Was at the hair salon and read an article in Redbook about women who were completely out of shape/overweight and started running and now they are completely different people.
We're you always a runner? Or did you think 'me? A runner? Never!'
I have never been more than 10 lbs overweight, but I had never really been in good shape. When running the mile in gym class was a requirement, I was one of the stragglers huffing and puffing at the end.
When I was about 30, single and living in NYC I became envious of the runners in Central Park and always thought that was something that other people did, certainly not me. Well one day, I said eff it and I joined them. I'm still somewhat slow, but I enjoy it and it keeps the stress and weight in check!
I've always been a swimmer. One day my mom told me I should start running and she signed me up for a race. I could barely run 10 feet. That was sevenish years ago. I've done one marathon, over 11 halfs, countless 5ks, only one 10k (lol), a few oly tris, lots of sprint tris, 4 70.3s and one full ironman.
I never thought I could run. I remember circling the block and tasting blood in my lungs and throwing my hands in the air with a big "f*** this!!"
Since having DD (3.5years old), I've run over 30 races, including 2 marathons and a full ironman. I made a New Years resolution to just be better. Care for my body better, my mind better, be a better wife, mom, friend. Suddenly, running and then triathlon made me those things and so it stuck.
I have never ran except for high school gym class. I used to struggle to run/walk a mile.
Then about two years ago, after watching friends and coworkers run the Pittsburgh marathons year after year. I decided that I want to try to run.
It all started with a goal of running for 10 minutes straight. Then I started running 5ks, 10ks and training for my third Half now. I love running and I'm so glad I've found a new hobby. I am burnt out from training though. It's more fun when you're not constantly training for something. Sometimes a break is a very good thing!
Post by spunkypenguin on Jul 26, 2014 19:39:56 GMT -5
I have been overweight my whole life. I was the girl who walked the "mile" in high school. A few years ago, I started losing weight. I started out walking and just wanted to be able to run. After I'd lost about 100lbs (down from 335lbs), I started Couch to 5K and I've been running ever since. I never saw myself as athletic. I'm still pretty slow, but running has definitely changed my life!
Post by bostonmichelle on Jul 26, 2014 20:00:37 GMT -5
I never was a runner. I could walk though miles on end, but running the mile in gym class would break me into hysterics. I only started running about 10 months ago. And I'm still like runner? Me, that's not me. I'd made a New Years resolution a couple years in a row to run a 5k. It took about 4 years and it finally stuck. Since my first 5k about 10 months ago I've run countless 5k's, 2 10k's and I'm training for my first half with another lined up behind it. It's a great hobby and a great way for me to connect with my sister as well as meet some new friends.
Post by setsail1999 on Jul 26, 2014 20:55:46 GMT -5
I was never a runner. I didn't play sports growing up and childhood asthma made it hard to run so I had zero experience. When I was in my early 20s I had a few half-hearted attempts at c25K but 2 years ago I decided to try it again. For some reason I stuck with it this time. I lost 60lbs, I worked through the c25K, bridge to 10k and ended up running a half marathon. I still struggle but I really enjoy running. I just sometimes have to remind myself of that lol.
I've run pretty much since I was around 13yrs old. There have been varying degrees of consistency and mileage, but it's always been something I've done. Only in the last few years have I made the effort to get faster. Before that it was something I only did for fun / exercise and not for performance.
While I am a runner, sadlebred brings up a great point that while I do run, it's exercise overall that has changed my life and made me healthier and happier. I was always athletic growing up but lost that in my adult years ( desk job, changing priorities, etc.) I trained and ran a marathon 7 years ago and then stopped running. Last year I started with c25k, and after many stops and starts I completed it last fall and am working toward a half in October. I also walk every day and could do that forever. The key is finding exercises that work for you to help meet your goals.
I'm in the exercise changed my life camp. I never did much of anything until I was about 32. Not overweight, just not healthy. Then a friend talked me into trying out a circuit training class. I branched out into all kinds of classes from there and stuck with it all for the last 5 years. I just started running this past spring.
A couple if weeks ago I texted DH my running time because I was so happy with it and he texted back " my hard working athlete!!!" I realized then that I am, indeed, an athlete. I got a new vehicle and asked my kids what kind of stickers they thought would fit me (for the back window) and they both told me a Nike swoosh, because they think of working out when they think about what I like. Again, I realized that I am truly athletic. 5 years ago I would have never said that about myself!
I hated running when I was in high school. I "ran" the mile in gym, and that was it. After college and getting married, I gained a lot of weight and my H and I decided to make a lifestyle change. I started with riding a recumbent bike, and after loosing 15 lbs gave running a try. That was 4 years ago and I have never looked back! I have only run a couple 5ks (I run my school's 5k every year that I can), and "train" for a HM every summer that I still haven't run. But I lost 50 lbs in the process, and have gone from a 15:00/mi to a 9:00/mi and from struggling to run one mile to running 10+ with ease. I love running and don't think I'll ever stop!
