I’m not the best runner.
I’m not the fastest runner.
I don’t care about time or personal bests.
I’m not competing with anyone.
I started the C25K program back in March or April of 2009 in an effort to do something different (besides the gym) and to help me in my quest to lose weight. This 9 week program actually took me around 11 weeks to complete. I had good days and bad days, but I kept going; I was determined to finish it. Afterwards, I just kept going.
Running has become so much more than something to do to lose weight.
It’s changed my life. Changed the way I do just about anything.
I have run in places I never would have imagined. In Berlin’s Tiergarten. In London’s famous Hyde Park. Around the Colosseum in Rome. Even just on a long weekend away in Belgium. Wherever we go now, we take our sneaks and workout gear and we plan for a run (that “we” is my and my Hubs, who’s been an amazing support to me from day one on my quest to become a runner).
The day I knew that I became a runner, I’d gone out for a 2 hour run. I just wanted to see how far I could go. Of that two hours I ran 100 minutes continuously. When I hit the two hour mark I stopped my Nike + program and I saw that I made 17.5 Kilometers. At that moment I burst out into tears. It was extremely emotional for me. Why? Because I have never been much of an athlete. I am clumsy and not very committed. In school I was always the last on picked for team sports. I hated PE class. I wore huge coke-bottle bottomed glasses that repeatedly were broken from flying basketballs or other sports equipment in the face. To run 17.5 kilometers, after the max ever run being around 13, this was a really big deal to me.
The day I had my fate sealed as a runner was the day I went out for a 16KM run, to prepare for an upcoming race. About halfway through the heavens opened up and the rain came pouring onto me in buckets. Instead of stopping and seeking shelter, I ran through it, faster, stronger, with a huge smile on my face. Then the tears. I cried because I felt so ALIVE. Because I knew from that day forward I would never take advantage of my body again, that I would never abuse myself again with food.
I’m not the fastest or the best, but I am ALIVE, and as long as I can, regardless of my weight, I will continue to be a runner.
I LOVE this post! Thank you for sharing. Your last line really gave me chills. Cheers!
I found you through one of my favorite bloggers, Donne_de and expected to find the same ol’ site but wow. I love this post. I am a runner as well and this post resonates so well. Thank you for summing it up so beautifully.
thank you both so much. I love that you guys “get it”!!!
This is so awesome!! I don’t know if I’ll ever be a runner, but this is inspiring to me on my weight loss journey, nonetheless!!
http://www.futurefitgirl.com
Running *IS* awesome :)
That line also made me smile.
I needed to read that.
Did not read this post before and it is soooo true. I also hated PE classes, was not good at any sport because.. I could not run! Even during class I could not run around the soccerfield and I took a shortcut across the field. I also started in 2009, lost weight and started with Evy Start2Run. it took me 1 month before I could finally run lesson 1 with the 3 minutes at the end of the lesson. But hey.. I did it and at the end of 2009 I could ‘run’ 30 minutes. Well slowly that is!
I am still a slow runner because I have some ‘natural’ brakes (heart/lungs) but I am enjoying myself and – just like you – try to run everywhere. In the UK, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Scotland.
Isnt it great!
Keep running!!
You rock, Pinky!
LOOOVE this – what an awesome description!
I only started running about 8 weeks ago. I wanted to use the C25K app but at the beginning I couldn’t do 1-minute intervals so I started with about 30 second intervals. After about 3 weeks I was able to start using the app. I accidentally skipped ahead at one point and found I could do 1:30 intervals! Last Friday I ran 20 minutes straight for the first time ever. I don’t know if this is going to help with my weight loss or not. I don’t know if I’ll become a runner at the end of this program. For me running was something I never thought I could possibly do so I wanted to give it a try … just to say I’d done it. I am interested in the ways it changes you that you speak of. I hope I feel the same and want to keep going. By the way, I’m American too but living in Australia. Glad I found your blog. :)
Hi Anna!
Good for you for starting C25K! I think you become a runner if you just keep going and keep trying to get better. And by better I mean just improving how you feel, how long you can run without walking, if you can speed up a bit, etc.
Running has changed me physically, but only a bit. I think I lost about 10KG since I started running and my body has shifted a bit. But mostly running has changed the way I think about myself, has taught me about goal-setting and has made me understand what it means to be disciplined to do something. Running has allowed me freedom to let things go, if even temporarily. Running has given me time and freedom to work out situations in my head, think about how I would handle important appointments and given me courage to let the words flow from my head to an important discussion. These are all things I never really did, I certainly wasn’t determined or disciplined in much in my life, not that my life was empty or boring or without goals, it’s just that running has somehow given me more clarity from want I want in my life.
Love this post! Running does change your whole life. Had the opportunity to experience it recently. Good luck on all your endeavors!
Loved reading your story about running! We have much in common. I’m not fast either and do a combination of run/walk. My passion for running led me to writing an inspirational book for Runners. So many parallels between running and real life! Embracing The Race:40 Devotions for the Runner’s Soul.
Love your determination and spirit! Blessings to you and happy running.