ONE STEP AT A TIME

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

- Lao-tzu

My journey began as a joke. “Maybe I’ll do the marathon!” I said when YMC became an official charity of the Los Angeles Marathon. Everyone in the room laughed, knowing full well that those words would never be uttered with any kind of real intention. The seed was planted however, and before I knew it, I was up at 5:30am THE MORNING OF MY BIRTHDAY registering for the Roadrunners.

That first morning we did 3 miles, and I thought – “I got this!” and for the next 6 months, I showed up every Saturday morning at the crack of dawn, at the flagpoles on Venice beach and found out that I didn’t have anything! Just the stubbornness not to give up! I also discovered a brand new world. Hundreds and hundreds of masochists - I mean runners, and walkers invaded the streets before the break of dawn. They high-fived, whistled, sang, and rooted for each other. A moving, bouncing, fluid, graceful, sweaty community of marathoners in training took over the boardwalk, the Santa Monica Pier, and the surrounding streets. It was awe inspiring.

I felt pain in places I forgot I had! Shin splints? Really? Every week there were new blisters on different places on my feet. Why are my toes numb? You would have thought that I had lifted a bus my back ached so much. And the topper was when I went to get my monthly mani-pedi, and my girl Lisa says to me, “are you running or walking a lot?” Surprised, I asked her how she knew, and she pointed to my blackened toe-nail…. I am officially a part of the club! I am losing my toe nail!

There have been many firsts since starting this adventure. Seeing the sun rise over the Ferris wheel on the pier, discovering that athletic fashion can be cute, inhaling deeply because I could, and oh yeah – I DID A MARATHON!!!! 26.2 miles.

The one thing I prayed for was a cool, nice day. The universe had different plans…. Apparently the plan was to prove that indeed it does rain in Southern California. And not a refreshing little sprinkle – noooooooo - we are talking MONSOON type rain! Sheeting, stinging, whipping rain for 26.2 miles, and in my case – for 7 hours and 9 minutes. It literally started raining as we were approaching the first mile marker and it did not stop! Not for one single solitary second did it let up…. At first I thought it was kinda fun… but after a couple of hours all I could say was “Seriously??????”

Becky, good friend, mentor, and fellow marathoner gave me some tips she had used to get through the 10 other marathons she had run, and the one that spoke to me was to dedicate each mile to some one or something, so I did. Every couple of miles I would look at my list – This one is for Debrah, this one is for my niece Alexa, my nephews, Simon, Theo, Bryson, this one is for my sobriety, this one is for Derry, this one is for my mentors, this one is for Tony, this one is for my smoke free lungs, this one is for my mentees, this one is for Olivia and as I turned the corner on Ocean for the last ¼ mile and I saw the finish line – this one is for ME! And I started – yup, you guessed it – bawling!!!!! I had done it!!!!! Too cold to feel anything but exhilaration, I bowed my head to receive my medal.

If I had started this epic journey thinking about the 26.2 miles, I couldn’t have done it. Instead I took it one step at a time. I did what was in front of me. Nothing more, nothing less. And I did it because the amazing people in my life believed I could – so I believed I could. Huh – kinda like mentoring… Imagine that! You believe so I believe. Believe this – never again. Done and done… MMMM I wonder what my next initiation will be?

Hoolie

My First Marathon EVER!

Since September: “Friday nights” are nonexistent. I wake up on Saturdays at 5:30am (sometimes at 6:20, but don’t tell my pace group!). I’ve ran 20 miles, and relieved when I only need to run 7. I’m 10 pounds lighter, and slightly obsessed with running clothes.

I never thought I would run a marathon, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to help raise money for Youth Mentoring Connection, which is where I work and have met amazing people who I consider family. Now more than ever, YMC needs your help to continue running life-saving programs.

I've been a Program Coordinator at YMC for the last 3 years, and I’ve witnessed powerful transformations with the young people we serve all over Los Angeles. Shy kids come out of their shell. Young men learn how to channel their frustrations into something positive and realize they can have a bright future. With proper guidance and support, young women recognize they can overcome their circumstances and want more for their lives. Our mentees feel safe to let us see them for who they are and know that they will not be judged. At YMC, we create a community where mentees can be seen for the gifts they posses.

I understand times are tough, but I need your help to raise money so that my coworkers and I can continue to saves lives. No amount is too small or too large! If all you can donate is $5, I’d really appreciate it. If you have the opportunity to give more, like say $1 for every mile I run/walk, that would be great! And you know if you have an extra $100 lying around, you will have an extra special place in my heart!

I’m proud to say that 95% of our mentees graduate from high school and continue their education; our mentees come from the most disadvantaged schools in the country with graduation rates as low as 27%. With a statistic like that, you know we’re doing something right! Please help us out!

To donate, please visit my fundraising page:
www.active.com/donate/ymc/crystalcedillo

Or you can mail your check to:
1818 S. Western Ave. Suite 505
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(please specify that your check is for Crystal Cedillo, LA Marathon)