My Race My Pace

Kevin T. Hodge Sr.

Description

My Race, My Pace is the true story of an African American marathoner as he challenged himself to attain better health through running and lifestyle changes.

It all started with the first step and a willingness to run. When Kevin Hodge decided he wanted to train for the New York City marathon, he never dreamed that he would eventually participate in four marathons and over ten half-marathons.

In an inspirational retelling of his personal experiences as he trained to do the impossible, Hodge discloses how he, a recovering addict and alcoholic, slowly realized the benefits of running that included relief from stress and anxiety, and endorphins that set a positive tone for each day. While motivating others to walk, run, and eat healthier, Hodge candidly addresses the lies that African Americans are often told about what they ingest and drink, and then discloses the dietary changes he incorporated into his life and the results he attained. Throughout his story, Hodge relays how he received strength from prayer and the beloved memory of his sister to persevere through every race.

My Race, My Pace is the true story of an African American marathoner as he challenged himself to attain better health through running and lifestyle changes.

Sujets

• Christian Living
• Personal Growth
• Philosophie et théologie
• motivation
• Religion

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 26 septembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664273221
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

“ This book shows that determination is the most important thing in the world … My Race, My Pace is true testament that if you work hard and stay focused anything can be achi eved.
—Moshe Ezriel Berger
These colorfully touching and often relatable thought – provoking convictions and experiences revealed in Kevin Hodge’s captivating book, “My Race My Pace”, speak to a higher truth and an inescapable reality – that, when we communicate through loving actions and positive encouragement our God – given talents, skills, and abilities and concern for one another is when we can be truly transformed to run the race.
Dr. Christopher M. Will iams
My Race My Pace
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kevin T. Hodge Sr.
 
 
 
 

 
Copyright © 2022 Kevin T. Hodge Sr.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
 
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7323-8 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7321-4 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7322-1 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022913436
 
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 9/26/2022
Contents
Foreword
 
Chapter 1    Just Run
Chapter 2    First Marathon
Chapter 3    Second and Third Marathons
Chapter 4    Fourth Marathon
Chapter 5    The COVID-19 100 Mile Challenge
Foreword
Anyone who has ever registered and completed a running race of any length will find this book inspirational. Faith in yourself is what the human spirit brings out in all of us. If you have run the New York City Marathon, you know how Kevin feels along his journey. How he accomplishes his goal brings real life to the reader.
Many will start, but those of us who finish have the common strength of our faith. Readers will see how this young man’s feelings of desperation at the start of a race evolve into strength as he completes it.
Anyone who has ever doubted themselves will identify with the author by book’s end. The high note is, “You can do it.”

Just Run
A wise man named Laozi once said that “the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” I believe that those words are true. Why do I say that? Because one day I woke up and just decided that I wanted to run. I didn’t just want to run. I wanted to run in the New York City Marathon—and I did just that! I stepped into the New York City Marathon and just started running.
I was overdressed, improperly trained, and unauthorized to run, but I ran. I ran so hard that by the time I got to Central Park I was done, worn out—just completely wiped out. While some would think what I did was a pointless failure, it turned out to be the best decision I had ever made, because I ended up meeting someone named Pete. He helped me make it all the way to just steps from the finish line. Once there, I was told to exit the race. I was not an official runner, but I ran in my first New York City Marathon. Two years later, I completed my first marathon in five hours and forty-five minutes. What a success!
It all started with the first step and a willingness to run. My friends and I started running as teenagers long before I really knew the benefits of running. My friends and I would jog to the swimming pool at night or jog across the 181 st Street Bridge to the Bronx. Some of my friends would hitch a ride on the back of a bus, but to me running proved to be much safer.
People often make resolutions or promises to run and never even get started. When I share with them my successes through running, some make fun of me. Some people can’t seem to believe that I’ve run three marathons and well over ten half-marathons. They can’t conceive of the simple idea that my completed races began with the desire and determination to run, but the truth is anyone can do it. Even if you start with just a block, all it takes is starting. Once you start running, you can set goals to push yourself to do more. If you run a block for two or three days, you will be able to increase your time and speed. You can even increase your distance, but first you must decide to just run. Pick a time and set it aside as your time to run. You can choose morning, noon, or night—but just run.
Run to the store or run to the corner. Run anywhere you feel like running, but please just run. Start wherever you choose and stop as you see fit, but get out there, or in there, and begin to run. Although running can be stressful, it is also a lot of fun. There are so many people running. I didn’t believe how rewarding running could be until I started doing it myself. In 2011, forty-seven thousand people ran the New York City Marathon (though I know that number is higher because there are some, like myself, who ran it unofficially and were not accounted for).
I only ran ten miles of the last marathon, but I had so much fun. Someone even offered me a shot of tequila at mile twenty-two! While it was a nice gesture, I knew I couldn’t accept that offer. They didn’t know that I had struggled with addiction and alcoholism, and I had fought hard to win the battle against my addiction. As a person in recovery, I knew that if I had taken that shot, I would only have wanted more. I took the train to 59 th Street, walked to First Avenue, and just ran. I met many other runners. I gave encouragement and received it all in the same race. What a joy!
To run, one must know their own pace. At times, other runners have zoomed past me, leaving me in the dust. At other times, I’ve been able to pass other runners—only because I was able to learn my pace. I had to learn the hard way. Many times, I started out of the gate too fast, only to be tired before the end of mile one. Pace setting is very important. I’ve learned how to run long distances through careful pacing and rigorous training.
Pace setting takes discipline. While the desire to move faster exists, one must be able to remember to maintain a reasonable pace. There is always a strong temptation to run fast at the start of a race, but proper planning is extremely essential. It took me a long time to understand the importance of pace. My running buddy John G. always reminded me to start off slowly and save energy for the latter part of any race.
John is what I call an elite runner. He was the person who got me back into running after a long hiatus. Sometimes other people see us in a way that we cannot see ourselves, and those people are essential in motivating us to be our best selves. John reminded me why I should run.
Run in the park, and you will surely meet other runners. I remember when I was training for my first marathon. The alarm clock would wake me at 4:30 a.m. It was hard getting out of that warm bed, but once I was up, I was out. I headed straight to Central Park before the crack of dawn. I used to see one guy every Sunday morning. He ran clockwise, and I ran counterclockwise. I don’t know if he even knew it, but he was my inspiration. Just seeing him motivated me to run up the next hill. He ran long and strong for twelve to eighteen miles. For me to run around the park twice was enough, but I really felt that I had what it took for the marathon. That brother may never know how much his presence encouraged me.
Run just one block and you will surely run two. Run knowing that you don’t have to compete with anyone other than yourself. Sometimes competition can be discouraging. Competition to me means proving to other people that I am either better or worse than they are. I have learned that I don’t have to compete unless I choose to. I recall teaching a good friend of mine who knew nothing about a game we were going to play. She became uncontrollably angry with each move that I made. I chose to quit the game rather than continue to play with a hostile and angry opponent. Please don’t misunderstand me; competition can be very healthy and rewarding. It is even fun to compete with others. But for me, when it comes to running, I love to and need to run my race at my pace.
Although the statement “just run” sounds very simple, it is important to understand that it is not always as simple as it sounds. Anything of value that one may want to accomplish has a price. There is a common saying that nothing of value in life is free, though I beg to differ. Just running does not have any monetary cost; rather, it costs energy and excitement. It costs desire, discipline, and determination. You only get out of it what you are willing to put into it. Just run—get up, get out, and get it on. Just run—run slowly, run alone or with others, but please run. Have fun as you run. Learn to look and laugh as you run. I have learned to find a little humor in my running.