A few weeks ago I signed up for my first 5K in about three years. I was excited but also a little nervous. I only started running about a month ago, I didn’t rest at all and I walked a lot yesterday, and it was really hot outside today. Despite all of this, I still wanted to try and break my last 5K record from three years ago.

I slept well last night, ate carbs for breakfast and lunch and I was was pretty confident in the beginning of the race. I wanted to make it to the first oasis, which marked the first mile, running. I got close but had to take a small break and walk for a moment.

After this, I switched between running and walking for a while, but even while I walked I felt like I was making good time and I always had more or less the same people around me. I talked to a few other people during the race and we cheered each other on. We aren’t competing against each other, we’re all in it together.

Suddenly, I think I had a little over half a mile left, I felt sort of dizzy. Luckily a man and a woman walking near me noticed and walked with me. They weren’t rushing me, they just held my hand and reassured me that we were near the end and that I could do it. The woman went ahead to the finish line and quickly came back with ice cream and a bottle of water and helped me finish the race. I took a picture with them but didn’t catch their names. I wish I had because they were the nicest people.

Even while I walked I was able to break my own personal record from the last time I did a 5K during the Covid19 pandemic in 2020. This one took me 43 minutes and 14 seconds. Today, it took me about 42 minutes and 12 seconds. I didn’t stop my watch until a few minutes after I got to the finish line so it says it also took me 43 minutes, but it was less than that. It’s just a minute less than the last one I did but keep in mind I got dizzy, stopped for a moment and walked the last part but I still finished seventh in my age group.

I’m very proud of myself and everyone else who completed the race, either walking, running or both. And I’d like to thank my coach Freddy, for helping me come this far and for being there today for me and every other member of Freddy’s Runners.

Unknown's avatar

Published by mariacristinasanfeliu

I’m an aspiring writer still looking for exactly what I want to write about, with a lot of creativity, imagination and desire to write. I studied Writing and Rhetoric at Syracuse University where I explored many different sides of writing through my classes and extracurricular activities in order to narrow my search for an identity as a writer. I have written for Citrus TV Noticias and La Voz magazine, both of which gave me the chance to explore different mediums in which to write in. Through Citrus TV Noticias I also gained experience in translating from English to Spanish and vice versa, which is also something that I would be interested in working on since I am fluent in both of these languages. I was also an intern at Syracuse University Press where I got hands on experience in what goes into actually editing and publishing a book. Through out the last four years I have faced a lot of challenges, which helped chape the person I am today. After being in a tragic car accident, being in comma, having a Traumatic Brain Injury, and being in therapy for over a year, I am a new me, willing to face challenges and knowing how to deal with them. I want to write about my accident and life after it to help others, show them it can be done and help in any way I can.

One thought on “Comets CPS Run or Walk 5K”

  1. Pingback: CPS 5k, One Year Later – Unstoppable María

Leave a comment