Nick Wilson

36:37. 2nd place. A race I honestly didn’t know I was capable of running.

I started running again in 2020 and quickly fell back in love with it. I ran a 4:52 mile and a 17:16 5K, and naturally, the next goal was a fast 10K.

Then my Achilles blew up during training. Months later, I ran 39:14 with very little training, but the fear of getting hurt again eventually made me stop running altogether.

Late last summer, my brother-in-law asked me to run 2 miles with him. We ran 10:50 pace, but somewhere in those 2 miles, the spark came back.

Since then, it’s been a lot of setbacks. An 18:34 5K, then shin pain that forced me to take months off, followed by a 19:31. I started wondering if I was just slow now.

I changed how I trained: no rushing, no forcing fitness. Just consistency, small increases, and trusting the process.

I signed up for the Irving Oktoberfest 10K and honestly wasn’t sure I could even beat my 39:14.

Then race day happened.

This was the first time Acts got to see me race. Seeing Elli holding Rose and Acts cheering at the starting line gave me so much motivation.

I somehow found myself alone in 2nd place early. Mile 1: 5:59. First 5K: under 18 minutes.

Then mile 5 hurt. I was praying out loud between grunts: “Lord, help me finish this.”

About 50 meters before the final turn, the pain disappeared. I kicked, saw my 3 favorite people in the world cheering, and crossed the finish line in 2nd.

36:37.

Three minutes faster than I thought I could run.

Looking back, I think God was teaching me patience. My worth isn’t in a race time. The injuries, setbacks, fear, and slower races humbled me and taught me to trust Him with the process.

And somehow, after all of it…

I feel fast again.

So thankful for my family and the people God has given me to run this life with. I have the best support team.

Excited to see what’s next in the 5K and half marathon before the end of 2026