from being winded after 100 yards to 9 miles last night

buffcleb

how the heck did that happen... I started running last year to help with my stamina in Fire Fighting... I never planned anything... just wanted to be able to perform my fire fighting tasks without being so winded...

When I started I ran / walked one mile and it took a good 6 or so weeks to get to the point where I could run one mile... hated every minute of it...

I started back at it this spring and added more and more distance... I was to the point where doing 3-5 miles was no big deal... helped me lose the weight I was looking to do... I hit my weight target a month or so ago... dropped a little less then 100 pounds and have been doing maintenance since then...

I still added distance and had a couple of runs around 6 miles...

For fathers day my wife bought me some actual running shoes... I had been using my two year old sneakers that are pretty worn out... I went in to a local running store and got fitted for shoes... they put me in a size smaller then I normally pick out for myself and a shoe that provides extra support... I evidently have a moderate pronation (did not even know what that meant until they told me)

I broke them in with a 4 mile run fathers day and they felt good... Last night I had some time because my kids Karate class was canceled so I headed to the park and planned to try running 10k ( four laps where I run )... when I got to that amount I was still fine so I figured WTF... might as well push it and added two more laps...

At the 9 mile mark I was still fine but I really needed to head home... finished in 1 hour and 16 minutes... holy cow... never ran for that long before...

I will head out one more night this week with a smaller run... maybe five miles or so and hopefully the weather is nice on Saturday and I will see if I can add another lap or to...

Still can't believe I am even thinking about running those distances... I know for a lot of runners this is no big deal but I was never a runner... as a kid in football running was alway my least favorite activity... sucking wind at the end... I can honestly say I am in the best shape of my life... Took me less then a year to get here...

I had no plans to run any races but now I am thinking a half marathon is in my not to distant future.. beyond that who knows...

How the heck did this happen... never would have thunk it...

coopers11

This is amazing! I have also taken up running and went from not being able to run a mile to a marathon last year.

It's so amazing and I want to talk to everyone about how much running has changed my life!

I'm glad you're enjoying it too !!!

NHoughton13

Great work and good luck on any races your decide to tackle!!!

lisaabenjamin

Amazing what a new pair of running shoes can do eh?! I'm training for my first half marathon too - good luck, you can do it!

abnerner

Awesome story! I run but HATE it, I don't know if I could EVER like it!

giantruss

awsome work!! running changed my life too

i looove it

nlehmann

Great story...I too went from hating every step to looking forward to when I can get out next.

betsij

Great read! I am at the beginning, started C25k. I am on week 2. Its hard to imagine I could ever run and kind of distance. But gonna keep at it. Smiles for you!!

DanOhh

WTG! That's awesome! You're an inspiration.

Samanthahahaha

Wow, awesome story, congrats!

acstansell

Great Work - I'm having trouble building my stamina and endurance, but I'm still digging into Couch to 5k. This is very inspiring because I was the same way... winded doing 100 yards and now I can fast walk a 5k under an hour (it's pretty good considering...)

Bing30

Fantastic. Makes me want to try it myself!!

vtgirl77

Great post! I too, started running just last year and am now doing 35-40 miles a week. I lift heavy too, so it took me a while to adjust my lifting routine, and my legs, to accommodate distance, not sure how many times I've said "I'm not built for running" Haha

This weekend I am doing the New England Relay with my running team and then I am thinking about a little baby triathlon, I have Tough Mudder in August and then a half marathon in September.

Never thought I'd be able to run more than 5 miles at a time, and now my long one is 11. I'll get the half under my belt and I'm good with that. I have no desire to run a marathon....lol

Mexicanbigfoot

Wow. Thanks for sharing your story! Gives me lots of motivation!! Congrats on all your success so far and good luck in future runs!

lousoulbody

Great story thank for sharing, what an inspiration you are to all us non runners!

Cheers

sawjan

Thanks for sharing, awesome job!

scrmom74

That's awesome. The past 3 months I have been running and signed up for a half marathon in September. I bet your body is thanking you for losing the weight and running. Good Job!

lisaanne1369

Last spring I won first place in my age division on my first 5-K. I too need to throw down and get me some new sneekers !

frugalafterfifty

I can walk all day but hate to run. I've walked several half marathons and started training for another one this summer. Just 3 days ago I decided to run half a block and walk half a block. I did it! Maybe I'll try a walk/run when I do the marathon. Great story and interesting about the running shoes.....I normally buy up half a size. There's a professional running store near me, maybe I'll stop in. Thanks for the incentive.

Alwayssohungry

I am so looking forward to having a similar problem

capnrus789

LOVE THIS! Sounds familiar, too. I look forward to being able to go 9 "just because."

And thanks for being a fire fighter. Truly honorable profession.

buffcleb

thanks all... if I can do anyone can... Last September I wheeze through 100 yards...