I started my walking journey back in November of 2024. Getting heart smart by adding movement and improving my mobility was a personal challenge. As someone sitting at a desk nearly every day of the week, I realize that I was setting myself up for failure. Over the last few months, I noticed my endurance improved, my energy level rose, and I felt better. As a result, I thought it would be great to enter my first 5k race of 2025. The race happened today. Let me tell you how I got here.
The goal is and will always be 10,000 steps. I always set out to reach that number. It was an uphill battle, but I always ensured I couldn’t stop until I achieved it. Once I got into a rhythm of hitting or surpassing 10,000 steps, the goalpost moved to getting it done in less time. I dreamed of being fit enough to enter my first 5k race of 2025.
It took a few months to get my time down to one hour and fifteen minutes. I know it does not seem like much, but it took two and a half hours to finish in the beginning. Once I reached the threshold of less than an hour and a half, I was ready to enter my first 5k race in 2025. The last time I participated in a race was over twenty years ago.
I did look for a reason to forgo my participation. The temperature was below fifty degrees this morning. My vehicle was down, so I didn’t know if I wanted to Uber to the park where the race was being held. However, my adrenaline kicked in once I arrived at the location, and I’m super excited. My hands and face were cold, but it was no longer a factor after seeing how many people were ready to walk/run in the race. There were various participants of all ethnicities, ages, and body types. I felt like I found my tribe. We were misfits who came together to prove that we belong. The organizer had wellness screenings, plenty of water, and fruit; everyone received an award for completion. I am proud of myself because I finished.
My First 5k Race of 2025 Statistics
- Finishing time: 1:01.31.7
- Pace: 19:51
- Crossed the finish line: 85th Finished in Age group: 6th place
According to the organizer, Picture of Health Foundation, 142 people registered for the trek. Out of that number, only 108 crossed the finish line. Again, I am happy to be one of them. The experience has motivated me to find a 5K race I can participate in every month because I can continually improve my stats.
This is truly inspiring! Your journey from struggling with 10,000 steps to completing a 5k race is remarkable. I love how you turned challenges like the cold weather and transportation issues into motivation rather than excuses. It’s amazing how you found a sense of community and belonging among such a diverse group of participants. I’m curious—what was the most challenging moment during the race, and how did you push through it? Your story makes me want to set a fitness goal myself, but I wonder, how do you stay consistent and motivated on the harder days? Congratulations on finishing—it’s a huge achievement!
First, thank you for the acknowledgment and kind words. The pivotal moment in my first race was the halfway point and I truly wanted to just stroll instead of jog or speed walk. However, when I noticed that there were young people behind me. I’m talking about people in their thirties. I had a bit of an edge on them, that pushed me forward to continue to put distance between us. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I thanked them as I passed them for making me feel like I was in better shape than I am. They told me that I had it under control. I was beaming and found a new source of energy. I push through the harder days knowing that I’m going to be better for doing it. We’ve got to start somewhere and participating in these charitable 5K races is becoming my way of knocking out two things at once. First, I’m contributing to a cause. Secondly, I’m building my endurance for the betterment of my health.