I Ran My Inaugural Half-Marathon
The beauty of existence lies in the realm of opportunities.
A few months ago, God gave me another chance in life.
Back in January, I chronicled my struggle with excess weight and how, post-operation, I resolved to never revert to that state.
Amidst the convalescence following my surgery, I made the determination to return to sports as I had before university.
To set myself on the path to triumph, I set forth challenges.
My foremost goal proved to be an unforgettable experience: to run the Bogotá half-marathon along with 50 thousand souls. A fitting challenge to embark upon a new existence.
Given that it was my inaugural race, I did not sign up to run 13 miles but 6.5 miles.
To meet my goal, over three months, I primed my physique for this endeavor.
I divided my training into three components.
The first one is the running technique; two weekly training sessions on the city’s bike lanes. The second is muscle strengthening and focuses on two more sessions in the gym, which included weight lifting and functional training. The final supplement to my training focuses on my Heart Rate and is a day of cycling.
Let me remind you that Bogotá´s altitude is 2625 mts, so this training for a novice is not a small thing.
When I began training, the 6-mile distance took me 1 hour and 46 minutes, a tad disheartening, to be honest. Yet, this is the purpose of challenges and opportunities: to overcome and take them.
Week by week, day by day, I improved my time. Finally, in my last training session, 5 days before the race, I achieved 1 hour and 16 minutes. Still below the slowest Pacer of the race, which covered the 6 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes, but an improved time regardless.
Race day arrived. I woke up early, nervous but ready to run and crush my past life.
As I stood at the rendezvous point amidst the throng of thousands of runners, I recognized an oversight. I did not mentally prepare myself for such a sizable assembly.
Being a true introvert, congregations of people are not my forte and it took me half an hour to muster the determination to approach the initial group. The presence of a couple of friends who were also going to run and with whom I met before starting dispelled that nervousness for the crowd.
All that remained was to await the starting signal.
My watch was ready and also was my punk and heavy metal playlist. My mind awaited naught but the signal to start.
Given the multitude, many adopted a walking pace; but, I did not.
From the outset, I was resolute not to get stuck among that languid majority. Thus, I began jogging at a tempo I knew would allow me to distance myself from the slower runners.
The initial miles proved more challenging than expected. Training alone vastly differs from running amidst a crowd. One has to Negotiate potholes, overtake fellow runners, and circumvent the typical urban obstacles.
Halfway through the race, space had opened up, allowing me to maintain the pace I had trained for.
At that juncture, my strategy shifted. I started identifying runners ahead of me and endeavored to surpass them. This stratagem proved effective. It enabled me to progress while mitigating the sensation of exertion.
Around the 4th mile, I vividly recollect that as the strains of Turnstile’s music echoed in my ears, I glanced back. Astonished, I realized I had surpassed the 1.10 Pacer.
Despite fatigue setting in at the end of the race, I was lowering my practice times. It was not the moment to halt; the final kilometer arrived, and summoning my last reserves of breath, I sprinted.
I ran until I glimpsed the finish line, and right then, I dedicated this challenge to my late mother. A couple of tears of joy welled up in my eyes as I raised my arms as if claiming an Olympic medal.
Fewer times have I felt more grateful for life, for my spouse, for the divine, and for that fresh opportunity.
My ultimate time: 1:09
My ranking: 3055 out of 21,000 6-mile runners.
A commendable achievement for a neophyte, if I may say so.
Words cannot fully convey my profound sense of personal fulfillment. To guide both my body and mind to uncharted territories has been an extraordinary adventure.
One I wish to continue.
I plan to join the Allianz Marathon next November, and after that, I want to begin triathlon training by the end of 2023.
Subsequently, my ambition is to complete an Iron Man 70.3.
This is what I have learned from this adventure so far.
- If you are averse to time passing on you and If you desire to bask in fulfillment at life’s end, dare to challenge yourself.
- Stagnation is ill-advised. Don’t settle.
- Life’s brevity warrants embracing its entirety without trepidation.
- Urge yourself to traverse a step beyond the limits you envisaged.
In conclusion, life is eager for challenges.
