Believe it or not (those who know me well probably won’t believe it), this morning I woke up at 3:30 AM to run.  I don’t know but I think I have the running bug that’s going around. 

This wasn’t just any regular weekend run, this was a race, and it was my first 10k race. This is what I had been preparing for last week at the track during my vacation and had been going to sleep earlier the last few days to be able to wake up early today.

4:30 AM
Jajome 5 AM

Everything I did worked because I got there on time and still had a lot of time to kill before the race. This gave me time to talk to friends who were also running. Today’s event had three different races we could choose from; 5k, 10k or 16k. The all started with a difference of ten minutes from each other and had different turning points to go back. 

I decided to start this race walking for about two minutes, then run but I didn’t rush myself. This race wasn’t about making time, this was about finishing the longest race I had ever done. I had nothing to compare it to because I had never done a 10k or a race in the mountains. I had been up there before but it’s not the same seeing all that from the car window, to being out there and enjoying the breeze and the quiet. 

When I got to the turning point, a little after mile 3, that’s when I knew thing would get a little more difficult. Until then we had been going down, on the way back we would be going up the mountain, but I had already completed three miles, only three to go. Before I knew it I only had two, then one and then I started hearing all the commotion from the finish line. That’s when I start running a little faster, when I know I’m almost there. 

I crossed the finish line in 1:31:07 That’s amazing because when I signed up for the race I had to set an average time and I set 1:30 which was just doubling my 5k timings from when I signed up. I did this just trying to more or less time myself by running eight minutes and walking two. 

I’m so happy I did this and I want to thank my coach Freddy, Godo, my old and new friends in the running group for all their help, support and motivation. 

But above all, I really want to thank my family  for encouraging me, being supportive and helping me in every way they can; from taking me to run during weekdays, weekends and vacations, to taking me to races and waiting for me, even if it means waking up at dawn. I couldn’t ask for a better, more encouraging or supportive team. Thank you, I love you!

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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.

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