I started running in March 2014 at 250 lbs after recovering from a broken ankle from an accident I had while visiting my cousin in March 2013. I had tried running before in 2012 and hated it so much and actually swore I would never do it again. Who in their right mind wants to run with people when you don't have what you perceive to be a runners body and you are always going to be the last was what I told myself. At that time I didn't realize that you only compete with yourself and not with the people who you meet through training programs or races. I always thought that running was for those physically fit and that everybody has to be extremely fast. Well, little did I know that I would get to join the running community and start to enjoy the experience. Am sharing my journey to show that it is not easy at all but with determination and hard work anybody is able to achieve this goal.
A year after my accident in March 2014, I thought oh well it's one year and am going to try again and sign up for a running program. I had not lost any weight and was determined to start as I was and do my best to be open minded and have the right attitude and just put one foot forward and keep it going. I dedicated the year 2014 to start from scratch, trained for my first 5k (3.1 mile) race and ended up doing the Jeremy's 5 K race. That year I did four other 5ks and made great friends along the way. I wasn't super fast and my run times ranged from 49 mins to 55 mins to finish the races.
In 2015, I decided I would step it up and try and run the 10 km (6.2 mile) distance and of course this was also due to peer pressure from not only my coaches but some of my running buddies who believed more in me than I believed in myself that I could do the distance. I ended up completing four 10 km races that year and thought that was it since everything about running hurt and that was going to be my longest distance and no need to go any further.
They say be careful who you surround yourself with because you will end up being just like them. Well I joined KC and the Runshine Band which is a group of amazing friends who run at least twice a week, always support each other and will challenge you to be a better person. We build on each others strengths, support each other when we are down and always make sure that we have each others back during the process. Almost everybody in the band had run longer distances than I had done in the past and I thought with such great company why not try and see if I can get an ounce of the energy and strength the group has and see if I can run further and be a stronger person as I achieve another goal. Why not? Well in 2016 I managed to run two 10 miler races. Yes I said I did run 10 miles and I still think that was out of body experience. Both races were in frigid temps, the courses were challenging, I can't forget the aches and pains but it was done. One might be wondering gosh with all that running I must be 160 lbs by now...but oh no I was still lingering about 246 lbs because guess what I have been eating up a storm and justified any exercise I did with rewards of food and please don't get me started with cakes and cookies.
2017
Just like any beginning of the year almost everybody wants to be better and make some sort of resolution or whatever you want to call it about being better in the New Year. Well am no different I set my goal this year to run my first half marathon yes 13.1 miles or 21 kms. How did I even get to 13.1 miles when I just told you that I started my journey in 2014 and I also mentioned that there is a time I hated running. Well well well this time I have promised myself that I will watch what I eat and lose a few pounds before my half marathon. So starting weight at the beginning of the year on January 1 was 240 lbs and my goal is to lose about 25 lbs by March 19th when I run the half marathon. My goal which although will still be on the heavy side is 215 lbs for a 5.6 ft female. What am I going to do to get there and how am I going to be honest with myself is by doing the work. I plan to work out at least 5 times a week and watch what I eat. I will also run 4 times a week based on my training schedule.
I have tried diets and counted calories but that stuff really doesn't work for me since I find myself so restricted especially when I count calories. I started following Jane Mukami - Fit Kenyan Girl on Instagram and on Facebook with her 21 days of change as well as read her book Eat Clean Get Lean. I am still struggling with the clean eating since I have a sweet tooth and don't have the discipline but am working on it. When am serious and very focused clean eating works for me and it is what am going to stick to for the next two to three months and see how I feel. I know when I cheat I will be lying to myself and will be honest with how I feel and think about what could have caused the triggers for me to cheat. I don't like calling it cheating since it makes it seem like it is not a good thing to do. I will call it living a little. Logging what I eat will help me in being accountable.
The Run Program - I will be running with a training group on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings however, a majority of the people in the training program are training for a 10 mile race later on in the spring. There are a handful of us who are training for a half marathon before the 10 mile race. Wednesday nights will always vary in the training from track works to hills or whatever other work we need to do as per our coach. Saturday mornings will be for long run and that is where my mileage will go up every weekend. You will hear about my experience, my aches and pains, my accomplishments and how I felt before and after the run.
