What a difference a year makes

I ran the Fitness Festival 5 yesterday.  It is an annual run that is sponsored by the Smoky Hill River Festival.  I ran it in 51:21!  I didn't stop or really even slow down.  I just kept my steady 10 minute run.  The most amazing thing is... this was my first race LAST YEAR.  Let's travel back to that day.  I, for some odd reason, thought that I should saddle up next to the head of the pack.  Then as soon as the gun went off, I tore off at break-neck speed.  Remember, this was my very first time running in a race.  Jake kept telling me to slow down.  But I just grunted and puffed and floored it... for about 1 mile.  Then I hit the wall.  I had to stop.  I couldn't breathe.  My chest was about to explode.  How much further?  Oh yeah, 4 MORE MILES!!!  The people pushing strollers passed me, the very out-of-shape people passed me.  Even the guy who probably unplugged from his oxygen tank to run this stupid thing passed me.  I was red, sweaty, smelly, wet, huffing and puffing.  I have no clue how long it took me to run it, because all I cared about was living after finishing it.  The cherry on my race was when not one, but three volunteers came up to me at different times after I had finished to inquire as to if I needed medical assistance!  WOW!!!  What a difference a year makes.  I'm no pro at this running thing.  But I am actually looking forward to next year.  I have only one way to go... UP!