What's your running success story?

I love to hear this. Running is a passion of mine. I started in 2009 and signed up for my first half marathon. Prior to that I had just start run/walking but two of my sisters and my mom were running half marathons and marathons. I knew, after watching the last marathon, I wanted and needed to do it.

SO in 2009 I ran my first half marathon and loved every second. I finished in 2 hrs, 5 minutes. From there I have increased my speed to a half marathon time of 1:45:46. I did one half marathon trial in marathon prep in which I would have beat that by a few seconds but it doesn't count since it wasn't a race,e xcept against myself

I started running marathons in 2011 and have had some struggles. In 2012 I was training for Boston (an 8:35 pace for me) and the marathon was canceled at mile 18 due to heat. I couldn't recover in time to train well for my fall marathon and busted with a time of 4:07. I was not a happy camper.

I have completed 3 full marathons and started one. This past May I had signed up again for a full marathon and injured my knee with 2 weeks left to go. I still crossed the finish line in 4:20 something - I don't even want to know my time - and wanted to cry so bad. At mile 20 when I saw my now-husband I stopped to talkw ith him, considering dropping out because I was in such immense pain. I stopped numerous times to just let my knee rest. But I finished. And I was proud. After working so hard you can't just stop. You can't stop short of somethign you've worked hard for even if it's not ending how you imagined.

I've lost 100 lbs through running. I've gained a stronger, more determined person. Since my injury I haven't been able to race and had to skip a marathon I was registered for. I am not able to start increasing my mileage and my pace again and can't wait to run another marathon.

the spirit of racing, of a marathon, is just amazing. It's a feeling of accomplishment for 26.2 miles (or whatever race distance you choose) as people cheer YOU on.

I WILL qualify for Boston.

BTW you posting this made me think about all the same feelings you described. Sorry I didn't mention that. Green Bay marathon is set up the same - first 11 miles or so are shared for half/full and I never thought I would run the full at first either.

I'm so glad you shared this.

At 310 pounds, I needed a life change. Why not start running? You only see skinny people run! Right?

Learned that the excess weight I was carrying made it very difficult for me to run in general... and when I was done, my lower back hurt so bad that I was nearly bedridden for days afterwards. Unhappy, to say the very least.

Fast forward to now (well, before my knee injury), and I run a 7 minute mile on a sprint, a 23 minute 5k, and a 50 minute 10k.

I have about a month to go before my bigger success story *will* be written.
I started running about a year and a half ago.
First it was the couch to 5k.
Accomplished that on the treadmill in about 10 weeks.
Had my ups and downs, had lots of other health issues going on.
Then I was diagnosed with a few things that would interrupt my goals.
Scoliosis, low bone density, some crumbling vertebrae, nothing that was going to stop me though.

I am entered in the mini marathon in Las Vegas next month. It is 6.5(ish) miles. I don't push myself to the max now, I know if I do I would have too much recovery time and not be able to keep training. I am excited because I know I will do better than what I do now, since I give about 80% now.
The back hurts constantly and with the bone density deal I have constant shin splints, but I feel so accomplished when I run. If I don't puke, pass out, or die.... I keep running.

Thank you for sharing your story, and a big congratulations on your success and your determination to keep going.

I never considered myself a runner. I hated the endurance runs/fit test runs through school, and never felt it was my thing. My lungs burned, my body felt like it was out of control and I truly thought that I might die every time I ran.

When I joined MFP in November 2012 I started to hear about the app C25K. I had a treadmill in my basement that I rarely used, because I hated to run, and so I challenged myself to try out the program. I loved how it felt, even if I was jogging only slightly faster than my fastest walking pace; my first runner's high. But, I did too much too soon, and ended up with 2 knee tensors and multiple appointments for ultrasound and electro therapy to my knees from a sports therapist. I stopped running, and picked up my copy of the 30 Day Shred.

When I neared completion of that Jillian Michael's series, I challenged myself to get on the treadmill again and see how long I could jog for. I was shocked when I made it to the 8 minute mark. This was Christmas Day, 2012. I picked up my C25K app again, and this time spaced my runs out, and really listened to my body. I never officially completed the program.

In February 2013 I ventured for my first ever run outside. There was still snow on the ground, and it was cool, but it had begun to thaw and there was enough day light for me to go out after work. I ran a little bit more than 6KM, and it took me about 45 minutes. A few days later I pushed myself and did 10KM, again outside. The next day I took myself to the local running room and bought my first real pair of running shoes. I started to run on Sunday mornings with the running room, working all the way up to 14KM on those long, slow runs. Following the run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute patterns. I kept up with doing some steady runs on my own 2 other days a week.