Saturday Jan 21, 2017
This was the 3rd weekend of the training program and I have 8 weeks before my first half marathon. While there was the Women's March around the country I joined the running program participants who didn't go for the march for a 5 mile run this morning. It was foggy but not too cold which was great. The trail we run on was hilly but I was determined not to complain today. I had good conversations during the run and it was a good distraction from when I sometimes doubt myself. There are times during my first mile that I sometimes wonder if I will ever be so fast but forget that am better than what I was a year ago. I recall the first time I run 5 miles I got home that day, took a shower, got something to eat and took a 3 hour nap. One would have thought I had walked to another state and back.
Earlier in the week on Wednesday night, we had to do hill repeats training. What are hill repeats, this is where you run up a hill pretty fast and have to do it a number of times. Well we had to do 3 hill repeats after running 1 mile to the hill and another mile back to our starting point. The hill was pretty steep and gosh was I sore by the time I was done and spent so much time huffing and puffing while I conquered each hill repeat and was determined not to complain that evening. I had company of an 18 year old who while I run up the hill and thought I would die he was walking alongside to encourage me. I remember getting to the top of the hill and saying that one day my pace will be fast enough for him to also run to keep up and we just laughed it off. In my mind the speed at which I was moving I was convinced that Usain Bolt would be impressed. Did I mention that the training runs are carried out outdoors and this is winter so just imagine the rest. The only time we don't run outdoors is when it is icy and not safe.
During my Saturday run on my way towards the end through a neighborhood, I saw a lady who came to the road waving and cheered me on like I was running a race and I was number 1. For a moment I thought I knew her or she knew me but this was a stranger. Being cheered on by a stranger made me get some more energy to finish off my mileage with a smile. My interpretation of all of this was that she probably could relate to me and was encouraged that somebody was out doing something. I waved back to her to acknowledge her and off I went happy and content that I had done something great.
Let us see what week 4 will have in store for me.
I have tried diets and counted calories but that stuff really doesn't work for me since I find myself so restricted especially when I count calories. I started following Jane Mukami - Fit Kenyan Girl on Instagram and on Facebook with her 21 days of change as well as read her book Eat Clean Get Lean. I am still struggling with the clean eating since I have a sweet tooth and don't have the discipline but am working on it. When am serious and very focused clean eating works for me and it is what am going to stick to for the next two to three months and see how I feel. I know when I cheat I will be lying to myself and will be honest with how I feel and think about what could have caused the triggers for me to cheat. I don't like calling it cheating since it makes it seem like it is not a good thing to do. I will call it living a little. Logging what I eat will help me in being accountable.
The Run Program - I will be running with a training group on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings however, a majority of the people in the training program are training for a 10 mile race later on in the spring. There are a handful of us who are training for a half marathon before the 10 mile race. Wednesday nights will always vary in the training from track works to hills or whatever other work we need to do as per our coach. Saturday mornings will be for long run and that is where my mileage will go up every weekend. You will hear about my experience, my aches and pains, my accomplishments and how I felt before and after the run.
Saturday Jan 21, 2017
This was the 3rd weekend of the training program and I have 8 weeks before my first half marathon. While there was the Women's March around the country I joined the running program participants who didn't go for the march for a 5 mile run this morning. It was foggy but not too cold which was great. The trail we run on was hilly but I was determined not to complain today. I had good conversations during the run and it was a good distraction from when I sometimes doubt myself. There are times during my first mile that I sometimes wonder if I will ever be so fast but forget that am better than what I was a year ago. I recall the first time I run 5 miles I got home that day, took a shower, got something to eat and took a 3 hour nap. One would have thought I had walked to another state and back.
Earlier in the week on Wednesday night, we had to do hill repeats training. What are hill repeats, this is where you run up a hill pretty fast and have to do it a number of times. Well we had to do 3 hill repeats after running 1 mile to the hill and another mile back to our starting point. The hill was pretty steep and gosh was I sore by the time I was done and spent so much time huffing and puffing while I conquered each hill repeat and was determined not to complain that evening. I had company of an 18 year old who while I run up the hill and thought I would die he was walking alongside to encourage me. I remember getting to the top of the hill and saying that one day my pace will be fast enough for him to also run to keep up and we just laughed it off. In my mind the speed at which I was moving I was convinced that Usain Bolt would be impressed. Did I mention that the training runs are carried out outdoors and this is winter so just imagine the rest. The only time we don't run outdoors is when it is icy and not safe.
Let us see what week 4 will have in store for me.
Lynn I'm so proud of your progress and determination ~ Bravo my friend!
ReplyDeleteDorothy M
Thanks Dorothy. I learnt so much from you and I recall a time you once told me that exercise is as important as taking a breath and I have never forgotten that statement.
DeleteYou are a true inspiration! I can't wait to read about your journey. :)
ReplyDelete