8th Annual Halifax Hospice 5k Run
- Image by Today is a good day via Flickr
I don’t claim to be a runner, in my opinion runners look like runners. You know the type, calves made of steel, tight glutes and slim waistlines. The typical runner. Me on the other hand I’m still rocking a little extra around the waist, my glutes bounce a little and my quads need work. But I’ll admit my calves aren’t too shabby!
My first real experience in running was on the freshman Cross Country & Track team in high school. As a typical teenager I lacked focus back then and didn’t do any real training aside from practices and the track meets I took part in. I ran intermediate and high hurdles but that didn’t last long, I loved the longer distance runs that I never won but had fun trying.
It wasn’t until my time in the military that I proved that I could run quite well and excelled at longer distances. I used to eat up the 5 & 10 mile runs we’d go on and never really liked it when we ran 2 short miles. I also had a knack for motivating others and was called on when morale was really low to help boost the spirits of others. If I have one trait in running it’s that I never quit, I may never win a speed award but you’d have to knock me out to get me to fallout.
So over the years I’ve put in quite a few miles but I’ve never entered a race outside of school. Tomorrow that changes and I’m pretty excited though I’m trying to be cool about it. Some would say ‘it’s just 5k’, well ok yea 3.1 miles isn’t amazing but it’s for a good cause and it’s the first of many. Symbolic of the life change we’ve gone through and the first step in many that I’ll be taking in the future. If for one reason alone, to say that I’m trying to make a difference in the world, my community, my family and myself.
So after tomorrow will I’ll finally be able to call myself a runner? I think so, bouncing glutes and all. 
