Men overcome disabilities in Mud Rush 5K

It was two months of training for an afternoon covered in mud.

Three members of the TK-Fit gym made it their goal to conquer the fifth-annual Mud Rush 5K. All three of them are disabled.

“I want to prove to the people of El Paso that just because you’re hurt, it doesn’t mean it’s game over,” runner Kyle Patrick said.

Patrick nearly lost the ability to walk after stepping on a bomb while deployed in Iraq.

He’s joined by Joel Acosta and Jesus Duarte. Acosta was nearly paralyzed after suffering from a brain aneurysm. Duarte lost his right arm in a car crash.

“I’m living proof that if you go through a big setback, like an aneuryism, or a stroke, or broken bones, there’s hope,” Acosta said.

Duarte said he uses his disability as motivation to keep on going.

“Don’t let your disability stop you from any dreams that you want to do,” Duarte said. “This is just an obstacle, just a stepping stone to move forward, and look at life in a simple way — a beautiful way.”

Kai Malachai trained over 100 members of the gym for the race. He said the three men kept everyone going.

“They don’t take any excuses, they just go for the results. How can we take our excuses, if they’re not taking theirs — and theirs are pretty valid,” Malachai said.

TK Fit had the largest group of the whole race.

“I don’t really think that I’m going to inspire anybody, but I just do what I can,” Duarte said. “It feels really good that actually other people look up to me. It’s a good feeling that I’ve never felt before.”