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I Ran a 10K as a Heavy Smoker. Here Is How I Did It
4 lessons taken on a journey full of sweat
What you don’t think possible actually is.
This short sentence sums up what I learned in the past year.
A year ago, I took my first run towards the goal of running a 10K before turning 30. I ran 3 kilometers and couldn’t walk for the next 2 days.
Recently, I ran 10.04 km and ran again two days later. When I started, I saw this goal as another one of those goals we set but never accomplish. In the end, I did it two months before the deadline.
10K feels like nothing to many people. For me, it was a beast to tackle. Something my younger self wouldn’t believe I did if I were to tell him.
Why? Well, there are two reasons.
First, I grew up in a house always filled with pipe and cigarette smoke. Then I started smoking about 10 years ago, and have been a heavy smoker for 5 years. Nowadays, I got through at least 5 packs a week, on a low week. I’ll let you guess how incredible my breath is.
Second, I grew up with a muscle deficiency located on my legs. Myasthenia, as it’s called, makes the muscles touched weaker and lowers their stamina. As a child, I had to go through physical therapy to learn how to run because I…
