On November 5, 2011 I walked my first 5K. It was horrible. I was in a lot of pain and was not physically fit. It took us over an hour to finish the race, a lot longer than an hour. I wasn’t even sure I could do it. But I did. At that point I weighed 45 lbs more than I do today.
We walked the race as a family. The kids did great considering. We did the race because my friend and co-worker was leading a team. I thought it would be fun and said sure. I never imagined how hard it would be.
I don’t even like to say that that was my first 5K because of how hard it was and how out of shape I was. But  if I’m being honest with myself it was my first 5K. The one in September of this year was the first I ever tried to run.
In two days we’ll do the race again as a family. This time I’m leading up the team. There are 21 people signed up on our team. I never in a million years would imagine I’d be leading up a team for a 5K. Granted we didn’t train together or anything, but the thought of me gathering people together to exercise seems very unlike me. But the truth is, it is not like the old me.
A few days ago we walked to the peak in the Great Smokey Mountains. It was difficult. The elevation made breathing difficult. The 1/2 mile walk felt like miles and was very hard. I quickly passed my family and kept charging up the hill. As I got farther from them I looked back and yelled at them, “If I can do it you can too, Come on!” A guy standing by me asked, “what are you their coach?” I laughed and said no but I know I couldn’t have done this a year ago and I’m determined I’m going to. If I can I know they can. I smiled all the way up the peak and looked down to see all the people I passed along the way.
On the trip down the mountain I kept passing people who stopped along the way to catch their breath. One by one I told them, “keep going, it’s so worth it”. I tried to come up with different encouragement for each of them. Eventually I heard Bo doing the same thing.
We can’t do this journey alone. Years ago I was encouraged to get off the couch by a friend. I walked my first 5K. Years passed and I let my health defeat me.
Today I got out of bed, got dressed and put on my running shoes. I ran the track alone today but I know that I have an army of friends and family cheering me on each step of the way.
If all goes as planned I’ll walk/run the 5K on Saturday. I have an appointment with my rheumatologist tomorrow. There is a good chance I will have to stop running. I’m in a lot of pain and getting around is hard, but I’m determined to reach my goals. If I have to stop running I’ll just need to find something else to do.
Are you sitting on the couch watching people pass you by? Are your excuses really all that good? I got up and ran today even though my knees hurt incredibly bad and it was freezing cold. I’m sick and losing my voice but I still did it. Even if the dr says tomorrow not to run on Saturday I will probably still give it my all and make it my last 5K to run. Why? Because every time I look down the mountain I’m going to see people who need to be encouraged. If I give up now I am giving others reason to give up.
Stand up, fight for your health and then encourage others to do the same. It’s so worth it!
