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Smoker to 10K Runner In 6 Months!!!
mreeves261
Posts: 728 Member
Sorry this is so long. Thanks in advance to those who take the time to read!
I never would have thought I would ever run a race, EVER. But here I sit having finished my first official race, a 10K.
I smoked for years, 25 of them to be exact. I must have quit 1000 times and failed 999 of those times. I had been working out for a few months when I decided I needed to try again. So on April 28th this year I smoked my last cigarette. I have never looked back. My friends smoking doesn't bother me, having a few beers doesn't bother me. I just wanted to be done this time and I was done. I will never be a Non-Smoker but I will continue to be a ex-smoker.
After I finished Insanity (while I was smoking) I didn't know what to do next. It was heading into summer time, softball season, cycling season, grilling, basically everything outdoors and I didn't want another in house/gym routine. I found a C25K app and loaded it onto my iPhone. Got a heart rate monitor and started running. It is more a a chunky butt shuffle, but its running to me.
I cruised through the summer almost finishing the C25K app before I had the thought, "what will I do next?" So I deleted the C25K app and loaded the 10K bridge version. A friend of mine at work who has been a runner almost their entire life sent me the info for a race they were running. I was wishy washy for a few weeks before I signed up for the 10K race. So now there was NO reason for me not to run. Well I came across a few. I over-trained a bit and ended up with a pretty bad plantar facaiitis. I spent a week sleeping in a boot and wearing arch straps to work. With only a week before the race and healed feet I started coming down with a cold. So yesterday, the day before my race, I ended up in the doctors office getting antibiotics for a severe cold with an ear infection.
Today, Race Day, I get up and head out to greet the day and the first official race of my 39 years of life. I gathered all my necessary running paraphernalia and I was off. I found myself standing in 34 degree weather so excited I couldn't feel anything! My only goal for today was to run the entire time/distance. And I did just that. For the first time in my life I ran 6.21 miles!!! And my thoughts went like this...
Mile 1 - Why did I agree to do this. And why am I doing this with a severe cold and ear infection. I feel like crap.
Mile 2 - My ears popped and my nose began to run. I can do this. I will run until I get to 3 miles at least.
Mile 3 - "Ice, Ice Baby too cold..." Yep that was what Pandora was playing as I passed the 3 mile mark.
Mile 4 - Hey I'm at mile 4 and still running!!! I can do 2 more miles easy!
Mile 5 - Just before the 5 mile marker some of the homeowners were passing out Bud Light shots. Man it was awesome!
Male 6 - Really?!?! I just RAN 6 miles???
Finish Line - I DID IT, I DID IT, I DID IT!!!!!! I ran the entire race!!!! It took me officially 1:28:39. But that doesn't matter
I always heard running was addictive and I sort of laughed thinking that can't be right. When I got home I started looking for another race to sign up for!!!! Looks like I'm hooked!
I never would have thought I would ever run a race, EVER. But here I sit having finished my first official race, a 10K.
I smoked for years, 25 of them to be exact. I must have quit 1000 times and failed 999 of those times. I had been working out for a few months when I decided I needed to try again. So on April 28th this year I smoked my last cigarette. I have never looked back. My friends smoking doesn't bother me, having a few beers doesn't bother me. I just wanted to be done this time and I was done. I will never be a Non-Smoker but I will continue to be a ex-smoker.
After I finished Insanity (while I was smoking) I didn't know what to do next. It was heading into summer time, softball season, cycling season, grilling, basically everything outdoors and I didn't want another in house/gym routine. I found a C25K app and loaded it onto my iPhone. Got a heart rate monitor and started running. It is more a a chunky butt shuffle, but its running to me.
I cruised through the summer almost finishing the C25K app before I had the thought, "what will I do next?" So I deleted the C25K app and loaded the 10K bridge version. A friend of mine at work who has been a runner almost their entire life sent me the info for a race they were running. I was wishy washy for a few weeks before I signed up for the 10K race. So now there was NO reason for me not to run. Well I came across a few. I over-trained a bit and ended up with a pretty bad plantar facaiitis. I spent a week sleeping in a boot and wearing arch straps to work. With only a week before the race and healed feet I started coming down with a cold. So yesterday, the day before my race, I ended up in the doctors office getting antibiotics for a severe cold with an ear infection.
Today, Race Day, I get up and head out to greet the day and the first official race of my 39 years of life. I gathered all my necessary running paraphernalia and I was off. I found myself standing in 34 degree weather so excited I couldn't feel anything! My only goal for today was to run the entire time/distance. And I did just that. For the first time in my life I ran 6.21 miles!!! And my thoughts went like this...
Mile 1 - Why did I agree to do this. And why am I doing this with a severe cold and ear infection. I feel like crap.
Mile 2 - My ears popped and my nose began to run. I can do this. I will run until I get to 3 miles at least.
Mile 3 - "Ice, Ice Baby too cold..." Yep that was what Pandora was playing as I passed the 3 mile mark.
Mile 4 - Hey I'm at mile 4 and still running!!! I can do 2 more miles easy!
Mile 5 - Just before the 5 mile marker some of the homeowners were passing out Bud Light shots. Man it was awesome!
Male 6 - Really?!?! I just RAN 6 miles???
Finish Line - I DID IT, I DID IT, I DID IT!!!!!! I ran the entire race!!!! It took me officially 1:28:39. But that doesn't matter
I always heard running was addictive and I sort of laughed thinking that can't be right. When I got home I started looking for another race to sign up for!!!! Looks like I'm hooked!
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Replies
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Congratulations! :-)0
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That's awesome! Congrats
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That's great! I can totally relate and appreciate this story! WTG and keep it up!
I have a zombie run next weekend 0 -
OMG! I was reading your description and was going to ask if you were at my run. And then I saw you were! I remember the beer truck. Two women dressed as skeletons were running the wrong way to get back to it lol.
Great job!!!! I had a PR today for the 10K and was thrilled.0 -
OMG! I was reading your description and was going to ask if you were at my run. And then I saw you were! I remember the beer truck. Two women dressed as skeletons were running the wrong way to get back to it lol.
Great job!!!! I had a PR today for the 10K and was thrilled.
Congrats on your PR! There were a lot of people doing U-Turns once they realized it was a BEER truck they passed!!!0 -
that's fantastic!!!!! congrats!!!!0
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Congratulations on not just trying, but succeeding! I loved your description of the inner-dialog you had going during the race. Good luck on your next race. :flowerforyou:0
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Congrats!!0
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Congrats on that run, that is awesome!
Super huge congrats on quitting smoking, I'm sure after 25 years it wasn't easy!0 -
Congrats on your HUGE accomplishment . Your story is inspiring0
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That is chock full of amazing sauce!!! Congrats!0
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Seriously Awesome !0
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You are officially my new inspiration!0
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Amazing! Congrats on quitting smoking and running that 10k. 6 miles is no joke! You. Are. Awesome!
Next is the half marathon 0 -
I got goosebumps reading this. Great job! Beer..... that's awesome!0
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Hello-
I was inspired by your story. I am struggling with alcohol addiction. For the last 6 months I have been on a medication to curb cravings. It helped some but I was still drinking excessively so my physician doubled the dose. I still have an occasional drink but nothing like I was doing. My journey has been hard but so worth it as I feel so much better. I am in a 13 week body transformation challenge at a gym. We are half-way through the challenge. My motivation in the last few weeks has been low to journal my food each day and get an additional workout or two in, so I am really try to step it up as the holidays are getting closer. My goal is to feel good over the holidays and not be consumed with a beer at a party. Keep up the good work!0 -
Grats!!! and thank you for the morning inspiration. I needed that this morning after yesterday. Keep it up!0
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That's fantastic, well done you! Sub 90 minutes, first time 10K, with a head cold and ear infection is superb!!
Love the phrase "chunky butt shuffle" btw.0 -
Awesome really proud of you.0
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Congrats!!!!
Ran my first 10k on the 27th too. Actually, first race ever.
No beer truck at ours though.
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How did you finally quit smoking after so many attempts?0
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Well done, that's a huge achievement0
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WOW Congrats on your MAJOR accomplishments!! Super motivation and inspiration!!0
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That is SO awesome! Congrats on quitting smoking and your first race!! A 10K as a first race, talk about a cherry on top! You are an inspiration to me. Thank you for sharing your awesome story... loved the chunky butt shuffle comment... that's how I feel every time I run (slow jog).0
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That's pretty awesome!!! I also recently starting running (well WOGGING as I call it) and I love it! I've never been an athlete (NEVER) and your post was so motivational!!! I'll be wogging my first 5k in 2 weeks. WooHoo!!!!0
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That's great!!
Love your mile-by-mile commentary... I do that, too. Every run has a "why the hell am I doing this" and "when will I like running" and "who the hell got me into this" and then usually ends up with some "ok, I'm not dying yet".. :laugh:0 -
So awesome!! Congratulations!!!0
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Congrats OP,
Did you notice a big difference when you quit smoking? If so how long before you noticed? I keep falling off the wagon trying to quit so I like to hear from ex smokers like you.0 -
Great story, congratulations!!! 0
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Nice work!! My one year quit date was October 20th and I did a half marathon!!!0
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