And with only one shoe...

Imagine…

It is the biggest race of your year, with everything on the line.

On either side of you are hundreds of the best runners in the country.

About halfway into the 6-mile race, suddenly, unexpectedly, one of your shoes has come off.

You suddenly become aware of the cold ground on this overcast 35-degree day in Wisconsin.

Your balance is off, with right foot having a shoe and left foot bare.

How many seconds would it take before quitting the race?

How many steps on that frozen ground before limping to the sideline?

 

This scenario played out for Habtom Samuel, an Eritrean sophomore for the UNM Lobos at the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 23^rd.

At the halfway point of the course, running with the lead pack, he lost his left shoe after being “spiked” by another runner and had a decision to make. Drop out or keep running?

Well, for Habtom, there was never any decision.

I asked him if he considered dropping out and here was his response:

“Honestly, quitting never crossed my mind. I was determined to keep going and give my all of my team, no matter what.”

Not only did Habtom run lopsided with a bloodied foot on the frozen ground for the last 3 miles of the race against the best in the country, but he finished 2^nd in the race. He ran 14:07 for the second half of the race, 4:30 per mile. And in doing so, he helped his UNM team to a 9th place finish.

As he crossed the line, he pointed to his bare, bloodied left foot as if to say, “See what I did despite this!”

Habtom, we are inspired by you and your perseverance.

May we find that same resolve to not give up today, this week, this month when adversity hits us halfway through our race. Instead of asking “Why now?” and “Why me?” you remind us to change the questions to a declaration: "Yes, I can! Si se puede!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Extra: Interview with Habtom post-race as he talks about running with one shoe - click here

A picture from this fall, where Habtom came out to share with our Running Medicine youth and families. He shared that it felt like being back home in his village, surrounded by love and laughter.