Something inside me clicked (although at the time it probably was better to say snapped). I registered for a 1/2 marathon. I plugged away running, building my mileage each Sunday. Running mostly on my own. I packed my runners with me when we went camping, or to the lake, I started to build my life around my running schedule.

A few weeks out from the 1/2, I started to hit a wall mentally. I worried it would be too much, and I thought about withdrawing. That week-end, I decided to do the full 13.1 miles in my training run, because I knew that my body was capable, but I had to get my mind to catch up. I ran my practice 1/2 in 2 hours and 35 minutes, and had to stop once to use a restroom and refill my water. I felt great, no knee pain, and the pace felt reasonable (roughly 11.5 min/mile).

Last Saturday, October 19, 2013 - 11 months after my first exposure to learning to run - I participated in my first 1/2 marathon. I was so proud of myself when I crossed over that finish line. I had tears in my eyes from all of the emotions from pride, happiness, confidence. My kids were there to watch me cross the finish line, and I sprinted for it. My unofficial time was 2 hours 19 minutes a whole 16 minutes faster than my practice run only a few weeks earlier.

I am hooked, and there will definitely be more races in my future - and I am even starting to let the thought of doing a full 26.2 creep into my mind, even if it only lingers for a moment, I believe that one day it will be a reality.

Congratulations! What a great accomplisment! I ran my first, and so far only, half in Detroit in 2009. I used Jeff Galloway's run/walk program and was so happy just to finish. That is such a great course, but it is steep coming out of the tunnel! I didn't do much running for a long time after that, and just this summer started running regularly again.

My success story? My goal for this year was to run an entire 5k - no walk breaks. Done in July! Revised goal to finish a 10k. I'm signed up for the Kona Chocolate Run 10k in Plymouth next month. Ran 6 miles (no walking) on Sunday! Now I want to run the entire 10k. Next year I want to do a half marathon again. I'm not sure which, but am considering Charlevoix, Petoskey or one of the Michigan Half Series.

Congrats on a great accomplishment and meeting your goals!

I downloaded C25K when it was free on Amazon (I think the pro version vs. the free one) months ago. I had a couple of issues stacked against me - my left foot has a congenital clubfoot (3 childhood surgeries - plus being told not to do anything athletic to prevent injury) and I finished treatment for cancer in January.

As I've continued to have follow ups with my doctors - and thankfully had great results from all my scans - I started to feel better. I joined MFP and decided to actually start C25K. I joined the group on here and that helped me stay motivated.

In August, I could barely run 60 seconds. In the last 2 weeks, I've done three 3 mile runs in under 45 minutes. My husband started doing it with me - on Sunday we will run a 5k together.

I can't believe the change to my confidence in my ability. I've bought more running attire and I feel like a real runner. Hubby and I use mapping programs to figure out the mileage in our runs so we can go further. Sometimes I see my shadow on my run and I think - who is this girl? That's right - IT'S ME!!!! I'm doing this. I really never thought I could do this. And now I look forward to every run.

Ran the Houston Marathon in 1998. Soon after that I got married, had three boys, entered my fifties, put on 50 pounds and my knee could no longer take the weigh and I could no longer run. After shoulder and neck surgery I finally hit bottom and got serious. I've lost 30 so far and my knee has recovered. I ran 4 miles outside without stopping for the first time in a couple years just this fall. I'm hoping to get back to a comfortable 6 mile run as was the case in my earlier life. I don't have any aspirations to run a marathon but a 10k seems appealing--losing another 30 will make it feasible.

A month off my 50th birthday, back in May, I did day one, week one of C25K, in attempt to boost my weight loss. I had never run a step in my life. Within a week I was hooked and could barely weight for my 3 x weekly programme sessions.

Last Sunday I ran my first 10km in one hour, eleven minutes and 56 seconds. And I still LOVE it......

(PS And I've lost over three stone too!!)

In 2008, my mother and I signed up to walk a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day. Not gonna run at all. The gun went off and well so did I. I always detested running. My knees. My breathing. The whole crappy process of it. But vowed to run it the next year. Fast forward to 2010, I talked my brother and mother into trying a half. It ended up being cancelled. What to do? My brother found the Wineglass Marathon in the town he was living. He called and said "I'm all in." OMG! My little brother can't up me. I registered for the full. From 5k to 26.2. Found a program to follow. Bought all the "stuff". It was the best and worst experience. The weather was 38 degrees and rained my frist 15 miles. I was froze, feet in pain, but gonna do something this chubby girl never thought she could. I did in 5 hrs and 38 miserable minutes. Since then I have ran another full and 4 1/2s. My last race was the Wineglass 1/2 on 10-6-13. Leading up.to this race I was injured first my hand which may sound crazy but it was crazy painful to run then I broke two toes and severly bruised my left foot 3 1/2 weeks out. Deferral was not an option. I walked/ran due to the pain. I finished. I learnt more about myself and what I need from running during being injured and that run walk than I have ever. I no longer care aboit my pace per mile, total time, or any of the other junk. My next race is the Profootball Hall of Fame Marathon on 4-27 and I vow not to wear one watch or timing device during my training. I need to run for me. I need to run for the freedom. I need to run for the joy of it.

