It's time to throw your hat over the wall

It's about a month before it's time for the 5K run/walk being held in conjunction with this year's Greater Blytheville Chili Cook-off Oct. 17.

If you're one of those folks I've spoken to who have thought about joining in, but haven't signed up yet, or are hesitating for whatever reason, my advice is to throw your hat over the wall and do it.

"Throwing your hat over the wall" is a phrase used to convey a commitment do doing something. The idea is that once your hat is over the wall, you have no choice to to climb over and get it.

In regard to the 5K, throwing your hat over the wall means signing up. For anyone who wants to take part, but is dragging feet when it comes to commitment, signing up — as soon as possible — is the way to go. It's the best way to compel yourself to do something healthy for yourself.

This is what I had to do when I ran my first 5K last spring. I'd been running off and on for several months. I liked getting the exercise, but without a sense of accomplishment, it was hard for me to stick with it, consistently.

That's when I started playing around with the idea of running a 5K. I spent weeks perusing the Internet for potential runs, but for the longest time, I never signed up. I made excuses about my schedule, the location of the race or the number of participants. But in the end I was just nervous. Eventually, I decided it was time to get over it.

The race I settled on was down in Marion, an event sponsored by the chamber of commerce down there. It was billed as a "fun run." I threw my hat over the wall and signed up. I found satisfaction in knowing I had something to aim for, that there was no turning back.

The event featured just over a hundred runners in all ages, shapes and sizes. You could tell there were some "real" runners, as well as some just out for a long stroll. It was the right kind of race for me — challenging, but not overly competitive. I finished with a time of 29 minutes and 29 second — fairly slow by the standards of "real" runners. But I've learned to understand that the only standards that matter are my own.

So when I did my second 5K on Labor Day in downtown Memphis, my only goal was to beat my earlier time. This run/walk featured nearly 1,700 runners, so it was a different experience. Yet it was still very much the same — some participants were old, some were young; some were thin, some were round. There were some who ran fast, some who ran slow, some who walked, and some who did a little of everything. There was a great feeling of camaraderie, and a general sense that it wasn't about winning or setting records, but simply about getting out there and doing it — doing something healthy on a sunny autumn morning.

I expect the 5K to be held in Blytheville will be no different. In addition to a 5K run and a 5K walk, there is also a 2-mile "family fun run." The events begin at 8 in the morning, so there's still plenty of time to take part in whatever activities you have planned for the day, whether it's a soccer game, college football on the television, or the chili cook-off on Main Street. In other words, there's no good excuse not to do it.

Registration forms can be picked up from the United Way office on Park Street. You can also register online at www.racesonline.com. Registrations will also be taken the day of the race. Cost is $20, ($30 on race day) which includes a t-shirt. Proceeds benefit the United Way of Greater Blytheville.

If you want to do something healthy; if you want to enjoy a fabulous autumn morning; if you want to help out the United Way; if you want to do something that will make feel supremely good about yourself, I urge you join me by throwing your hat over the wall and taking part in this event. You won't be disappointed.