!  P.S.  Mrs. Lynch was my running buddy.  I finished in 25:38, twenty seconds better than in June.

My Jingle Bell 5K Race Report by Michael, Age 10

It was six o’clock in the morning and I couldn’t sleep because I was excited for doing my second Jingle Bell Run 5K.  Later when I got to the race with my mom and dad I hoped that it wouldn't rain halfway through the race, and it didn’t.  So when I ran the race on the first mile I was really tired because there were hills in the first part.  In the second mile I was feeling a little tired after the hills.  But on the last mile I was energized because it was downhill.   And I got a time of 36 minutes with my dad!!!

Jingle Bell 5K Race Report by Joseph, Age 9

When I first started my 5K I was very nervous.  I work up at 5:00 a.m. to exercise but I was feeling very sick.  My running buddy was my brother and he said hey, let’s run the whole way.  So we did but the whole way I felt sick.  But when I was done I felt proud and happy.

Jingle Bell 5K Race Report by Sam, Age 9

On  12/8/12 I did a fabulous 5K with one of my best friends, Mr. Stanley! It was my 2nd 5K and I crushed my old time by four minutes! My time was 38:15! If I could say what it felt like I would say that it was the best race of my life.  GUYS ON THE GO ROCKS!!!!!!!!!

Jingle Bell 5K Race Report by Shivane, Age 11

Gavin and I were trying to find our way to the start, and it was so crowded!  I was surprised that we were in the second row of people at the starting line.  We had to wait and wait, but then 15 minutes late, suddenly someone said “GO!!!!”  That was so abrubt!  When we reached the hill that was early on, I started to talk with Gavin and Miss Williams about the pace I should run.  The first mile was a breeze.  The second one was a little tougher.  During the third mile I really felt like giving up.   When it was all downhill I picked up speed.  On the final stretch I sprinted my heart out.  It felt so good to cross the finish line.  The 5K was a good experience!!!

Jingle Bell 5K Race Report by Spencer, Age 9

At the starting line there were a lot of people.  We had to wait 15 minutes past when it was supposed to start.  When I started I was fast then I slowed down but I did not walk.  On the first mile I ran but had to slow down.  On the second mile I felt good and tired.  On the third mile I was so proud of myself.  I have run since the start of September and all the way to December.  I have run lots of mornings with my running partner Miss Katherine.  I finished faster than I did last year!

My Jingle Bell 5K Race Report by Yusuf, Age 9

I woke up around 7:00am.  The first this I realized was:  
1.  Today is the race and 
2.  I need to get out of bed. 
I have a habit of as soon as I get up I use the computer.  So that’s what I did.  Then I remembered the race again so I used it for only 5 more minutes.  Then I got ready and went to the race.  The race place was soooooo crowded!  Me and my uncle started looking for the group.  We found our group in the longest line ever!  Someone had taken my uncle’s race bib, so he had to get a new one.  We started the race and it seemed fine.  Then people started coming on the other side.   My race buddy saw the turn.  So I started running a little faster.  I started getting tired right before the turn.  We started walking more after the turn.  A quarter of the way to the finish line we started running again.  I saw the finish line and I started running faster.  Me and my uncle crossed the finish line in a time of 43 minutes.