New Year's Resolution Of Healthy Living Put To Test In Commitment Day 5K

COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ)—Surveys show that half of all New Year's resolutions involve improving one's health.

Mike Schuh ran into a group of people serious about keeping that commitment.

To do something hard, it helps to have encouragement, someone who will jump in and have your back.

While plenty of us talk about changing, these are people taking those first steps.

In fact, that's what a run in Columbia and 34 other cities is called: the Commitment Day 5K.

One year ago, Anna Temple-Rodney began making the commitment to be healthy.

And that's the root of what's happening at the 5K.

"We are in the last position," said Faiza Coleman-Salako, runner. "It doesn't matter at all because this time last year I was in bed sipping on some tea. Now I'm out here putting one foot in front of the other."

Martin Kerrigan finished first, yet he admires all those who participated.

"What they did is more commendable than what I did because I do this every day," Kerrigan said.

This is Karem Abdul-Salaam's very first day in an organized run.

"I want to get myself healthy again," Abdul-Salaam said.

It took her nine weeks of training, but at the crack of dawn on this first day of 2014, she and her son drove down from Harrisburg.

"I feel so good," she said. "I now want to do a 5K every month. That's part of the commitment I made to myself."

So, on this day of resolution and regret, here is proof that the longest journey begins with the first step.

Surveys also say only one-third of us keep our resolutions for a month, but if you make it that long you stand a good chance of continuing with your promise to yourself.

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