Running Changed My Life….

I will never forget the first step of my journey to running.

It all started a week prior to that first step. The Boyfriend and I went to our favorite camping spot. It was mid day when we decided to go on a 1 mile hike. I had done this hike 3 times before and it was hard every time, but I could do it. Less than a quarter of a mile into it, I felt like I was dying….literally. I couldn’t breathe, I felt dizzy, and told Chad we had to stop to rest. After a few minutes of trying to catch my breath, I told Chad it was time to go back. I felt defeated, but I kept making excuses for why I couldn’t do it. I was tired. I hadn’t eaten enough. Blah Blah Blah!

I had a doctor's appt a few days after the camping trip and when I got on the scale, I saw 142. The last time I had been weighed a few months before that, I weighed 135. I had gained 7 pounds in roughly 2 months. Note: My highest weight ever was 175. That moment sealed my fate! I was going to get fit and healthy!

That night, I looked up a couch to 5k that I had heard so much about and I went to the high school track by my house. I ran 1/2 way around the track and walked 1/2 way around. I repeated that until the 1 mile mark. Let me tell you, I was exhausted. I finished in about 15 minutes. I felt good, just worn out. The next day, I did it all over again. From that day on, 4-6 days a week, I went to the track for 12 weeks. I built up my mileage and on Thanksgiving day 2009, I ran my first 5k.

From then on,  I ran a few days a week, until January, when I decided that I would run a half marathon on April 17, 2010. I had good runs, bad runs, and blah runs. I got injured 5 weeks into and took a 2 week rest....only to come back stronger. I ran a slow 10, 11 and 12 miler in the few weeks prior to the half.

On April 17, 2010, I woke up ready. I didn't have any anxiety. Truth be told, I just wanted to get to the starting line. I was ready to test the training I had done. Once we got there, I gave Chad a kiss and told him I would see him at the finish line. He wished me luck and I took off.

I had a strong race. I was mentally there the whole time. I was focused. I was ready to finish something I had worked so hard to accomplish.

2:16:00 after getting to the starting line, I had finished my first half marathon. I have never felt more proud of myself as I did that day.

Running changed my life. Running, for me, is a struggle. Running has shown me my strengths. Running has showed me my weakness. Running helped me become more fit. Running showed me happiness!

I am so excited about training for this half and I just wanted to share the story of how I got into running. It inspires me to think about it. I finished my first half marathon with a 10:22 avg pace, when 8 months before I could barely do 1 mile in 15 minutes.

What is your greatest fitness accomplishment??