Thereโs a lot to celebrate about my future thanks to advancements in science. Using AI, the @ViiVHealthcare team showed me what my future might look like through the #FacesofHIV campaign. Swipe to check it out for yourself!
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#running #lgbtq #gayrunner #gaytattoo #marathoner #marathon #runnersofinstagram #hiv #runningcommunity
This image was created with the help of AI. #ad
on overcoming fear
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Going into this race, my A goal was to embrace and enjoy the marathon experience. I braced myself for the hurt that would come in the later stages, and I was ready to lean into it. I held onto a 3:50 pace as long as I could.
But hereโs the truth: 3:50 was 10 seconds slower than the pace I trained forโthe pace my coach believed I was ready to run. Yet, just like in other marathons, fear and doubt crept in as soon as the gun went off.
What if I pushed too hard and hit the wall? What if I fell apart before the finish? What if today wasnโt the day? Fear of failureโand all the emotions that come with itโtook over. So, I switched to a more โcomfortable and realisticโ pace, convincing myself it was the smarter move.
In a way, did I set myself up for failure by not setting my A goal to run a personal best? Knowing that 3:40 would get me there, should I have made that my number one focus instead?
At 35K, when my legs started to fade and the watch became irrelevant, I made the choice to run with heart. I wanted to finish knowing I gave everything I could. But did I?
2:44:55
Iโd be lying if I said I wasnโt disappointed with the time but I chose safety and comfort. The marathon, once again, proved to be a distance that challenges me not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Itโs an ongoing battle, one Iโm determined to win.
But hereโs the silver lining: every race is a lesson. Iโm learning that if I want to excel at this distance, I have to overcome fear. I have to believe in my preparation, trust my ability, and take risks when it matters most.
The marathon didnโt beat meโit taught me. Iโm not giving up on faster times, and Iโm not giving up on myself. Every start line is another chance to write a better story.
#marathontraining #runningmotivation #marathonjourney #runninggoals #gayfitness #gaytattooed #valenciamarathon #instarunnners
@gabrieljarquin is #LivingART. One of CANFARโs National Ambassadors, Gabrielโs story of resilience and running is a beautiful reminder that thereโs nothing people living with HIV canโt do.
Gabriel doesnโt let HIV slow him down. Heโs a competitive marathoner who tries to beat his own records every time he crosses the finish line.
Antiretroviral therapy, aka ART, lets people living with HIV take full advantage of all life has to offerโwithout any fear of passing on the virus to loved ones. When HIV is undetectable, itโs untransmittable. U=U.
h/t @hivgov โs #WorkofART campaign
#HIV #hivprevention #uequalsu
