My Updates
A boy, an inhaler, a course, & a DREAM!
Thursday 20th Aug
If you had told young José that one day he would be able to run 26.2 miles, he probably would have burst out laughing.
You see, I was born with chronic asthma, and from a very young age, breathing was something I couldn't take for granted. By the time I was 4 years old, I had already been hospitalized four times because of my asthma. Throughout my childhood, a nebulizer was a constant part of my life, and I did not enjoy it! I dreaded having to use the machine; it was loud and scary looking!
While other kids were running around playgrounds, joining sports teams, and doing the things children do, I often had to sit things out. Most exercise was difficult, and it felt lonely most of the time. I started to think being athletic and doing sports was just unrealistic and not meant for me.
But I didn't want to give up. As I got older, my asthma became more stable and manageable, so I began to push my limits.
I started on the track. I realized I couldn't run fast like others, but I could jog. With every day, I began building my stamina and endurance. And I was on the track A LOT. Before I knew it, I was jogging more and more laps and slowly, but surely, I was running!
And it changed my life. At 13, I became a kid who could be active and play sports. It felt like a whole new world for me.
Over the past three years, running has taken me further than I ever imagined. I've completed 5Ks and 10Ks, eight half marathons, and the New York City Marathon. Along the way, I also lost more than 80 pounds.
Running gave me confidence. It gave me discipline. It gave me a community. It gave me a healthier relationship with my body. Most importantly, it showed me that the things I once believed were impossible aren't always impossible. Sometimes, things that are worth it may just require patience, persistence, and a willingness to try.
And yes, I still have asthma.
I still take my inhaler with me on every single run. Yes, EVERY run: easy runs, long runs, training blocks, and especially race day.
It's interesting to think. The inhaler once represented what prevented me from doing things is now the thing I use to make sure I CAN do the things I want.
Running has also given me a new goal: to complete all six of the World Marathon Majors. I've already checked New York off the list, and now I'm setting my sights on London.
But this time, I'm not running London simply to add another medal to my collection.
I'm running for Asthma + Lung UK and joining Team Breathe because this cause is a part of my story.
I know what it's like to be the child who struggles to breathe. I know what it's like to feel limited by your lungs. And I know how easy it can be to assume that a diagnosis defines what you can and cannot do.
Today, I get to train for marathons. That's something I don't take for granted.
Asthma + Lung UK is working to improve the lives of people living with lung conditions, raise awareness, support people with their health, and help create a future where everyone can breathe freely.
I'm not pretending that asthma isn't still part of my life. It is. I train with it. I race with it. I respect it.
But I refuse to let it be the thing that stops me.
I'm incredibly grateful to have this opportunity and incredibly proud to be running with Team Breathe. Please consider following my journey and contributing however you can.
Thank you for listening and here's to finding out just how far we can go.
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