Bob Sinclair shares the inspiring story of Derek Mitchell, a 570 pound man whose goal is to do at least one 5K run a month for the rest of the year.
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I was recently inspired after reading a story about Derek Mitchell from Runner’s World. Mitchell is 570 pound man whose goal is to do at least one 5K run a month for the rest of the year.
It doesn’t matter what others will think.
It doesn’t matter if he will be in the last place.
He is doing it.
By the end of the year, he will have completed eleven 5k runs.
After been diagnosed with a benign tumor on his pituitary gland, which contributed to his then-625 pound size. Mitchell decided to change his life by stop drinking soda.
Starting with just walking around the neighbourhood on a regular basis and logging his progress on social media. Mitchell decided to take it a step further by doing a 5k run every month to the end of the year.
https://youtu.be/3XpdoP3PzRM
Toward the finish line, Jim Moody, a member of Team Red, White and Blue, saw that Mitchell needed that little push, went out to him and said “Alright, finish strong” and Mitchell booked it as fast as he could.
And to distract himself from the pain, Mitchell listened to the song “Gonna Fly Now,” a theme song from the movie Rocky. He wanted to feel that awesome feeling to cross the finished line with his hands in the air.
In the end, Mitchell ran his first 5k in an hour and a half. He hopes to knock five minutes off his time, each race.
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Mitchell’s story is not only one of determination and strength, but the fact that the community is rallying behind him, inspiring him, and in turn, he inspired others including me.
I know for a fact that I will be supporting him all the way.
Go Derek!
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Photo Credit: Terry Mitchell
