Coffee Race, the first step

May 2020.

I turned on the radio and heard the bad news, the report of the first Coronavirus deaths in Venezuela.

A hybrid of emotions; fear, uncertainty, life can be very short at the best of times, although I was not at my best, I had expectations for the future.

I took my coffee and preventive measures, then came to stay the period of confinement, a lot of anxiety and a lot of food, I followed to the letter that urban proverb that says "Let's eat that the world is coming to an end".

30 kilos later, I was still alive, fatigued by bad habits, my body showed alterations in cholesterol levels.

I try to relive those moments with a dose of humor, but I cannot hide the fact that I had to say goodbye to many people from the earthly plane.

The truth is that, once in safe harbor and closing that chapter of terror for humanity, my family doctor encouraged me to follow the path of good habits, a healthier diet and what my body was crying out for, physical activity.

I wake up in the morning, prepare my coffee and think about many things, I am a little ashamed to admit it, but I am a hibernating sloth, I was born tired and I live to rest, my mother says I should enter the rehabilitation center for anonymous idlers.

It is paradoxical how someone in the mirror can dream of being on the cover of "Men's Health" without hardly lifting a weight in his life.

Days went by and one of the most important coffee producing companies in the country announced a great event; "The Great Coffee Marathon".

By that time, I had already taken the first steps in motivation and decided to participate.

The preparation was full of temperament, postponing the alarm "5 more minutes", thinking if it was really worth that training, crying with disappointment, with envy of those who love the sport.

"Every day you learn something new", "The early bird catches the worm".

Running for more than a minute, feeling that your heart at any moment will burst, little by little, up to 10 thousand fast steps in an hour.

There comes a time when you can breathe a lot of air and feel that you broke the wall of sedentary lifestyle.

Social life on the rise, new friends, new plans, new illusions.

I replaced on my cell phone the leisure apps, with metronomes, calorie counters, evolution records and power mantras.

The big day of the marathon arrived, coffee for everyone at the starting point, adrenaline and fear, the whistle blew.

How to say, my legs did not respond and I had only 25% of the course, the nice thing is that many people encourage you to continue, Come on champ, you can do it!

Cramps, tears, frustration. I bow to the marathoners by profession.

I finished walking, received my 10K medal and a special gift, a month of free coffee courtesy of the organizers.

The day after I felt like a loser, but today, with my new mental configuration, I understand that I was a winner, because, that day, I took the first step.