I'm thrilled to finally share my journey with you because, yes, you guessed it right! I did it! I ran a 5K and crushed my goal right out of the ballpark. I'm not going to lie, there were days filled with self-doubt where I questioned my ability to cross that finish line. But, guess what? I did it! And if I can do it, believe me, you can too. So buckle up as I take you on my journey from being a non-runner to a triumphant 5K finisher.
Introduction
Everyone has a dream. For me, it was tackling a 5K run. But why? Well, it was simple. The milestones I'd set for my fitness journey were incremental, and a 5K felt like the right next step. It wasn't just about losing weight or looking fit. Running a 5K was a tangible goal I could work towards, something I could measure in time, distance, and endurance. It was about making a promise to myself and going the extra mile to keep it.
For some background, I should say I ran in high school, but I was a sprinter and I hadn't done any sort of running since then. My physical activity was limited to mostly walks and I had started weight training a few months prior to beginning my 5K training. For all intents and purposes, I was a novice runner - certainly a novice distance runner. I had the desire to run a 5K for a while. I've walked a 5K every year on Thanksgiving for the past couple of years, but last year, I decided it was high time to buck up and charge towards my desire for better health and mental strength. This 5K wasn't just a race, it was a battle against myself and my limitations.
To be honest, looking back, the journey was far from easy. There were days when I wanted to throw in the towel, days when my legs felt like lead, and days when I questioned my sanity for setting such a challenging goal. But I stuck to my guns. I dug my feet in, pushed through the pain, the doubts, and the exhaustion, and made it to the other side. And boy, was it worth it!