I ran my first race on July 3, 2012. It seems like a lifetime ago. Since then I have ran many races but every year I make certain to run one race. That race is the Finish at the 50 at Gillette Stadium. I ran it on July 3, 2013 and again this year on July 2014. It is hard to measure any progress in this race because they have changed the course each year that I have participated. This race can be a true test because it starts at 6:30 PM and the heat and humidity is always a challenge.
This race means a lot to me. I was running on my own before hand but running with people and in a race changed everything. While I was not competing necessarily against the other runners it allowed me to compete more against myself and embrace others seeing me run. It can be hard to start racing because it is intimidating when you see the elite athletes. What kept me going was knowing that I was getting better with every run. Whether it was being able to run a longer without having to take a walking break(which are completely okay) or running faster than I had previously, I saw improvement. Alstom I have seen many inspirational people running races. Survivors of cancer and other diseases, Team Hoyt and those who have overcome other obstacles, but still run are true inspirations. I can honestly say that buying my first pair of running shoes is one of the best things to happen to me.
