Well, this is my final column for the 5K training, because training time came and went – and so has the 5K.

The Energy Oasis 5K Race and Fitness Walk started right at 9 a.m. on Saturday and I finished in 34:42 – which I would say definitely leaves room for improvement, but is my personal best so far.

I was so nervous – I started to get nervous on Friday night. I woke up before my alarm even went off at 7 a.m. on Saturday – which is early for me – and my stomach was already jittery. But that’s how I always used to be before running events when I was on the high school track and field team, so I wasn’t really surprised. My boyfriend thought I was nuts for getting all worked up, and simply told me I was going to do great.

I think I did do great.

I did the entire 5K – which I knew I would. And I ran almost all of it – which is what I figured I would. The first mile was a breeze, which I think is probably one of my biggest achievements. Running a mile is a breeze. I don’t know if I’ve ever said that before.

Mile one I was feeling good and rocking out to my techno-dance CD (I’m pretty sure I was the only runner carrying a CD player – not a savvy I-Pod strapped to my arm). I walked for maybe a couple hundred yards during the first water stop and again as I approached the two-mile-marker. Mile two was hard and mile three was the hardest – especially the first half. I thought we were almost done – but quickly realized we were running into the Rec Park and not Energy Oasis. By that time I was tired and feeling like it was stretching on forever.

In the end, I ran more than I have ever done during my training (especially in that amount of time), and I felt really good. I’m a little sore today, but I’ll be hitting the streets to keep on running and train for more 5Ks. Maybe even one day a 10K?

Maybe. Right now, my next goal is to do a 5K in 30 minutes or less. Considering the fact my best mile time in high school was a 9:24, I’d say I’ve got my work cut out for me, but in a good way.

And now, a few thank yous.

Thank you staff of Energy Oasis for putting on a great 5K with a really good course – it was nice to be both on and off road, and it couldn’t have been any better marked. And thank you Kathy Ackerman for taking the time to give me pointers on how to increase my stamina and prepare for the race.

Thank you Howard Rush, you were persistently one of my biggest fans. There were a few times during the course that participants had to loop around, passing by those coming up behind them. So Howard saw me more than once and he always had something encouraging to say and, at the end of the race, came out to pace me the last bit. I definitely pushed myself for those last couple minutes! I don’t know if I would’ve beaten my time if not for you.

Thank you to my boyfriend. You waited so patiently for me at the finish line. You clapped and cheered for many that you didn’t know while waiting for my familiar face to finally reappear, all the while taking photos and video of the experience for me. Your support and encouragement throughout all of my training really helped me stay motivated.

And thanks to the BCN for funding my first-ever 5K. I’m glad I was able to share the experience with everyone. Thanks for your interest and I hope maybe I even motivated someone out there who thinks they could never do it (aka someone like me), to try.

I have appreciated all the support the community provided and it was really an amazing experience to run my first – and definitely not my last – 5K.