My story is so similar to yours it's scary. I had previously ran 3 half marathons, all awful times. I convinced myself I could do it although I knew I wasn't really ready. I ran all 3 of them, did terrible times but then in July of this year, I had had it. I was 30 pounds overweight, drank a lot of wine, felt sluggish, etc. etc. I had a neighbor who had started at a fitness studio and looked awesome. She talked me into going in and meeting the trainer. She offered small group personal training (there are 3 of us and her as the trainer) and I've been hooked ever since. Five weeks ago I ran my 4th half marathon and took 30 minutes off my time from my previous one I had done in May. I was overwhelmed and so excited!!!! The guy I have been running with kept pushing me to try a marathon and I always told him he was crazy, until one day...... I don't know what I all the sudden changed my mind but I did! I will be done w/my personal trainer at the end of the year and then we will train for the Marine Corps Marathon which is held in October of 2014. I just felt like it was something I wanted to say I have done. I know I can do it and plan to keep training and working as hard as I've been doing this past 4, almost 5 months. I have dropped 25 pounds and 2 clothes sizes. I am loving it!!

This thread is amazing and congrats to everyone who shared their stories :-)

I was one of the ones that hated running, never appealed to me, and I would always run out of breath or get frustrated even trying to run around the block. I started really focusing on nutrition and exercise in January of this year. I knew I wanted to shed 30 lbs but never even thought about running....until I came across C25K.
Like many others, I almost gave up within the first few weeks. It was hard and I could not even imagine running a full 8 minutes let alone a 5K.

But after about 4 weeks the running bug got me and I haven't looked back since. It became an addicting feeling going farther, challenging myself and pushing forward. I first set a goal to finish C25K...which I did in 10 weeks. I remember coming home after my evenning run, sweaty and red faced but absolutely grinning from ear to ear. So, my next goal was to do an actual 5K race. I never thought I would even consider running in a race, in front of other people. I was extremely nervous, but the feeling of actually crossing that finish line was just overwhelming. It was also a race for Hospice - which was meaningful because of my Grandmother that had passed about 5 years back. I finished in just under 27 minutes - 6th out of 28 in my age class and 100 out of 400 runners overall.

But I didn't want to stop there. I downloaded a 10K trainer and kept on. I can now run 60 minutes non stop....longest run is 7 miles to date and I have my first official 10K race on November 17th :-) I plan on training for a half marathon soon after and I am nervous and excited all at the same time.

The biggest success of this all is that I am celebrating 3 years cancer free this year. At age 26 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer...and after a bilateral mastectomy, 6 rounds of chemotherapy and 28 radiation treatments, and reconstruction surgery I NEVER in a million years thought I would be where I am. Running makes me feel alive, healthy and like I can take on the world.

I am participating in a Breast Cancer 5K Bridge Walk/Run this weekend and I plan on running the whole thing - head held high. This race is for me...and I can't wait to celebrate completing it :-)

Up until August 2013 I had never run more than a minute in my life. I hated running. Why? Because it was hard, and I felt that I just didn't have the body to do it.

In May I finished recovering from having my last baby, and decided to get back into gear to being healthy. (Note: I've always been overweight/obese). I started with nutrition, trying to work out but finding it impossible with two small kids!

In August, I joined a gym with babysitting, and my fitness story began. I wanted to do a variety of things to keep me interested, so I decided somewhere that maybe I could try C25K again. I had tried it a couple of times in the past, but could never get past the second week. I always gave up. It was too hard.

With a gym, I had a treadmill, and forced myself to not touch the speed, no matter how much I felt like stopping. And I did it. I was slower than snot, but I was getting through the program. During week 3-ish, I had stuff come up, and went 1 too many days between running. I couldn't complete my run, so I had to repeat my workout. Again, I made a commitment there to not have to repeat workouts (at that time, I saw it as more work lol).

A week and a half ago, I came up to the last day of the program, but due to my snail-pace I hadn't gotten near a 5k. So I decided to see how far I could go regardless of time. I ended up running 5K in 41:30! Since then, I have run the full distance 2 more times, and my first 5K is this Saturday. I've also signed up for a 5K Turkey Trot, and another 5K in December.

I haven't decided yet if I like running, but I don't loathe it nearly as much as I used to. I'm now 27 lbs lighter, and in terrific shape (under my layers of fluff, of course!) I'm working out 5-6 days a week (3 of those days are running), and the workouts are a lot easier than they were a couple of months ago.