I was lying in bed unable to go back to sleep. It was only 4:18 AM, I had another 57 minutes of sleep time till 5:15 AM, the time I had set my alarm to wake-up to get ready for the 5K walk at Dodge Stadium that would be taking place. The date was March 14, 2015. It was November 7, 2014 at about 7:31 PM when I registered to participate in the LA BIG 5K. After doing so I posted on my Facebook account the following:
So, now here I lay, eyes wide open, thinking about what is to come in just a few more hours. How will I do? I’ve been walking and preparing for this for 4 months now.
Almost Time
Standing in the nice cool air waiting with 3 of my sisters who came to walk this 5K with me. I ask one of them to take my picture with the LA Dodges sign behind me. This way I can prove to the world I was here. We move to the place where we will be lining up to start our 5K. We still have about an hour left till 8 AM so we go find a place to sit and stretch to ready ourselves. To me, time is moving very slowly. When I think it’s been about 30 minutes, it’s only been 10 minutes. Soon it’s 45 minutes till start time. I drink the rest of my water then walk a quarter mile to the restrooms and then walk back. 28 minutes left to start time. We then migrate closer to the starting line 15 minutes till start time. I stand calmly walking the course in my mind from what I saw on a map of the course layout. 8 minutes till start time we all move into the area were we will start our walk/run. We stand with others around us listing to the announcer telling us things. Someone is now playing the National Anthem using a trumpet.
Ready, Set, “Bang” goes the gun!
I start walking, moving to the left side so the runners can run by. There are others walking so I follow them. I soon realize I didn’t set my phone app to track my walk so I quickly turn it on. Soon we are out the of the Dodgers Stadium parking lot on the street going down a long hill. I think to myself this is a very long hill going down. I set my pace down the hill, not to fast or to slow, gravity is pulling me down. I breathe in and then breathe out. Soon I am at the bottom of the hill turning right. I now head through a park. Up ahead I see restrooms and water fountains, already there is a line of people with their BID numbers on lined up to get water and so forth. I look ahead and see a nice looking hill up ahead. Soon I start walking up the hill. Okay I take that back, I start walking up the steep long hill. Up and up I go. Wow, I thought I was ready for this thing… I slow down as I continue to walk up this hill. I now see one of my sisters in from of me. I walk behind her. Up the hill still we go, almost there to the top. I then get to the place we turn right and up still we go. I finally reach the top, I am out of breathe, breathing hard. I slow myself down and then stop to take a quick rest. I told myself I would only stop once if I really needed to. 5 seconds go by I start walking again, moving one foot in front of the other. I soon calm my breathing and I’m back into the game. About 15 minutes later I am really back to normal after that ‘killer hill’ and I did not want to think what is still left. I soon get into the zone. It’s just me and only me as I shut the world out around myself. All I think about is pushing myself forward asking Heavenly Father for the strength to finish what I started. After walking down a long road we come to the point where we turn left and up another long hill, but not as steep. Before the hill I notice my sister is near me. As I start up the hill I don’t think anything and just walk up the hill at a good speed. I keep my head down watching the road ahead of me not even thinking or caring how much of the hill I have left to walk, I just walk up it. Soon I am the top and then we are now walking on flat land. We curve to the left and then to the right and down a hill. Again gravity is helping. I start talking to someone next to me, we are encouraging each other that we are more than half way done and we can do it. I share with her what I’ve been doing the last 6 months. She says she is getting ready to walk more 5K’s to start collecting medals and how she has a weakness for fast food. We turn right and face yet another hill. We go silent and in my mind I start telling myself, “I can do this!” as I prepare to concur yet another hill. Half way up I can hear cheering. Almost there. Almost done. I reach the top of the hill and pass the 3 mile marker. Only .10 of a mile left. There are people with signs out encouraging us on, I move forward. Some reach out their hand to give out high five’s, I reach my hand out and give them a high five. I start feeling great that I am almost there. I see my sisters to the left, one up further ahead holding a water as my other sister tells me that water is for me, I smile (i think) as I get a water, I walk forward. 50 feet left. 20 feet left, they just announced my name over the load speakers. As I cross the finish line I raise my left hand in a fist cheering to myself, I did it! I now drink the water. I slow down but stay moving to cool down as I quench my thirst. After a few minutes I realize I need to stop the app on my phone so I do. I had walked an extra .10 miles before turn it off. I see they are passing out medals so I go grab one and put it on.
Over all I am feeling good about what I just did. At this point it still has’t settled in my mind I just accomplished my first official 5K. I now need to walk another half mile to find our car. On our way to the car I as one of my sisters to if they can drive home, she says sure! That wasn’t to hard, walking up a steady hill to find the car. At this point I start to feel tired, my legs feel fine, its the bottom of my feet that start to hurt a bit, not the entire foot just the front. I realize I been standing for the last 4 hours and this is really the first time I am sitting down (other then sitting for about 8 minutes before the walk) relaxing.
Yea – I Did That!
Now it’s been a few days it is finally sinking in that I really truly did do the 5K. This is a huge accomplishment for me. 1.5 years ago I couldn’t even walk 500 feet without needing to stop to breathe. 6 months ago would call it quits after walking 25 – 30 minutes and that was only about 3/4 a mile. I averaged about 20 minutes 15 seconds a mile, with all those hills. I set a new personal record for me, 1 hour 4 minutes and 53 seconds (according to my 5K marathon tracker).
I did it! I really did truly did it!
Thank you all for believing in me!
Till next time, set a goal and then set out to accomplish it! Know in your heart you can do it! Believe in yourself! Trust in yourself!
Way to go! Way to dream! Way to inspire! Keep up the great work!!
Way to go Michael! Thanks for the inspiring posts and great example. {{{hugs}}}