It was early August when I really started to map out my goals with regards to how I wanted to stay active. I was no longer playing high school baseball, football or intramural sports in college. I was left with the memories, but nothing else. It was then that I decided I wanted to pick up a sport that I could do for years and years to come. A lot of people choose to pick up golf—sure, I like to play, yet I was looking for something a little more competitive. Something that would challenge my body both physically and mentally.
My uncle had recently accomplished an Ironman triathlon in Panama City, Florida. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this race, it consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike leg, and finished with a 26.2 mile run—all within 17 consecutive hours. It is not only a a physical test of strength and perseverance, but also a test of mental toughness. This race pushes the human body to its limits.
With that being said, I did some more research and decided that THIS was what I was going to accomplish. I knew that it would be a long road ahead, but I told myself that I would accomplish bits and pieces along the way. I came from an athletic background of baseball and football: both require quick feet and short bursts of speed. I was NOT an avid fan of long distance running in high school. In fact, running 1 mile was considered the end of the world.
Therefore, I set out for my first goal: a 5K race
