There are few things that scare an overweight person more than the thought of coming in DEAD LAST in a 5k. It seems like it would be totally embarrassing.
I was a member of disboards.com/wish a few years back when GBD and I were doing a 5k per month. Another WISH (We’re Inspired to Stay Healthy) member introduced me to DLF > DNF >> DNS and it changed me.
A dead last finish in a 5k means that you still beat everyone at home on the couch who didn’t have the courage to start training for the race. I’ve been to races where the last place finisher receives more enthusiastic applause than the winner. There is just something incredibly special about that moment to me. They always finish with such…heart.
It’s a dream of mine to organize a 5k that welcomes people of all sizes, speeds, and abilities. One that isn’t so competition focused and intimidating, but one that honors every single person for being out on the course. I want everyone to feel comfortable and excited about being alive and moving their bodies towards a healthier future. To take away the fear of possibly coming in last, I would make sure that I crossed the finish line at the very end behind everyone else. Oh dreams…
“The miracle isn’t that I finished but that I had the courage to start.” –John Bingham
Post in honor of a special friend walking a 5k this weekend. Love you KM!
LOVE this post! Completely agree. Doing SOMETHING is better than nothing. And certainly, beats constinously "saying" all we want or will do (someday) when we take no action! Looking forward to when you organize the 5K!;-)
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