Valery M. Ortiz Instagram – This feeling. That moment.
I can’t even begin to describe what this week in Beijing, China has been like! So many tearful moments where I still couldn’t believe I had finally made it here. After so many years of dreaming about it, so many months training and so many weeks prepping – I was actually about to run on The Great Wall of China! I’m posting this first because I’d like to ride this incredible high!
Ya’ll the race route was tough! 😅 About 3 miles 100% incline before even arriving on the wall! Then a little over 2 miles on the wall and those epic stairs to then finish off my half marathon throughout a flat then hilly village tour. But mi amor kept assuring me, “Trust your training”…and that I did. I didn’t intend on winning the race and I didn’t. 😂 Just FINISHING felt like THE biggest accomplishment. And aghhhhh it really was! Then I saw the results. I placed FIRST in my age group!!! Aghhhhhh!!! I had already felt amazing and to leave with this extra win is indescribable! 🥹🤯
And as most of you already saw, Mami @aracelis9606 came with me and did what they called the “Fun Run” which was 8.5km of that crazy incline and then the wall. I am so proud of her! She was THE ONLY WOMAN in her age group to do those 8.5km! My mom! 😍🫶🏽🙌🏽
I am leaving China with an even bigger appetite for my next adventure challenge and the FULLEST heart! I’ll be sharing more about all the beautiful like minded souls we met and shared this dream with (Los amamos!) and the beautiful places we toured before and after the race in a separate post.
I turn 40 later this year and my intention was to kick off my next decade with a bang. This exceeded all of my expectations and then some! 🤗 I can’t wait to continue this epic momentum! | Posted on 20/May/2024 12:39:02
