For my very first post here, I will try to keep it brief. If I ramble a bit, it’s because I am excited. Why? Because I just completed my first 10K—on foot! Me! I am still in shock.

I’m 51, I have CP, and I walked 6.7 miles to complete a 10K on July 21, 2019. I just want everyone to know it is possible. It wasn’t easy, but you know what they say... nothing worth doing is easy.

Let me explain how this started. I am semi-retired. I worked for 18 years in the Montgomery County Public School system of Maryland. My wife and I decided to move to the mountains of Virginia. I began writing a book on our life. I am still writing that book. I have spent the better part of 3 years sitting and writing.

It hasn't been so good for my body. I realized one day that getting up and moving was getting harder. My wife suggested that maybe I should consider using crutches again. This was a frightening thought to me. I haven’t used crutches since I was 9, so my immediate reaction was, “Dammit! I need to move!”

So, this June I started walking. I went out my front door and walked up the mountain road to my kid's bus stop. I did this every day. The trip up and back was equal to 1 Km. I was soon feeling better! I found a virtual marathon group online. They were sponsoring an event in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing. The finisher medal looked very cool to me too. So, I did it! I did it on my own time, at my own pace.

If it was too hot out, I got on the old treadmill in my basement. But I did it! My point is.... whatever it is that you REALLY want to do, I believe you can. Just get out there and get moving. That’s vital to all of us – not just those of us with disabilities.