RUNNERS POST YOUR PICS!

I just finished my first ever 5K yesterday. I was 347 lbs when I started, 244 lbs now. It ain't pretty, but here's my progress album:

http://imgur.com/a/4L65u

If you are just starting out with running take a look at this link for a training program. I'm not a "runner" but I run as part of my overall fitness efforts and just did a 5k yesterday with my best time yet on a hilly course. Running definately takes off the pounds but I don't do it exculsively. My newest pic is me after my latest 5K. I've lost five pounds in about the last month with running in the mix.

http://halhigdon.staging.racersites.com/training/50933/Novice-Training-for-your-first-5K

Before (May 2010):



This was taken in my last year of college. Because I was focused on graduating on time, health and fitness wasn't a priority for me.

...and after! (Taken this past Saturday):



It's only been recently that I've put in more effort towards weight loss. I've never been happy with my physique, and I didn't feel healthy, so I finally decided to do something about it. If not now, then when, right?

I've cleaned up my diet significantly, and I've picked up running as a hobby. At first, I was intimidated by the thought of running with other people, but I decided to join a group anyway. It was one of the best things I've ever done for myself. I started running in January 2013 with the No Boundaries 5K training program with Fleet Feet Sports. In the beginning, I would have to stop every 0.75-1 mile to walk. Now, 4 months later, 3 miles is very comfortable for me. I'm slowly building distance, and I've signed up to do a 10K in late June. After that, I will be doing a Half Marathon in October to celebrate my 25th birthday.

The journey hasn't been easy, but it's definitely worth it.

SW: 165-168lbs
CW: 147-150lbs

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My profile pic from my first 5k run this past saturday!!!

Bump!

I love seeing all these pics. Motivates me to wanna do it!

I'm not an avid runner...About once or twice a week, when time allows. I do races for the tshirts, really. But, here's a mix of running/30 Day Shred results...



From 30 DS. I actually need to do a way updated pic.



Beast mode at a Mother's Day 5K this past weekend.

<--- I don't have befores and durings. I've been a runner for my entire adult life and I've never actually been clinically overweight, but I'm getting older and the weight started to creep up a little. I am on MFP to maintain since losing those few extra pounds a couple of years ago. The only pic I have is my profile. Good luck and enjoy your running! :drinker:

Does running really give definition in abs? I do weight lifting regularly, just starting doing longer running (instead of just HIIT) to manage stress but there have been a few posts that attribute running (in addition to eating right, strength training) to fat loss.

Could anyone post a bit more in detail about their experiences?

i do a few things with weights here and there and take spinning classes and do some ellipticalling also, but for the most part i stick to running every other day and these are the results that i've had, along with eating well.

Running helps mostly the lower abs. I noticed when I first started running over 8-10 miles, how the abs hurt more than the legs because they get engaged so much. Trail running is even better, as you have to engage the core to keep the balance and you have to lift the legs higher to go uphill or step over rocks and roots. I've been running 50-140 miles/month for the last year, and after 8-9 months I started having a very visible V in the lower abs (I'm 5'5" 130lb, lost almost 70 lb in 1 year of running and careful eating).

Thanks for sharing! Sometimes when I run, I feel it in the abs but lately, I've been feeling it in my calves. Right now I am focusing on improving the ability to run period so I am not running fast (following C25K)

Also, congrats on your loss!

From the left picture to the middle picture, was just elliptical, yoga, and counting calories.

From the middle picture to the right picture was when I started running (25-40 miles per week) and in addition - counting calories, and focusing on meeting my macros.

This is from my last race, Raleigh Rocks. I ran track in high school, gave it up for 10 years, then restarted. When I did I couldn't run a 1/4 mile lol. I SLOWLY started with a "modified" C25K with 1 min run, 1 min walk. You couldn't even call it C25K because I was so slow lol. But I kept going.

Fast forward a few years, I ran 2 half-marathons last year and a full marathon (which if you've done a half you should try just to say you did it). This month I have my 3rd half-marathon of 2013 with one more in the fall. I plan on running 4-5 races a year (8ks, half-marathons and maybe a full here and there).

Happy to say I ran a 1:43:06 (first in my age group)..!!

Bumping. Just because this is such a cool thread !

I've been running regularly for 9 years, so I don't really attribute any weight loss to that. The picture on the left was taken in 2009. But then I joined a gym - started doing boot camp, lifting weights. In 2011, I joined MFP and finally started watching my calories. This is about an 18 pound weight difference: