Putting one foot in front of the other = Success!

‎2 years ago I started my journey to become a runner. I was always involved in team sports throughout my school years. But as the years passed so did my involvement with the sports I used to identify myself with as an 'athlete'. Then came college,marriage, work, and then babies. With each new chapter came the addition of a few more pounds. I found myself at 30 years of age weighing in at 244 pounds and not recognizing the person staring back at me in the mirror. I decided then and there to reclaim my inner athlete. But how would I do this when all the sports I loved so were team based and didn't fit into my schedule any longer. The only thing I could come up with is become a runner. I had never run in my life, other than a few warm up laps around a gym! But I laced up my shiny new sneakers and set out on my journey to become a runner.

At that time I couldn't run, I jogged, and not all that well. I did this for ~ 1minute at a time at speeds of 4.5mph. And it was hard, that was really hard at 244 pounds to get my body to even move that fast. But ya know what I did it. Time and time I showed up at that gym, I hit that treadmill or the track and I put one foot in front of the other. It took me over 6 months to run a full mile at 5mph pace. I still remember that day and how accomplished I felt when I could say I ran a mile!! Once I hit that first mile there was just no stopping me it was as if I could fly. (Well at least I thought I could in my head.) So I registered for a 10K. Not bothering to think ummmm, try a 5K first! It never even crossed my mind to start small, because I knew I could do it, I believed in myself and my abilities for the first in a very long time. And ya know what I smashed that thing! I walked only twice during the entire 6.2 miles, finishing in just over 1:20. That was april of 2009. There have been many other 10K's, a few 5K's sprinkled in, a half marathon, and soon to be added to the list my first FULL marathon in November this year.

I had no idea where running would take me. I had no idea that if I just put one foot in front of the other and kept on moving that I would find myself again; along with my courage, my strength, my self love, and my love for this journey we call life.

Today I did my fartlek (speed training) on the treadmill at 8mph intervals. It's amazing what you can accomplish if you just try-- starting by putting one foot in front of the other, it's amazing where you'll go!!!