Issue #50: Day 100
So I finally passed the milestone of a 100 walks. It took a lot longer than I expected it to. Well over 365 days. In all fairness of the main reasons was due to the bariatric surgery I had that saved my life. With that surgery, I did have to take about a month off to recover and heal. So last Thursday I came strolling up to work to walk the paths around my office. It was finally time to have my 100th walk.
Looking at my Runtastic app I saw that if I walked 4.5 miles that I would also cross over the 200 mile barrier. That was important to me. 200 miles in 100 walks meant a 2 mile average. In the first walks that I did, I was happy to get over a mile. Since about the 60th walk and on, I have tried to get over 2 miles each walk. I also from time to time really pushed myself to see my limits and how much I have improved. Speed was always one way I tried to test myself. Getting under the 20 minute mile was a huge accomplishment for me. I remember just staring at the screen when I saw that I got less than 20 minutes for the first time. July 1, 2014. I walked 2.07 miles that day and on my second mile I did a 19:43 mile. It was amazing to get that done. Now I am routinely doing around 18 minute miles with getting under 18 minutes from time to time. The other way that I push myself is distance. The first 5K (over 3 miles) was amazing. I did not think I wanted to do anymore. Then 2 weeks ago, I walked over 4 miles in one walk (4.24 to be exact). I really felt like I want to curl up in a ball and never get up after that walk. I was exhausted and my knees and back were aching for days afterwards. I figured anything over 4 miles would be a little ways away.
So to go back to Thursday’s day 100 walk, did I really want to try for 4.5 miles? A number I had never done before and was difficult even getting near. I really should not do this, but I really wanted my 200 miles in 100 walks. I took Thursday off, just so that I could do this walk. I tried to recruit a friend to walk with me, but she was unable to. So it was going to be me and my headphones. I like walking in the morning, so I figured I would get it knocked out quickly. I ended up sleeping terribly on Wednesday in to Thursday, only getting about 4 hours sleep. So for the morning, I was lazy. I did not do much. I did not want to do much. I started to talk myself out of walking. I can do it another day. Then as He always does, God sent me a little nudge. He had my friend Melissa text me to ask if I had done it yet. I said no, but I would get it in. There it was…now I had to do it. I strapped my shoes on and headed to work to walk the trails.
I told myself not to worry about the 4.5 miles, just do a nice walk and get the 100th walk over with. But as I got to work, I got a little energy. The weather was cool and the wind was not bad. It was a little overcast, but nothing terrible. I talked with Francesca (my trainer) and told her my idea. I told her about the 4.5 miles. I told her of 200 miles in 100 walks. She was nothing but supportive. I can do this…and if it rained a little, not to worry. A little rain never hurt anyone. I decided to do it. It was time to break two milestones. I plan my route with Francesca and got my headphones out and chose my playlist. I hit play and began to walk.
As I began, I got a phone call from a dear friend. It was about some really rough news about another dear friend. The news was tough to hear because it was not good. Well, now I had my motivation. I walk for friends of mine who cannot walk for themselves. I walk for my Godson Jacob and I walk for my buddy Andy who is going through chemo. So I added this friend to my list of who I was walking for and kept walking.
The playlist on my phone played good song after good song. I crossed a major road (Southside Blvd) to get to the long part of my walk. I began the long part of my walk, going further and further and on a route I had never walked. The clouds I noticed started getting darker and darker, but no rain fell. I kept walking. I hit 2 miles going one way. In order to get back, I would have to walk another 2 miles. That is 4 miles…not good enough yet. I had to keep going. The clouds kept getting darker. No going back. No compromise. I had to do this. I got to what ended up as my midpoint and decided to head back. I was at 2.5 miles. If I finished this walk it would be 5 miles. My legs felt a little heavy, but I felt strong enough to finish. No compromise. I had three people I was walking for.
I felt a drop of rain fall on me. A crash of lightning sounded what felt like right above my head. The drop of rain became a steady rain. I got to 3 miles when the rain really started to come down. My phone with my Runtastic app and music had to stay in my pocket to try and keep as much water off of it as I could. I tried to walk as fast as I could, but I could not out walk the rain. It just kept coming down harder and harder. I could barely see 10 feet in front of me. The lightning and thunder kept lighting up the sky and scaring the heck out of me. I kept asking God to lighten up on the rain. He kept it going harder and harder. Like the 5 mile walk was not hard enough, He had to give me buckets of rain and rivers of rushing water every time I crossed a road? He did and then some! There was not a part of my body that was dry. My shoes had water inside them. Muddy water ran through my shoes and socks. The dirty water from the street flowed on me as I crossed streets. I got to 4 miles…one more to go and my whole body felt everything. Felt the rain. Felt the pain in my legs. Felt the exhaustion. But I had to keep going. I was not stopping for anything.
I finally got to the entrance of my work’s campus. The rain finally slowed down. With every step on campus the sun started coming out. I heard the water slosh in my shoes. I kept walking and walking. Exhausted, knees aching, and soaked I took my final steps and crossed that 5 mile barrier. I stomped on the ground hard as I crossed the 5 mile line that was there only in my head. I wanted to lift my arms up in celebration, but was too wet and cold. I took off my rain and sweat soaked hat and looked to the sky. I thanked God for giving me the determination to finish. 5 miles!
I just completed my 100th walk, walked for 5 miles and walked more than 200 miles. I was the fat guy and the guy that could not get dressed without getting exhausted. I was the guy that could not fit in to seats or in to my own clothes, or do anything active. I WAS THAT GUY! I am not him anymore. I am the guy that walks 5Ks and can walk 5 miles any time he wants. I am the guy that has now walked a 100 times and over 200 miles now. Since starting this walking journey a year ago, I have left the cocoon of fat and frustration and hatred for myself and have come out of it stronger and healthier and happier than I have ever been. That is the man I am now. I am that guy now!
Sincerely, Chris
