Obese to (Ultra)marathoner

Hello,

My life changed about 2.5 years ago when I made a resolution to lose weight. But let's start before that. I never was athletic when I was younger. I played tennis in high school but never took it seriously. I was never able to run. The most I could do was the mile in junior high and I hated that (it took me like 13 minutes). I was extremely unhealthy in every way. I remember one day getting my blood pressure checked and they had to take me into another room, had me sit down, and take deep breaths before they checked again. I don't remember what the numbers were but I just know the nurse seemed surprised when she seen it so it couldn't have been good. My resting heart rate would be lucky to reach the 70s. I'm extremely lucky and blessed that I did not develop diabetes (especially since it's in my family).

So 2.5 years ago I wanted to lose weight. Like everyone else, I had tried so many times in the past and have failed. So I went about it differently this time around. I wanted to find something that would help me stay motivated. More specifically I wanted to find an exercise that I would enjoy doing and would be proud of when I say I could do it. One of the first things I read was about distance runners. I looked at distance runners and lunatics who fell off the deep end. But I also had a ton of respect for them, so much that would view them as being superhumans or something weird. I looked at 5Ks as being dreadful and not in any way fun. I had done maybe 1 when I was a kid and it was miserable. I never figured 10Ks would be something I could do; I mean, who can run for an hour nonstop? Next was the half marathons which I figured was practically impossible. I had never seen myself being able to do that. Then there was the full marathons. 26.2 miles? That's a joke and only people who have insane healthy genetics would be able to do those.

Well here I am today. I've done 2 full marathons, 3 halves, a tough mudder and numerous 5Ks. My blood pressure is 120/60 and my resting heart rate is in the 50s. After this last marathon I wanted more. I have to try something more. So I signed up for a 50 miler for this November. Having "Ultramarathoner" next to my name is something a crazy person would have suggested only 2 years ago, but now it's starting to have a ring to it.

Now a picture of before (I don't have that many "good" ones because anytime there were bad pictures taken of me I turned into a secret ninja and would delete the photo before anyone realized it):



Now after (plenty of these, crazy how photogenic we become):



At mile 25 of my latest marathon:





Tough mudder pic:





Thanks for reading guys! Please add me as a friend, I can always use some encouragement! Especially for this 50!