Forever Road
Queensboro Bridge. Halfway through the 2011 New York City Marathon is both where this entry was written, and where my race actually began. Nearly two months of ultrasound and countless hours of therapy weren't enough to convalesce my troubled hamstring; which unbeknownst to me was a precursor to a more severe, undetected infirmity. And with 12 miles -- or roughly 24,000 steps left to go -- the grand, lofty notion of taking just one more was in question. So I wrote this entry.
In as much time as it took a thousand runners to pass me by, I wrapped my leg in a makeshift tourniquet using stored gauze, and as many white flags as I could find in my heart. If there's one thing this most novice of runners quickly realized on that bridge, was that the next step was as necessary as the eventual stride that would be needed to cross the finish line.
Friends, life is simply a bridge. Work, school, money, health...all mere mile markers that remind us that we're in a race. And while we don't compete against one another, I think sometimes the most daunting of life's fights occurs when we're surrounded by fellow runners. Fellow runners who are - by nature - each hamstrung by something and fighting to turn another corner down Forever Road. Let's remember that each step is worth it when we know Who awaits us in the end.
- jimmy peña
RUNNING MAN: Nearly a decade later, I'm no runner. In fact, the day I crossed the finish line in the Big Apple was the last day I ever ran. Of course, there was no press conference salute or retirement ceremony to mark the moment, but a frail fighter had met his match; a limit that only a handful of surgeries would justify. My tip of the cap to the ability to run - something to which most people wouldn’t give a second thought - was my silent bow. And although I don’t have the gift of being able to absorb the glorious pounding of the pavement, what I still have is a miracle; a wonder; a symphony; an instantaneous explosion of grace.
That's why I'm so excited to announce the 3rd Annual PrayFit Run happening on May 2, 2020; a local and virtual 5K, 10K and 1-Mile Walk-N-Roll to benefit kids affected by disability. Certified by USA Track and Field and we’re serving pancakes at the end. How neat is that?
The cool thing is that everyone can fundraise for the cause. Whether you’re here in Los Angeles or in New York City, you can form a team and get your friends and family to sponsor you to help us. So while it may seem early to announce the event, time will fly, so please mark your calendars, start a team, donate your training. (And if you happen to be running in other events like turkey trots, 5Ks or marathons over the coming months, you can also represent PrayFit using The Body fundraising portal.)
