My journey from walking to Running

So over the last year I have lost 79 lbs and started exercising more as I lost weight. I started with walking, just around a track at a normal pace as long as I could. When that got easier I worked my way to longer times till I was up to 5 miles. When that got easier I started adding some jogging down one side of the track every couple of laps and the easier it got the more laps I did it on.

When that was easier I stopped jogging and started sprinting down the one side, again as it got easier I did it on more laps. Then they started remodeling the school that the track I used was at and I had to find a new place to walk. I started using the treadmill at the gym but was too nervous to run on it because I have balance issues do to my multiple sclerosis. But I walked and upped my pace as far as I was comfortable with, for me that was 3.5 mph. I would do an hour a few times a week. When that got easier I started adding in inclines to my walk.

I was always striving to improve my workout, I didn't want to be stagnant. I missed the running so I worked out a road route in my neighborhood, it is about 1.7 miles, I would walk some run some. When I started it took me about 25-30 minutes. As I improved I got up to between 19 and 20 minutes regularly. Then this heat and humidity came .

My most prevelant symptom of MS is heat intolerance. If I over heat I get fuzzy brain, fatigue, dizziness, and leg weakness. So I had to give up my outdoor route, but I was determined not to lose my progress so I faced my fear and tried running on the treadmill

I started with just a few minutes in my normal walking routine and found I could do it ! So I slowly added more.

Yesterday I ran a twelve minute mile without stopping! Then I walked at 3.5 mph for a couple minutes and ran another 12 min mile without stopping! Then just for good measure after another short walk I did it a third time! In total I did four miles in 54 minutes!

I am sharing this because I started at 300 lbs with MS, walking was exhausting most of the time for me. Now here I am at just under a year later at 214lbs and running a 12 minute mile.

Don't give up, don't compare your self to others, don't believe that exercise is only for fit people, just do your best and when that gets easier push yourself a little harder. You can do anything you set your mind to, just do it one step at a time, no matter how slow the progress improvement is improvement! :drinker: