There was a time when I was fit and active. Alas, like many of us, I settled into a white-collar career that brought along with it long hours sitting at a desk, a mostly stagnant lifestyle, and a few extra notches on the belt. Impulse brought me to Groupon to check on my expired purchases, and as luck would have it on the homepage for my local area, there was a 5K run benefiting law enforcement that was a mere half-mile from my house. For $12, I could test my level of fitness against the masses, so I figured why not?

My goal for this run was simple: don't stop until it's over. I would take no breaks, just keep running, even if it is a painfully slow pace. After all, it has been quite some time since I ran any notable distance. Plus, as an added bonus, since this was my first 5K, no matter my time, I would still be setting a personal record!

I took things easy out of the starting gate. There was no need to bolt out in front of the pack, as I knew I couldn't sustain high speeds. I simply pushed forward at a reasonable, consistent rate. The run took me through the very hilly River Bends Park here in Shelby Township, MI, and there's no question the inclines took their toll on my morale. Still, I chugged along rhythmically, not really paying attention to my position in the pack.

After a particularly brutal uphill just after the 4K mark, I was hurting. I wasn't tired, per say, even though I had spent the previous evening "training" until 2am by sampling fine whiskey in a hot tub at a good friend's house. My calves and feet were starting to resent my recent life choices, however. I had to stop, if only just for a second of reprieve so that I could push through the last thousand meters strong. My goal was not to stop, but honestly, a short break never killed anyone, right?

My will to not stop succumbed to lactic acid buildup, and I trotted to a halt, moving to the side of the road for what would hopefully be the brief pick-me-up I needed to persevere against the last leg of the race. I gulped at the cold water I forgot I had with me, and hoped to relax for a brief moment when I heard another runner who was a few paces behind me speak up in the otherwise quiet forest, "Oh man, there goes my pace guy!"

I was not only laser-focused on my own objective, but I also wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. Unbeknownst to me, this runner I didn't know was counting on me to help him keep his pace. As he passed, this moved me more than I had expected. I was letting a stranger down simply by taking the break I promised myself I would not.

When you are in a group, even if you are not the appointed leader or at the front of the pack, people still may be relying on you or looking to you for guidance, leadership, or inspiration. In some instances, you may have no idea this is occurring. By having better situational awareness, we can help identify these moments and leverage them to form stronger bonds and help each other achieve goals. Even if we can't spot moments like this, by always putting our best foot forward (pun horribly intended) we can ensure that if people were to look to us at that moment, we will be the example they need.

I'm pleased to say, I caught up with this stranger and ended up shaking his hand afterward. I thanked him for keeping me on top of my game, though I'm not sure he fully knew what I meant, or the impact his statement made on me. But as it often happens, life lessons appear where you least expect them.