Bragging Rights!

After starting this journey in January of 2008, i have lost about 25 pounds.  I also developed a love for running (I couldn't even run 2 minutes straight then), and I am proud to say I am now a MARATHON COMPLETER!!!!

I finished the Nashville Country Music Marathon this weekend with a time of 4:19.  What a thrill. Just thought I would share with you all that ANYTHING is possible if you put your mind to it. Yea, the pounds were nice to see shed, but the thrill of pushing your body to those limits and knowing you are capable of something like that, is just, well, Im speechless!

Wow!!! That is awesome!!! Congratulations!

Awesome job!! That's so great!!

That's awesome! You are such an inspiration!!!!

Well worth bragging about!  Great job!!!!

I am 47 years old and have never run or done any kind of sport. I have been doing yoga, tai chi and weight training. I have changed many of my eating habits, but am not loing weight because I do not have enough cardio in my routine. I just do not seam to be able to get my self to run. I feel so uncomfortable, but know I need to do it. do you have any advice on how I can help myself to do this?

Thanks

I just started interval running. I'll run for as long as I can, even if its only 15 seconds, then walk fast for a minute or three and then run again. You very quickly build stamina.

I'll set myself goals. Okay i'm gonna run as far as that tree....often I can make it farther, but if  can't thats fine too!

My best advice. Do it where not alot of people walk. There is a bike trail near my house that i run on. There are other people, but i usually check to make sure no one is coming before i run(yeah I'm pretty uncomfortable with it too). but even if they did see me , its okay, we are just in passing, and I won't see them again really like you would at a park where you run laps.

best of luck, running is scary, I know, but I know for me If I feel like no one is watching, then I can run like this.

lihop61:

Have you tried just plain old walking???  It is a fantastic low-impact way to burn calories--walking one mile burns roughly the same amount of calories as running the same distance.  My advice to you is to walk everywhere possible...to the grocery, drugstore, coffee shop, in a park, up the stairs.  It might also be helpful for you to have a walking buddy that you meet up with to walk.  I am a runner, but I LOVE to take one day a week off to walk as far as I can.  Personally I like to explore new neighborhoods, or ones that I always have driven through, but have never taken the time to really study the houses, shops, restaurants etc.

Keep in mind that a walking buddy may be human or canine!

My other suggestion to you would be to take up a low impact aerobics class/video.  Maybe you could try a video that offers different levels; as you work your way into cardiovascular shape you can up the impact.  My personal favorites are The Firm series (especially Boot Camp: Ultimate Calorie Burn).  Swimming or water aerobics could be interesting as well (I hate being in the water though).

Have you tried biking???  It is fantastic exercise, very peaceful, and great for the environment.

My last suggestion is to take up a fun dance class such as tap, salsa, flamenco...ANYTHING.  It will get you moving and because dance is so freeing and fun you won't even feel like you are exercising.  Since you are already interested in international methods (tai chi and yoga) try finding a capoeira instructor (it's a Brazilian martial arts/dance mixture that is very beautiful and good for your body)

Those are my thoughts.  I hope they help spark some ideas!

Cheers! Cheers!!! Horay for you!!! I'm sure it wasn't always easy to get up and run to prepare for the marathon........but it paid off with the euphoria of crossing that finish line...............Congratulations!

Please post some pictures of the race if you have any!

Congratulations!  I too have become an avid runner.  I am not very fast, but I am pretty constant.  I generally run 30 minutes and then jog 30 minutes, five days a week.  I have lost weight for sure, but the best part is that I am 46 years old, have had diabetes since I was four years old, have kidney  failure, and have been able to go OFF two medications since running; my health is the best it has been my entire adult life, and I just plain feel good and am loving it! 

I can't picture myself running a marathon, but I actually go to bed looking forward to getting up at 5 AM to run!  It is a combination of body/mind/spirit all working together during the run.  I'm so thrilled for you and your success!!

Congratulations! I have to admit, I have been quite litterally dreaming of running for the last few weeks - I actually dream, during the night, that I'm running a marathon. With a bum knee, however, it's always been impossible for me to run much - on top of which, I didn't have the cardio to allow me to run like that. But I actually ran 5 minutes straight at full speed with no pain last week, which gives me a lot of hope that my targetted exercising has solved a lot of my knee issues! Hopefully, I'll be able to run more in the future and perhaps, have future bragging rights such as yours. Congratulations!

