If I can do it…you can too!

I’ve never been an athlete.  Growing up, I was one of those kids who hated PE.  I never wanted to be picked for games because I knew I wouldn’t be good at it and I’d be embarrassed.  As I entered high school I looked longingly at all the athletes.  I wanted to do something athletic but I was too afraid of failure.  I ended up trying tennis…but I was horrible at it!  I stuck out the season but I know the coach and my teammates were glad when I decided not to rejoin the team.

In college I started going to the gym.  I lifted weights and did most of my cardio on the bike and elliptical.  But I had secretly always wanted to be a runner.  I was envious of those people who could just put on a pair of running shoes and run!  My roommate was a runner and got me to go on a few runs with her but I always felt like I was going to die and would vow that I was never doing that again!  I stuck to lifting weights at the gym but never found that exercise that I loved doing.

After college I got married and kept going to the gym until I got pregnant.  My fitness went downhill from there.  I had my baby but I stayed lazy and overweight.  I finally got sick of it and started going back to the gym…only to find out I was pregnant again.  I was so tired from being pregnant and chasing around my one-year-old so again I quit the gym.  I had my second baby and the lazy and overweight cycle continued.

When my second child was one, I joined Weight Watchers.  I ended up losing 40 pounds!  I was back down to my pre-pregnancy weight but my body had changed.  Things had shifted and I did not feel or look healthy or fit.  I had not been exercising at all.  Being a stay-at-home mom, finances were tight so I couldn’t afford to join a gym.  I needed something I could do at home.

In the back of my mind I remembered my dream of wanting to be a runner.  I decided to try it once again but this time I had a plan!  I started following the Couch to 5K program.  I had a few set-backs and some minor injuries but I never gave up!  In March of 2010 I ran and finished my first 5K race!!!

Crossing that finish line was amazing!!!  I was finally a RUNNER!!!  From that point forward I was truly addicted to running!  Now I have completed many 5K’s and 10K’s, 9 half marathons, and 1 full marathon.  I’m also one of the officers for a running group and I help train ladies to do what I once did—get off the couch and run!  It hasn’t always been an easy road.  I’ve had some minor injuries but I have learned to overcome them.  I’ve gone from barely being able to run 60 seconds to running 26.2 miles.  I’ve learned that you can achieve ANYTHING you set your mind to.  If I can do it..YOU CAN TOO!!!

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Tags: finding time, fitness aha, goal setting, motivation, running, trying new things, weight loss, Why we run