9:59 am

It's a beautiful winter morning in Calgary and the cold brisk air is biting into my cheeks. I have butterflies in my tummy. The person beside me looks a bit nervous too and we start making small talk about the cold weather this morning and what a nice day it's turning out to be. I'm jumping in place, shaking my legs, doing anything to keep warm. I look at my watch, 9:59am. One minute to start the St. Patrick's Day 5km race.


Organizers cleverly added another 300m so it was really a 5.3km race!

The starter is saying something in his blow horn but I can't hear him. I'm what you would call a BOP runner (Back of the pack). Wow, I'm a runner!! There is a noun I never thought I'd use to describe myself again. Here I am though, anxiously waiting to begin my first race in 9 years. My first race since being hit. I'm about to run into the unknown, but I AM RUNNING!

The next thing I know the pack begins to move and I'm off. The sight of people running en masse in truly awe inspiring. SO many people from so many different walks of life, each running for their own personal reasons.

As we wind our way along the outskirts of the U of C campus there are some volunteers and spectators lining the course, cheering us on.

Before I knew it we were at the 1km mark and I check my watch. 6 min! HOLY CRAP. I'm coming out way too fast. I thought at best if I could break a 10 min/km pace I'd be ecstatic, yet here I am at 6 min/km!!

I slow my pace down just a bit and do a mental check on my legs, knee, and most importantly my left foot and ankle. Everything seems fine, and I feel great. My foot is a bit stiff but it hasn't gone numb yet. Good sign! I decide to kick my pace up a notch. I CAN DO THIS!

I have the biggest smile on my face and am savoring every second of this experience. Every stride and every breath is reaffirmation that I am following the right path on this wonderful journey back to a normal life.

I hit the 4km mark and my legs are beginning to burn; more specifically my hip flexors. Hold on a second, my ankle and knee are still feeling fine. Where is the discomfort and numbness I was afraid of? I decide to kick my pace up a notch.

The final 300m and I let it all out. Balls to the walls, this is it! There are people cheering and the finish line is in sight! My entire world, my entire existence became about reaching that finish line.

I crossed the line and looked up at the clock. At that instant, my entire outlook and perspective about what I could accomplish with my disability was forever redefined.

28:00