Fiesta Marathon

My family is still unsure on how I started this running thing. I credit that to my employer's participation in the Fiesta Marathon. Work offered to pay the registration fee for anyone interested in participating. 

I walked a lot in college and figured it would be a nice morning for a 5K walk. I snapped some photos while walking and raced ahead of coworkers who were walking so I could take their photo. As I did that, I thought it would be neat if I could run the whole 5K.

I would've probably forgotten about that thought soon after the race, if it weren't for one person - Raul. 

See, I kept trying to catch up to him and I couldn't. At first, I didn't worry about. "I'll get to him in a bit." As we neared the finish line, I was in an all-out run. (Well, until it was obvious I wouldn't make it and the crowd at the finish line would see that, so I just stopped running.)

My new goal was set. I must outrun Raul at the next Fiesta Marathon. I soon started a Couch to 5K program and signed up for a race in a few months.

That was two years ago. Last year, a work schedule change and school sent me back to Square 1 of my running plan. 

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Raul easily beat me. Here he is with Erica, another person who easily outruns me.

This year I beat Raul to the finish line. This is possibly because

1. I didn't stop to take photos during the race this year.

2. Raul didn't even pass the starting line, as he didn't participate.

I also credit the first point for my Personal Record in the race.

Ah, well. It's a hollow victory. Maybe I'll just pass Raul a registration form for the McAllen Marathon or we can do a relay race at the next Fiesta Marathon.

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