It's only about 3 miles, a 5k, but it's such a long run for me. Just a handful of weeks ago I couldn't run a quarter of a mile without stopping. I asked my trainer how long she thought it would take me to power through without stopping, she said maybe two weeks. It took me two days.
I tend to be tenacious when I set my mind to things. I just haven't been putting that tenacity to work in the last few years. I let myself be swallowed by a lot of doubt and self-criticism. I've decided that it's just not good enough. I deserve better.
I started this journey on July 24th, a journey of getting into shape, being healthier and just taking better care of myself. It's been a tough one. I've never been one to workout regularly, ever. But I started by going to the gym 5-days-a-week, religiously. I rarely miss a workout and when I do, it's for a good reason.
I not only have weight to lose, but I've had some health issues, which I've written about extensively here (and my weight as well). I was diagnosed with RA and Fibromyalgia in 2008. I also have exercise induced asthma. What may seem easy for some was challenging for me when I first started my exercise routine.
This Saturday though, I got some great news. In three months, I've lost 20 inches from my chest, waist, hips and thighs. 20 INCHES. 6 inches from my waist alone. I've lost 25 pounds in 5 months. It's been slow going but I know I've also gained muscle mass and I'm much stronger than I was just five months ago.
So it was recently that my amazing trainer and I decided I was going to run a marathon next year. Lets put that tenaciousness to some good use. I know it sounds crazy, running a marathon is quite a physical punishment and it's not for everyone. The appeal though has to do with giving myself a challenge and something to work for and it really helps keep me focussed.
Having this 5k has helped me keep me focussed. It's this Sunday and it's to raise money for Arthritis. I have my own team.
So, here I am, I can run a mile without stopping and it's not easy. It's hard. I don't think I can even call it a run! I'm like a turtle going through peanut butter, but for some odd reason, I love it. I can't tell you why, but it's pushed me to be in my body like nothing else, just me and somewhere to jog.
And it's pushing me to grow in ways I desperately needed to grow. I recently wrote about how I'm going through a divorce. The exercise is keeping me sane during this time, I don't think I'd being doing as well as I am if it weren't for my 5 or 6 workouts during the week.
I'm a changed person. It's not a phase, it's not something I'm going to do for now. It's now part of who I am. Fitness and exercise isn't just for those who want to lose weight or want to get ripped. It's for every single person. This is what I love about my trainer, she really espouses this idea that it's for everyone, that health and wellness is not something only for the good-looking and ridiculously thin. Everyone deserves to feel good everyday, to feel good in their skin.
So it's not about being thinner, it's about feeling better. My body feels better, I'm in so much less pain and I just can't say enough good things about how much better I feel overall.
So, why a diary? Well of course I wanted to share my progress, I wanted to encourage others to get out and do more and I wanted to ask for some help.
I'm trying to raise money for Arthritis research and I'm hoping you will help me. It would mean so much. This first 5k is just one step in a much bigger journey.
Here's the link