Congratulations!! I am so so so impressed.

To lihop61:

I too started out doing yoga at 37, then at 45 added tae kwon do followed by experimentation with tai chi, chi gong and Pilates and after that added running to improve my cardio for the martial arts.  I don't run fast, but i can run for over a mile and am working up to two miles then after that my goal is to run a 5K.  I started out on a treadmill, because it does some of the pacing for you.  After I was able to tolerate that I started runing at the local college track or on the roads near my house.  I have been wearing dollar store knee sleeves to protect my knees and even though my knees are a lot less touchy then they were at first I plan to keep wearing them because it just feels better.  Until I started running, I was only able to lose a few pounds here and there and almost never keep them off but I have lost almost 20 pounds since starting.  Start slow and work yourself up to whatever your personal goal is, and if something doesn't work out don't give up--keep trying another angle and good luck! 

I have to say this is one of the best forums I have read in a long time!! Everyone needs a little braggin' room.  I, too, dream of one day running a full marathon. I started my weight loss journey last fall and so far lost 23 pounds, just 10 more to go. So the running is much easier this year than previous years. As the Fargo marathon gets closer & closer I hope to be able to say I did it, too. This year I hope to finish the 1/2 with just a little walking in there and next year to do the full!! It's nice to see others success stories, great motivation. Keep up the good work!

THANK YOU everyone!!!!!

LIhop: Everyone's pretty much covered the bases-but to sum it up: the first day i ran I couldn't make it past 5 minutes.  My goal was 6 minutes the next day.  I woke up sore, I ran 6 minutes anyways.  7 minutes the next day...and so on.  Sometimes I walked in between too.  But never give up on setting goals.  I can still remember the day I stopped running because my legs were tired and not because I was out of breath.  Amazing day.  I also suggest going into a book store or a library and perusing some of the books on running, they can be very  informative and motivational at the same time.  But mostly-just never say you cant.... because you CAN!

brainchange: check out my gallery!!! :)

donna: WOW 5 am... haha even I do not have that dedication-you can DEFINITLEY run a marathon!

emilie: keep up the good work.  hopefully your knee doesn't get in the way... but keep taking it one step at a time, youll be amazed at what your body can do.

jwuit:  what a great goal! you sound so motivated, you surely will do it. and thanks for letting me brag with pride!

I have a goal of running a marathon before I turn 30.  I am 26.  I bought a jogging stroller and am walking with a friend.  Eventually I am going to start running though plus walking.

That is awesome, congrat's!!  You give me inspiration and I appreciate everyone else's comments to.   I really want to start running, it is just sooo hard to get a routine going.   I agree you definintely have to set goals and I really like the tip about 6 minute etc. 

Thanks for sharing!  I can imagine how it feels!  I finished a 37 mile bike ride for Diabetes in March - after a very long period of inactivity!  Lots of my "friends" were convinced I would fade and not do it.  I proved them wrong!  I had a ball.

I am interested in running but have no idea how to start.  I know, get off the sofa and take that first big step.  Thank you for giving me an inspiration to get moving.  FYI - I have dropped 30 lbs since November 08 - being a diabetic as well it has been a slow journey.  I want to get shed of the weight as quickly as possible so I can get off my medication.  This should help! 

Good Job!

Congrats!  That was quite a feat, and not an easy first marathon to run, either.  It was hot as heck that day.  And, well, nothing around here is flat.  LOL!

You guys sound just like me when I started.  Keep up that motivation!!!

Shay: Glad you liked the minute tip.  A routine is my #1 problem, bc I am such a procrastinator.  But I started to think of my daily jog as something like taking my vitamin, yea it should be done with breakfast, btu if it isn't its ok, just make sure to do it by the end of the day!

Chez: wow congrats on the ride and on all the weight loss and bringing YOUR HEALTH to the forefront.

Ohtobethin: Did you run in Nashville??!

And to anyone, if you ever want to ask any questions/vent/just talk, feel free to message me.  It was only a year ago I was in year ago basically that I was you.

Nah - my knees will never allow me that opportunity.  But, I did get out and do some yardwork that day.  I think it was probably the hottest day we've had this season.