I ran my first 5K race yesterday and it was an absolute blast. The race was a benefit to raise funds for the Elmwood Pinewood Cemetery in downtown Charlotte. The cemetery, which is also an arboretum, provided to be a surprisingly fun and scenic course to run.

I finished 34th overall with a completion time of 25:49 minutes, averaging a pace of 8:19 per mile. I feel incredibly proud and accomplished. While this race is small in the grand scheme of things, it’s certainly a milestone in my running journey.

The next race I’m running will be in February, the Charlotte Hot Chocolate 10k. In addition, I’m also participating in the Texas distance challenge, an event I’ve wanted to do back in Austin. I’m incredibly excited to have the chance to run both.