My very first 5k report

Ok so here it is...
I was fortunate enough to have my inlaws pick me up for the race so I didn't have to go alone. My father inlaw ran the half marathon and my mother in law ran the 10k.
So we show up early of course and I am nervous as heck, I must have went pee 4 times before the race haha. I met a few of their running buddies and they were so supportive and encouraging. My inlaws start times were before mine so I had 10 minutes to wait alone until I lined up at the gate. Finally it was time to line up, I waited until most had lined up and I made sure I was at the back of the pack and as close to the right like Bosco had suggested but there were people going behind me and I didn't want to walk behind them again so I just stayed where I was.
The gun goes off and I wait for people to get moving and walk across the start line. And so I am off. I made sure I paced myself to my usual runs and didn't let everyone that passed bother me. Before I knew it I was passing people. Alot of people seemed to be running pretty fast and then having to walk so I would pass them and then they would pass me and I didn't let that interfere with my own pace. About 2km in I was feeling pretty good and the volunteers were cheering me on at every corner and it felt great. I remember thinking to myself, " I am actually doing it, I am running in a 5k race!" I almost started crying but choked those tears back in a hurry and came back into the real world and focused on what I was doing.
Something happened at the half way mark. I noticed a woman ahead of me walking, she would look behind her every once in a while and then start running for a bit and then walk. I still kept my pace and we would pass each other. She would run pretty far ahead and then walk and I would catch up and pass her. This might have been going on the whole race for all I knew but I didn't notice she chose me as competition until the halfway mark haha. So I told myself, "oh its on!!" I didn't want to pick up my pace yet because I didn't want to have to walk. My personal goal was to run the whole race under 40min. But now she added a little bit of competition heehee. So I played the game and was having a blast. We get down to the last half k or something like that and she shoots way ahead of me. At that time it was time to pick up the pace a bit. I was gaining on her and felt terrific, before I knew it we round the bend and I see the finish line. Ya you know it... I pick up the pace more because there is no way after all of that back and forth stuff that she is going to beat me. I crack myself up when I think about how childish I am. And here I thought I wasn't competitive. So needless to say I am sprinting at this time and I shoot past her and tada I cross the finish line. Just as I cross the finish line I hear the official say, "Wow I wasn't expecting that!!" Good thing my face was already red because my embarrasment would have turned my face beet red.
I felt terrific!! I accomplished something so big for me and I beat my own goal. I did it in 38.35min. I got my little metal and started walking through the crowd secretely wishing my husband was there but didn't see him anywhere.
I was so thrilled with everything that I felt my eyes welling up with tears. I choked them back again and kept on walking to a section that I could cheer on my inlaws when they got back from their races. All of a sudden I see my husband and son and my sister walking towards my area. They missed my finish by like two minutes but they showed up to support me and that was all that mattered. My sister took a picture of me so I will try to post it when she sends it to me.

I am already planning a 5k in July and I think I inspired my friend to start running because I jokingly asked her if she wanted to run the race with me in July and she said she has been considering running ever since I started. So yay I will hopefully have a running buddy.
So now I just have to focus on shortening my 5k time. Anyone have any suggestions on the best way I can do this?