BEAUMONT -
Running, jogging, or walking; some do it for fun, but for Beaumont resident Pamela Romero, it means so much more.
"Once you start it becomes a part of your life," Romero told 12News at the Gusher Marathon Saturday afternoon.
Romero is one of more than 1,400 participants who participated in Saturday's Gusher 5K race. She was diagnosed with diabetes in 2010.
"I was over 400 pounds at that time. I learned how to manage it through lifestyle changes. This is where I started.. Gusher is where I started it all," she said.
Three years and 17 5K's later, including three Gusher 5K's, Romero is down an incredible 138 pounds.
"It's great to be back out here," she said.
83-year-old Jim Solis took part in his 4th Gusher 5K.
"My granddaughter is a marathon runner and she told me 'Grandpa you can walk the 5K' and I said I'll try it and sure enough I did," Solis told 12News.
Solis has made fitness a priority in his life ever since, pushing him to first place in his age group. It's inspirational stories like these that make Gusher Marathon co-director Richard James proud.
"That's the whole purpose of this event, is to improve that quality of life, to fight obesity, to improve health," James said.
Romero hopes to be a beacon of hope for others looking to improve to improve their health.
"I just want to be a positive influence for everybody," she said.
Solis offered some words of wisdom.
"Don't watch too much TV," he said.
He said this is a tip that helped him reach the podium.
