My First NSV - Non-Runner to 5k Winner

I'm new here to MFP, but I've already made great strides in the two months that I've been here. I feel like my daily habit is checking out the Success Stories forum... I really like hearing about other people's progress. It's really inspiring and motivating.

I may not have pictures of dramatic weight loss (I'm a little shy about that), but I have experienced some victories that I feel comfortable with sharing. The first one is that I achieved something I never dreamed of in my entire life: I won a 5k. Even at my most active, I hated running with a passion. I enjoyed contact sports, but if you forced me to run a mile I'd whine the whole way. About three months ago, I set my sights on a 5k competition. I trained every day. I felt myself getting stronger. I could endure more miles than I ever could before.

Finally, about two weeks ago, I entered the 5k as part of a company initiative to get fit. Out of 7 other ladies in my 20 - 29 y/o age group (all of them much thinner than I am) I managed to win 1st place, 6 whole minutes ahead of the person who came in 2nd. Not only that, but somewhere along the way... I actually began to enjoy running. It wasn't torture for me. It was cathartic. It was fun.

I've continued running, even after the 5k. I'm entering more in the future (my next one is coming up in a month), and I look forward to making more progress. While I do enjoy winning, I gained so much more than a medal. I gained confidence. I gained the respect of many of my coworkers. And I gained a new hobby. :-)

Thank you, MFP, for helping me stay on track and keeping me motivated. This site and its members are livesavers. Here's to the upcoming months and the progress they bring.