3.1 Miles and a Lifetime of Feelings

Six months ago I couldn’t run to the end of our street without wanting to die. This morning I crossed my first 5K finish line in 34:17 and promptly burst into tears in front of approximately 200 strangers.

3.1 Miles and a Lifetime of Feelings

The ugly cry was real, people. No filter could save that face.

I started running because I needed to prove something to myself. Every step was a middle finger to every hard day last year, every moment I felt like I was disappearing into exhaustion and routine. Today I proved that the woman who used to exist is still in here somewhere, just needed to remember how to fight for her.

The whole crew at the finish line. Still can’t believe I did it.

Marcus and the kids were at the finish line cheering like I’d just won the Olympics instead of shuffled through a small-town 5K in the middle of the pack. Theo asked why I was crying and I told him they were happy tears. Sophie said my medal was ‘pretty cool’ which is basically a standing ovation from a 9-year-old. Marcus just hugged me and whispered ‘I’m proud of you’ and I almost started crying all over again.

34:17 might not win any awards, but it won me back a piece of myself I didn’t realize I’d lost. Already eyeing the 10K in October because apparently I’m a runner now and nobody is more surprised than me.