My Running Story

I didn’t start to seriously run until about a year ago.  I had done some running on and off, and had even run the last couple of miles of the Boston Marathon with my dad, brother, and brother’s girlfriend.

But it wasn’t until October 2007 that I started to get serious about running.  I ran my first 5K, and got hooked.  In addition to running, I started going to a fitness boot camp.  The camp was at a local park, and started at 5:30 AM.  I never thought I would LOVE getting up before the sun to go work out, but I did.  I loved thinking that by the time boot camp class was over, I had already accomplished so much while the rest of the world was still asleep.  So with boot camp and running, I went from not working out at all to working out 5 or 6 days each week.  I started to watch what I was eating, and for the first time, saw food as fuel – not an indulgence.

Since everyone likes to see before and after pics, here are mine:

I think of this 180 degree change in mindset much like a light switch turning on, though my brother says it was more like turning a power grid on.  I’ve lost 30 pounds and dropped down to a size 6 ( a size I can’t ever remember wearing).  I’ve maintained this weight for about 8 months now, and I’m proud to say I’m in the best shape of my life right now.  I’ve run many more races since that 5K last year, including my first half marathon.

My journey to becoming a runner and an athlete was not easy and there are still days where I don’t “feel” like getting up to go for that run.  And that’s totally OK with me because I know the next day or the day after that, I’ll be back out there running.  It’s what I love to do, because I can do it.   And if I can do it, you can too.