We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Finished my first marathon today ...

emmaleigh47
emmaleigh47 Posts: 1,670 Member
edited December 2024 in Success Stories
2 years ago I was 276 pounds and very unhappy with myself and my life. I had no hobbies, all I did was work and put other people ahead of my needs constantly. I decided to do something about it, and started training for a 5k race. I have NEVER been a runner, even when I was thinner. But I found something I loved ... and so I kept doing it. I went from a 5K to a 5 miler and then in January 2011 I ran my first half marathon. Was it pretty ... nah I was still 255 pounds... but I finished!

I ran 13 half marathons and decided it was time to try a full marathon. Yep 26.2 miles baby! I trained all summer -- in one of the hottest summers ever here in Wisconsin, and I struggled many, many times.

But today, I crossed the finish line of my first marathon. I am a marathoner! Was it always pretty ... nah miles 16-19 kinda sucked. But I never gave up and just kept putting one foot in front of the other.

Am I skinny ... nah ... am I at my goal weight... nah ... but why wait for all of that to experience life! :)
«13

Replies

  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    CONGRATULATIONS!!
  • hydelaa
    hydelaa Posts: 184
    RIGHT ON!
  • ImaFitMormon
    ImaFitMormon Posts: 31 Member
    Thank you for posting. I'm so proud of you for doing a marathon! I'm not sure I aspire to that but when I finished my short triathlon I thought I'd conquered the world! Are you blogging your progress anywhere? I'd love to hear more. I've started blogging about my progress. I've lost 100 lbs now. http://www.makefatcry.com
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    You are such an inspiration. Proud to be your friend.
  • mimstero
    mimstero Posts: 119 Member
    That i sooooo wonderful! You should be so proud, and I think it's great that you don't wait to experience anything. You are an inspiration!!!
  • JaneUK
    JaneUK Posts: 102
    Really impressed by this. Well done :-)
    Jane
  • ROWinCO
    ROWinCO Posts: 14
    Way to go!!! Keep doing your thing!
  • txjulie
    txjulie Posts: 190 Member
    You are so amazing & still one of the reasons I was motivated to run a half. :) Great job today as I know getting here wasn't easy but it was SO WORTH IT!!
  • alycat06
    alycat06 Posts: 75
    Amazing! You give me hope that I too can be a marathoner. I'm training for my first 5K, and I have fallen in love with running. :) Thanks for sharing your story and congrats on your success!
  • bstamps12
    bstamps12 Posts: 1,184
    So proud of you! You have accomplished SOOOO much. Heck, I am at my GW but I'm too scared to tackle a full. You're such an inspiration to many people, myself included. Keep challenging yourself girl!
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    Your so awesome your going to keep kicking butt and taking names i can already tell
  • stacked
    stacked Posts: 51 Member
    That is FANTastic!!!!

    Im gonna do a marathon in March and Im terrified!
    And still 30ish pounds overweight but youre right, why wait?

    Good job! I admire ya
  • BigDaddy0825
    BigDaddy0825 Posts: 72
    that is AMAZING!! great, great job ma'am!! you are truly an inspiration!! keep going!! GREAT JOB!!
  • smilingalltheway
    smilingalltheway Posts: 216 Member
    YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
  • MrsSassyPants
    MrsSassyPants Posts: 223 Member
    A W E S O M E ! ! !
  • kimothy38
    kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
    Am I skinny ... nah ... am I at my goal weight... nah ... but why wait for all of that to experience life! :)
    I love this philosophy! I think you're amazing! I'm not a runner so anyone who can do a marathon is amazing in my books.
  • Cgirlish
    Cgirlish Posts: 263 Member
    Congradulations.... what an amzing achievement..... keep it up
  • cbeutler
    cbeutler Posts: 667 Member
    Great job today, I'm very proud of you.
  • redredy9
    redredy9 Posts: 706 Member
    Congratulations!! I am in training for my first marathon and you are an inspiration!
  • LCgymnast
    LCgymnast Posts: 258
    Congrats!!! Super amazing that you ran a marathon. Keep it up!
  • JRaeZins
    JRaeZins Posts: 171 Member
    WAY TO GO!!!!!!
  • shesabattgirl
    shesabattgirl Posts: 14
    Wow! Awesome Job!
  • ladytinkerbell99
    ladytinkerbell99 Posts: 970 Member
    Congratulations!! That is amazing! Thank you for the inspiration! :flowerforyou:
  • Jessica68
    Jessica68 Posts: 2,419 Member
    Such inspiration indeed!!!
  • jeffrodgers1
    jeffrodgers1 Posts: 991 Member
    As someone who has been a MFP friend for a long time and seen you develop into the Runner you are, let me congratulate you! Today after many months of training, YOU completed something that only 2% of the world has done. You are a Marathoner!

    Now take some a couple of weeks off serious training. Rest,, recover, reflect, enjoy and bask in your success... You've earned it!
  • TNGirlyGirl
    TNGirlyGirl Posts: 337 Member
    Fantastic!! So proud of you.... I have followed you all summer, and I know you've trained (and struggled) and trained some more... Congrats!!!
  • tidesong
    tidesong Posts: 451 Member
    Congratulations! That's awesome and very inspiring! (And even better from a fellow Wisconsinite, even if I'm displaced right now. :))
  • mariagabriella
    mariagabriella Posts: 267 Member
    that's amazing, well done!!!
  • fitmommy75
    fitmommy75 Posts: 50 Member
    AWESOME!!!!! I started with a 5k as well. I have yet to run anything more than a 5k, but my goal is to do a tri next summer. You are an inspiration :)
  • katevarner
    katevarner Posts: 884 Member
    Very inspirational! Congratulations!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

Do you Love MyFitnessPal? Have you crushed a goal or improved your life through better nutrition using MyFitnessPal?
Share your success and inspire others. Leave us a review on Apple Or Google Play stores!