Yesterday was a day I had been looking forward to: the Mill Race Marathon 5k. So I laced up my shoes, donned my signature neon yellow running gear, and headed out for the race. Now, this wasn’t my first rodeo; it was my second official race, but let me tell you, the atmosphere was something else. This event was much bigger than the last race I ran in, and there were thousands of people out there, all gathered to test their endurance. The marathon is the headliner, as the name suggests, but they also run a half marathon and a 5k at the same time. Naturally, I signed up for the 5k. While I’ve got big aspirations, the 5k is a sweet spot for me right now.
All three races kick off simultaneously, which makes things a little tricky. Everyone’s got their own pace, and navigating through the crowd at the start felt like an obstacle course. There I was, bobbing and weaving between runners, trying to find my groove without wasting too much energy too early. In the end, though, that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It slowed me down just enough that I didn’t make my usual mistake of gassing myself out in the first mile. I’m working on that. The adrenaline of a race can sometimes be your worst enemy.
The challenge, though, wasn’t over after I found my pace. You see, the general rule is that slower runners stick to the right, and faster runners take the left. Sounds simple, right? In theory, yes. In practice, not so much. Throughout most of the race, I was dodging folks who hadn’t quite gotten the memo. It wasn’t until the last three-quarters of a mile that I could finally focus solely on my pace and not on avoiding collisions.
But you know what? For all the little annoyances, there was something undeniably cool about this race. I got to run on streets that are usually packed with traffic. The roads were closed off, and for a brief moment, I felt like the city belonged to me and my fellow runners. I crossed over two of the city’s main bridges and ran across an overpass that is usually jam-packed no matter the time of day. There was something freeing about it. I’ve driven those roads countless times, but running them was an entirely different experience. It felt like I was seeing the city from a new perspective.
By the time I crossed the finish line, I was pretty spent, but there was something else stirring in me — a sense of accomplishment that I hadn’t anticipated. I ended up placing 2nd in my division and 102nd overall. Out of thousands of runners, that’s something to be proud of, and let me tell you, I was. I’ve been training for years, but there’s something about seeing that hard work pay off in a tangible way that just hits different. I’m not usually one to get emotional, but I won’t lie; I teared up a little. I never thought I’d place that well, and in that moment, it all felt worth it.
But I didn’t run this race alone. Sure, I was the one out there on the course, but I wasn’t solo — not really. My wife was with me, and my family was there with me in spirit. This brings me to the next thing on my mind: Team Highlighter. You’ve probably noticed by now that I’ve got a thing for neon yellow. From my socks to my shorts to my shirt and even the bandana on my head, it’s all neon yellow. Why? Well, it started out of necessity. I had a few close calls with drivers not paying attention while I was out training, so I figured, hey, let’s make sure I’m seen. You can’t miss someone dressed in neon yellow head-to-toe, right?
My wife, Kelly, is the one who gave me the nickname. One day, she looked at me all decked out in neon and said, “You look like a highlighter.” The name stuck, and when I started racing, we decided to make it official — thus, Team Highlighter was born. Now, I might be the only person actually running for Team Highlighter at the moment, but I’ve got a whole squad of supporters behind me. My wife, of course, is the captain of the cheering section, but the rest of my family is all in, too. They’re my crew, my motivation, my biggest fans. And thanks to my daughter, we’ve even got official Team Highlighter shirts. I’m rocking one, Kelly’s got one, and so does one of my grandsons.
Speaking of grandsons, one of them is already shaping up to be quite the runner himself. I’m hoping that one day, all of them will want to get in on the action and join Team Highlighter in more than just spirit. There’s something special about the idea of turning running into a family affair, of having them all out there with me, pushing themselves and learning the lessons that running teaches you. It’s about more than just fitness; it’s about discipline, perseverance, and taking things one step at a time.
That brings me to our motto for Team Highlighter: One stride at a time. One mile at a time. One race at a time. It’s simple, but it’s a philosophy that applies to more than just running. Life has a way of throwing obstacles in your path, of making you feel like you’ve got miles to go with no end in sight. But the truth is, you don’t have to conquer it all at once. You just have to take the next step. Whether it’s in running or in life, that’s what matters. You get closer to where you want to be, one stride at a time.
I’ll be talking more about that in the future, but for now, I’ll just say that the motto has kept me going through more than a few tough runs — and more than a few tough days. Racing is a lot like life in that way. You set out with a goal, but the journey rarely goes as smoothly as you’d hope. There are always things that slow you down and make you rethink your approach, but as long as you keep moving forward, you’ll get there.
The Mill Race Marathon 5k was a win for me in more ways than one. I didn’t just walk away with a good time and a decent placement; I walked away with a renewed sense of what’s possible when you commit to something. And Team Highlighter? Well, we’re just getting started. Here’s to many more races, many more miles, and many more victories — one stride at a time.
Stay disciplined. Stay resilient.
Jim Lunsford
Disclaimer:
I am committed to sharing authentic and meaningful content. To enhance the clarity and effectiveness of my writing, I utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool in the content creation process. While AI assists in organizing and refining my ideas, every thought, insight, and story shared on this website is genuinely my own. The use of AI does not alter the authenticity of my work; rather, it helps me communicate more effectively with you, my audience. My goal remains to inspire, motivate, and connect, and AI is simply a tool that supports that mission.
