Five years ago, I was the victim of a hit-and-run accident. I suffered extensive damage to my lungs, ribs, shoulder, pelvis, and even sustained third degree burns. Once I was up and about, I knew I needed to do something to get back in shape
My name is Eugene Lim, 28 years old, from Valenzuela City. I am a running enthusiast, and I would like to share my story on how running changed my life, and why you should run, too.
I believe that I am currently living my “second life,” after a dreadful event that left me in my worst shape ever. Five years ago, I was the victim of a hit-and-run accident. I suffered extensive damage to my lungs, ribs, shoulder, pelvis, and even sustained third degree burns. I was bedridden for four months, and every single move I made was agonizing.
I knew I needed to be strong to stay tough for the sake of my family. I prayed every day for the pain to ease, and for my quick recovery. Once I was up and about, I knew I had to do something to get back in shape. I started running because that was the simplest form of exercise I could think of at the time. I have since been running for over three years. I have learned to love it and I just can't live without it.
Running did not only lead me to a healthier lifestyle, it also helped me connect with people through social media and expanded my horizons. After what I went through, I became more daring. I started to join other running groups and all sorts of activities online. One of those that caught my attention was “#HealthIsHappening: The 21-Day Healthy Habit Challenge.” It was one of the projects of Unilab Foundation found in their website’s Volunteer Portal.
I learned about this from a post of one of my running friends, blogger Allan Ray Enriquez of Running Free Manila. This challenge gave me a different kind of excitement. I thought that taking the challenge of fulfilling a healthy habit for 21 consecutive days was something different, and could be an opportunity for me to share bits and pieces of what I do every day. I posted photos of the runs I’ve joined and even small things that help me to become healthy, like eating the right food and exercising.
To my surprise, I was named the Grand Winner of the #HealthIsHappening Challenge. It has been an amazing experience, and I feel happy and humbled at the same time.
I’m grateful for the Running Community who inspired me to join this challenge. I’m continuously running because of them. Thanks to this community, I didn't only get fitter and healthier, but I also gained more friends and boosted my self-confidence. I am lucky to have known them and count them as an important part of my life.
To those who want to make health happen just like me, remember that whether it be in the physical, emotional, mental or spiritual sense, the most important thing is to make health a habit. Go on and be consistent with what you do. Continue doing it, and at the same time inspire and influence others to practice healthy living. It's like running – the more you run, the stronger you will get. And the stronger you are, the more chances of reaching the finish line!
Eugene works as a chat agent in a US-based online printing company in Mandaluyong. When he's not running, Eugene likes to get creative with Adobe Photoshop.