52 Weeks, 52 Runs. No. 21: What? You mean running a 5K in under 30 minutes is not the most important thing in the world?

I declared last week that perhaps running and I needed some space. Things were getting a bit rocky – and not the fist-pumping, Eye of the Tiger kind. You would think this realization would be reason enough for me to take a weekend off, use the time to decide what I really want out of the relationship. Running, maybe I’m just not that into you.

Instead, I decided to do two 5Ks.

Of course I did.

The Washington Monument looks over West Potomac Park in Washington, DC, the setting for the Brian K. Betts Foundation 5K.

The first, the Brian K. Betts 5K, in Washington, DC, was one of those events, though, where the cause really transcended the run. One of the things I love about these smaller 5Ks is that sometimes they shed light on a person or a charity I never would otherwise have heard of. And while I love to make jokes about free beer and T-shirts and all the things that running gives me, I much prefer it when I know my entry fee is going somewhere truly worthwhile.

In this case it was the Brian K. Betts Foundation. Betts was the principal of a troubled Washington school, and by all accounts a “rising star” in the DC system. His mantra for students was “I will not let you be average,” which I love. He was fatally shot in his home in April 2010. The foundation in his name promotes academic excellence and educational enrichment for students and faculty.

Lovely morning run along the Potomac.

This was clearly so much bigger than me and whether or not I ever manage to run a sub-30-minute 5K …

But for those who might be wondering whether I did manage to run a sub-30-minute 5K, the answer – of course – is no. I had a goal, though. It was to run the whole way.

Now, if you’re thinking this sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because it was also my goal nine. freaking. months. ago. (Which, by the way, I accomplished.)

So, yes, I have officially gone backward. This is quite the feat, if I don’t say so myself – going forward and backward at the same time.

Before the race, which is why I am looking so smiley.

Anyway, having cast out the idea of doing a sub-30, I decided I wasn’t going to push myself on this morning jaunt, so I took it easy. Granted, my “taking it easy” requires only a fraction less effort than my going all out (which is probably saying something), so my time wasn’t drastically changed from last week’s. But I did indeed run the whole thing, so I am … officially back where I was about six months ago. Excellent.*

That’s OK. I was thrilled to be supporting this event, whose organizers had rounded up some seriously impressive sponsorship. Hubby and I had never seen anything like it. Clearly this foundation resonates with a lot of folks. That, or the person in charge of securing sponsors is a genius. The raffle alone was worth the trek to Washington from Boston. It was also lovely to see Brian’s mother, Doris, who is obviously very involved in the foundation.

Hubby, as is tradition, showed me up by coming first in his age group. It was his birthday, so I was fine with it.

Twenty-one runs down, 31 to go. It’s a long, bendy road ahead.

The event: Brian K. Betts Foundation 5K
The location: Washington, DC
The date: May 19, 2012
My time: 32.58 (10.36)
Hubby’s time: 20.37 (pace 6.39)
The shirt: White short-sleeved cotton
The cause: Brian K. Betts Foundation
The aftermath: Bananas, granola bars, bagels

* At least we are starting to work things out.