THE LEGACY OF A MARATHON RUNNER

3 miles in 27:34 on June 23, 2015 from 6:00pm to 6:27pm, during sunset time. Although tiring, I felt amazing. I can feel my heart racing yet my legs felt an immense amount of strength left. It is this kind of moment that makes me feel really great about myself and motivates me into achieving what I once thought of starting. I always wanted to become a legacy runner: running my mind off to a certain amount of miles  for dozens of races. I've been a soccer person ever since I was 8 but started playing in an actual soccer team til the age of 12. I never thought of doing anything else except kicking a ball to my teammates or throwing free kicks out on public parks in the evenings. Senior year however, took the blindfold off of me and made me realize that I simply could not limit myself to only one thing. What if I was talented on doing something else? Volleyball? Basketball? Baseball? Even though I did not know the rules to these sports, I probably still had a chance on being talented. I learned the rules to each of the sports and learned to play them. I was good. I did not win all the time but I enjoyed playing them. However, I did not find the same passion as in soccer. Most of my close friends were part of the running club, Students Run LA (SRLA) since 9th grade and i had not even thought of trying it out til senior year, my last year of high school...big mistake and a huge regret. If it was not for that one person that really convinced me into trying it out,  I do not think I would even be talking about it. I did not get to become an actual member of the club but I did get to run the Dockweiler Beach 5K Run with a time of 29:40. I had practiced just enough to finish this race and I did. I did not care so much about the time I got, it was more important to finish and I did. I was so tired by the time I crossed the finish line but I was so happy. I had made it. I had pushed myself physically and mentally and into finishing and I had succeeded. After gaining my energy back and physical strength afterward, I spent the whole afternoon out sitting on the beach, thinking about what I had achieved. It was my first race ever.  Some people had told me that I was not going to last and i had proved them wrong. Better yet, I loved the running. In that moment, as I looked at the sun go down, I had made a decision: I was going to become a runner and run my first LA Marathon before I turned 21. I continued playing soccer and i still ran, yet did not run any races with the school club nor on my own. I ran for fun. Then I got injured, i tore a ligament on my right knee and i quit everything , including soccer, which was devastating and sad. It took almost 3 years until I could finally get surgery, which I did, the summer of 2014, July 25. I was going to be able to be active and athletic like i once was. After therapy and basic exercises, I was already walking normal, with no pain and in a few moths already jogging. The doctor had recommended me an year before I started doing intense physical activity including soccer, to which he actually recommends 2 years or at least until i feel ready. I will go back to soccer maybe for another half year. But I am going to become a runner first and my preparation is coming along. I have ran a total of 18 miles thus far, 3 miles each day. I want to get my condition back. 

I am so motivated to complete this dream and i have one special person helping me achieve this, my very own man crush. He is also a runner and knowing that he will be there running by my side in some of the biggest races keeps me focused and motivated. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it. I will prove many people wrong, it will show that I am still able to push myself even further and dominate the impossible. I will be running my first marathon ever since my surgery on August 9th and its the Orange County Fair 5K Fun Run with my mvr (most valuable runner) and I am so excited. As of now, my second race will be the Color Run Night 5K on August 29th at StubHub Center in Carson. I plan to register for the ASICS LA MARATHON 2016 on February 14, 2016 Stadium to the Sea. Yes, it is on Valentine's Day meaning I am planning to run it with my other half. It will be 26.2 miles, meaning it will be a huge challenge, a challenge that I will defeat and overcome. Among others i plan to the San Diego Half Marathons and the Disney Half Marathon as well. There are so many races all over the world. They have a race for every single thing and I am amazed at this. They have a Bubble Run, a Dirty Sweaters Run, a Couples Run, etc. A race for everything. All i have to do is practice and sign up for races and my dream in becoming a runner will be fulfilled. The first thing to do is start running and sign up for races while working on my pace and running times, and next is to leave behind my own legacy. I am really committed to accomplishing this and i know i will because that one person who came into my life and is part of my life will be there for me til the end and forever. On this day, 5 years from now, i will be preparing myself into running the Boston Marathon. 

I will never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.