A New, Personal Best Running 5km for the 2018 Polar Bear Run

As I crawled out of bed a few minutes after 7 a.m., I had a good feeling that the 5km race I was about to run would be successful. I have been training for weeks with my sister at the gym near our house. Every step on the treadmill and drip of sweat was all put towards beating my personal best time of running 5km in forty minutes. Not only was this a goal I had set, but there was something I had yet to identify that was missing from my daily running routine.

I later discovered it was a lack of motivation that was cured by the competitive realm of running.

We dressed warmly in athletic gear and collected our race kits at the Assiniboine Park & Zoo in Winnipeg, MB. It is also important to note that the purpose of the race was for the conservation of polar bears and all or most of the proceeds go towards research and rescue services. We stretched and hyped ourselves up before the race by laughing and taking pictures. There were a few announcements before the 10km athletes began their run and approximately fifteen minutes later it was time for the 5km race to commence. Finally, the anticipated moment had arrived!

With my goal in mind, I turned up my music and began running among the 300 participants. The weather conditions and sanded roads made it easy to navigate. I kept an eye on the people ahead of me as a guide to stay within the trail and I also made a goal to eventually pass these individuals. I was very determined and pushed through the pain. Overall, I’m super proud of myself because I ran the entire race at a strategic pace which allowed me to achieve my goal.

It was extremely motivating to be cheered on by many park volunteers and to run among a diverse group of athletes. This alone was enough to fuel my motivation and enthusiasm. During the last 1km I was able to sprint to the finish line and complete the race in 33 minutes and 52 seconds. Wow! Literally two weeks before this race I ran 4.6km outside in -32 degrees Celsius with a time of 39 minutes. However, I ran it today in 33 minutes and could not be happier. The feeling of crossing that finish line was like no other. Between the gasps for air and soreness in my legs, my hard work had paid off and I felt unstoppable.

I am so thankful to have had the chance to compete among many experienced athletes and their determination was key to inspiring me. At the award ceremony and free pancake breakfast, the fastest male 5km runner won with an insane time of 17 minutes. The fastest female for the 5km race finished with a time of 23 minutes. As for the 10km, a male won first place in roughly 43 minutes and a female competitor won in 40 minutes. Altogether, I am so happy knowing that today’s race was a major step to achieve my next goal of completing a 10km race in less than 50 minutes. What an amazing, successful winter race. I can’t wait for the 4^th annual Polar Bear Run in 2019 and the numerous running challenges I will participate in soon.

“Set your goals high and don’t stop till you get there.” – Bo Jackson

Written by Tessa R. Adamski