Post by foundmylazybum on Jul 27, 2014 12:09:10 GMT -5
I started out doing swimming really young. I think that instilled a certain type of self identity in me. Probably something along the lines of "athlete," which comes along with all kinds of other broad things like "I'm not afraid to try physical activities," and "I'm not afraid of competition," etc. I started doing running in 8th grade when I signed up for cross country in the off season of swimming.
Then I did track in 9th grade and placed in the HS state meet and never looked back. I absolutely think of running as part of my self identity. Running/sports didn't "change my life," it just gave me an arena to showcase my awesome.
Post by humpforfree on Jul 27, 2014 13:53:57 GMT -5
I was never a runner. I played ice hockey in high school and did one season of XC as a favor to the coach since they needed more girls for a team. I just looked at that as hockey training and slogged through it.
3 years ago I was feeling fat and the night day I started C25k- everyone who runs consistently seems to LOVE it and I wanted something I could stick with. Since then I have run many 5ks, 10ks, a 10-miler, 12-miler, 5 halves and am now (struggling through) training for my first full (with a 5 month old baby). I still dread going out and fight myself to train but love how I feel in the middle miles, after a run and after a race. Addicted now.
Started running during indoor track freshman year to stay in shape for tennis. Never looked back. Ran for a small D1 college but got really burnt out. Quit after Track junior year (also wanted to graduate early so this allowed me to squeeze in extra credits). Didn't run a race for 3-4 years and then got into longer distances. I go through phases where I won't run for a few weeks or so but I've been pretty consistent with it since then.
I started running my freshman year of college and discovered it's magical, calming, stress relieving powers. I love that it has the capacity to be soooooo non competitive. I only started paying attention to pace/time in the past 2 years.
I didn't pick up running (besides a handful of occasional runs in grad school) until after I moved back home and started getting in shape for my wedding-my sisters were training for their first half marathon and dragged me along with them for their training runs. The rest is history
Post by sweetiesparkles on Jul 27, 2014 21:02:02 GMT -5
I was never a runner.
I am 33 and for the past 11 years (since 22) have started and stopped c25k after the first week. I never got the hang of it. My husband (then boyfriend) used to run 10k's in 46 minutes---at a pretty fast clip and he trained a lot. Me..well he'd have to urge me to go on a simple walk with him. I was lazy.
I also have a few health issues---a high risk pregnancy in 2008 that resulted in IUGR, general anxiety disorder, hypertension, and just I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. (I was wondering why I was so exhausted lately.)But I have this inner competitive bug and I have found racing is such a great place for it. Even when I was too tired to run, I would get up and go. I found a schedule and have stuck to it since the beginning of the year.
I started running this February after a friend came over and asked me how often I use my treadmill. It was a simple question---and I had every excuse in the world. I could still stand to lose about 5 more pounds, but other than that, I have dramatically increased my lifestyle to a more active state. I have been gluten free for almost 10 months, and working out on a consistent basis.
I completed my 2nd 5k last night and have one more on the books this summer and then a marathon relay with friends in September. I may never be a running superstar with age group wins, but I am very proud of my accomplishments.
I was NEVER a runner--in soccer in HS when we had to leave and go run 1-2 miles, I would run out of sight of the coach and then walk to the store to buy a slurpee while everyone else ran.
I started running the track when I lived in CA to try something different and made it a mile. That was 2009/2010. Then I ran again about a mile a few days a week to be healthy before my wedding in 2010. In January of 2011 I was frustrated because I loved going to the gym but I never ran, so I signed up for a 5K. I trained for a month and ran the 5K and was hooked. I told myself if I could run 3 miles I could run 13 and signed up for a half and since then have been doing at least 1 half a year and as many local 5 and 10K races I can!
I played JV Soccer in High School, we had to run like 3 miles before every practice. I dreaded it EVERY SINGLE DAY.
So no, I have not always been a runner.
I ran on the TM my freshman year of college in 2-mile clips (never more). After that, I used to run a few miles like once every 2 months in college. Post college, I lost like 20 lbs and would run 4 miles or so on the TM (never outside).
I ran my first 5K right the weekend I found out I was pregnant with DS. After that I ran a few times when pregnant, but didn't really start in earnest again until DS was 14-15 months. I had lost a decent amount of weight just through BF so it made running a lot easier and more rewarding
Then I worked up my way up in a year from running a 5K to a marathon. After that, I got pregnant with DD. I ran through my pregnancy until 28 weeks or so.
I starting running again 4 weeks or so after DD was born and haven't looked back! Cutting way back on sugar helped me to lose the last of the baby weight and then some and has taken my running to a whole new level.
I always dreamed about running a marathon someday, but never really thought it was a possibility. If 10 years ago, you would have told me that I would be running 13 miles on a random Sunday, I would have never believed you. I'm pretty damn proud of how far I've come and really happy that running is in my life. It definitely has enriched my life in countless ways.