My family runs races together, but I frequently run 5ks by myself. It was at a 5k in Tulsa where I really figured out what the whole running community is about. I was about a half a mile away from the finish line when I noticed a girl about 7 or 8 years old who was walking by herself. I had noticed her running earlier with her mom and her mother had run ahead of her after an argument. After glancing back a few times to make sure she was okay, I finally crossed over to the side of the course and asked if she had anyone to run with. She said that she didn't since her mom ran ahead. I immediately told her that I would finish the race with her if that was okay with her. We ran the rest of the race together, side by side and slowing down when the other person needed too.
When we neared the finish line, I told her to go for it and she ran across the finish. I crossed later and went to meet up with my family. Later at the event, she walked over to me and said "Thank you very much. I mean it." I told her that it was not a problem at all and I went back to my family. This is what it means to pass it on, at least to me.
Submitted by Anonymous
We've all had people in our lives who have made a positive impact on us. A parent or grandparent, a sibling who was there for us, or maybe even just a guy who shines shoes for a living? Whoever they are, tell us their story so they can inspire us even more.
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