Runners Who Never Thought They'd Run

_Waffle_ wrote: »

Before this moment, none of the people pictured were runners.
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grimmeanor wrote: »

It can be done. No doubt. I know this first hand.

First, I have been fat most all of my life. Only in good shape when I was 23 and younger, but even then was overwieght. I tried getting into running when I was 18 or 19, but always developed a nasty case of shin splints and would stop. When I was 23 years old I had a knee injury that sidelined me for a long time, and I never got back into good health after that, always assuming I would trash my knee if I tried being too active.

January 2nd, 2014 I had just turned 42, weighed 316 pounds and was determined to be borderline diabetic, put on Metformin to help out and told to eat no more than 120g total carbs per day. I did this and started losing weight at a surprising rate.

On April 3rd, 2014 I had finished a follow-up appointment, weighing 284 pounds (32 lost in 3 months). My numbers were all better on my blood labs. I assumed I would soon hit a plateau on my weight loss and wanted to continue, so I decided to start a regular routine of walking. I walked 2 miles that day.

I continued walking nearly every day, increasing my mileage as soon as I felt the current distance was no longer a challenge. I wanted to feel like I worked out with my walks. I was walking 3 miles each time by the end of that first month, and by the end of May the next month was walking 4 miles and had begun walking EVERY day. By the end of June I was going 6 miles every day, taking about an hour and 50 minutes each time.

I suspected at some point I might not have enough time in the day to keep pushing myself further by walking alone. I began wondering while on my walks what I would do to go higher impact. The thought of running crossed my mind and I laughed, literally laughed at myself for the thought. My knees could never take up running! Especially at this age! So I assumed biking would be my next choice.

So July 9, 2014 rolls around and I go on my 6 mile walk. I was needing to either walk further or move on to my next activity like biking but I was strapped at that time, could not afford a bike. I decided to run for short bursts during my walk.

Looking back at the data for that day, and in the next few runs afterward, I would only run for a minute or so each time, if that. I ran 13 times this way on that walk. I kept doing this on each successive walk. However I did learn from some soreness that I should not do this EVERY day like I had been doing with walking. So I switched to running/walking 3 or 4 times per week.

By the end of July I realized I was regularly walking/running 6 miles all the time so I could complete a 10k with no problem, and live the rest of my life knowing I had actually done a 10k! So I signed up for one. By my final run before the race the longest single run burst I had completed was just under 1 mile.

September 20, 2014 was the date of my 10k. I had never run in a race and was told I should start towards the back and just pace myself with people as long as I could. I did exactly that, keeping up with those around me as we started. I passed mile 1 and kept going. It was at that point a personal record. I reached mile 2 and kept going! By the time I reached mile marker 3 I knew that there was no reason I could not actually run the whole way unless I just collapsed...and that was what I was focused on for the rest of the race. I completed the whole 10k running in 1 hour, 17 minutes and 41 seconds! I was SO TIRED, but SO PROUD! I can not describe the feeling in words.

That day proved a lot to me. I could run further than my mind previously was telling me. I could run so much further than I thought without dying or injuring myself! Granted, I was quite sore that night and the next day. But I recovered.

Knowing I could run 6 miles and being familiar with the concept of 10% increases per week (and also having looked at Hal Higdon running plans), I looked at upcoming races. In my mind I wondered if I could do a half marathon before the end of the year. The latest one in the year that I found in town was scheduled for November 15th, 8 weeks away. I realized I could actually follow such a training plan and reach that mileage in time for that race, so I signed up!

The next few weeks were a little harsh, I admit. I struggled to get further than 6 miles, and in the process learned a lot more about my body, and how to fuel it. One thing I will credit running for, it has taught me more about my physiology than any courses I ever took in school (Granted, I'm an IT guy, not my forte).

I managed to reach 12 miles as my longest distance run prior to the half marathon. I had great confidence I could do it. And I did, finishing in 3 hours and 9 seconds.

Those last few weeks ahead of that half marathon I looked back at the changes I went through over that one year alone, from January to then in November. It may sound strange, but I am not so much proud as I am humbled by it. I can do this, I know it now. I am pushing myself further still. I keep doing it because I still can. I don't know why I never did this before, especially some 20 years ago when all of this would have been easier. But I can do it, and I plan to never look back. If I step back, I can always look ahead again.

It is possible. I encourage you to just do it. Not trying to sound corny. Just start with what you can do, and just keep going.

Sorry for such a long post.

Terpnista84 wrote: »

Running is mostly mental. One day I just started running at a comfortable pace and was able to do thirty straight minutes...just like that. I didn't have to build up the endurance or anything. I was running 5 mph which is really just a jog. That is my comfortable pace, but I will up the speed because my body wants to go faster.

Again, it's mostly mental. The first 5 minutes or so are the hardest, and then your body goes on autopilot. And music helps a lot. Sometimes I will put on songs that will give me an energy boost and I'd add more time to my run. Forget your mind telling you to quit...don't give up unless your body gives out.