Sharing my mini achievement

Today, I wanted to share with the MFP community my first mini achievement during my journey of weight loss. I started trying to lose weight in late March when I touched 203lb. I found MFP, and although I did not yet start logging my activities here, I started reading the motivation and support forum and couple other forum threads diligently. In one of those threads, there was a mention that the goal for losing weight should not be losing weight but should be supplemented by a secondary goal, something that would lead to weightloss during the process of achieving that goal. This motivated me to take the next step and face my nemesis, running. I said to myself in January that I will run a marathon by end of the year.

I started off slow, running less than half mile for over a week, and then slowly graduated to running my first mile after 1 month. Then added half mile every week, till I reached 3 miles. I started running 5 times a day. Slowly I increased my weekly run distance till I felt comfortable running upto 6 miles in a single go. It definitely was not easy. I braved rain, torrid heat and a few times, some of the most pleasant evening weather I have ever enjoyed.

This weekend, I finally ran my first half marathon. It is a first mini achievement. The time was horrible. I crossed finish line at 2:35. But I achieved running continuously without walking (except during one or 2 water breaks) and finishing my last 1.5 miles faster than any other distance throughout the run.

During the process, I have lost 22 lb's. I still have ways to go (I am now 181 but I need to be at 150-155 to get better at running, I am 5'9), but slowly the progress is showing. I want to thank every member who posts on these forums for their contribution in motivating me and I hope this thread can help others achieve their own goals!