I live in Frederick, MD with my wonderful fiance. We have an American Bulldog named Brewser. Right now our dog is our baby. We just love to spoil him. He's an only pet and he knows it :)
before I started running in 2011 - I had never run more than a mile. I have never really struggled with my weight and I just assumed there was no other reason to workout. I used to be able to eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Until I turned 24 years old and I slowly started to put on weight. I noticed it because I wasn't fitting into any of my pants and I hated to see myself in pictures. One of my younger brothers commented on my weight at Thanksgiving one year and for some reason that just made it all more real. It wasn't just me who noticed my weight gain. Other people were noticing; my brother probably the only one who would ever say anything. That year I tried dieting and little bits of exercise here and there, but nothing really stuck. I wasn't passionate about it and I continued to struggle with my weight as well as my body image. I was the heaviest I had ever been in my entire life. I needed to take control of my life.
I'm not sure how or why, but I started running. I only ran on my treadmill at first because I was embarrassed to run outside. I was afraid of what I looked liked while I ran or people would judge me when I had to take walk breaks. I started running in September 2011 and I signed up for an October 5k. I printed out a couch to 5k training plan and followed it to a T. I remember the first time a finished 3 miles on the treadmill without stopping. I got off the treadmill, sat on the floor, and wept. I had set a goal, worked for it and accomplished it.
I was so nervous about running a 5k that I asked my fiance to run it with me and he agreed. He hadn't run in years, but he wanted to be there to support me. I ran the entire 3 miles without stopping and finished in 31:31. I was hooked as soon as I crossed that finish line. That high has kept me going for the past year and a half.
Larry & me after my first 5k
Since my then I have improved my 5k time each time I run one. Right now my 5k PR is 25:36. I am hoping to get a sub 25 minuted 5k in 2013. I have also run 5 half marathons, 1 full marathon, and numerous other distances. I love trying new things distances and seeing my times improve.
One of the best decisions I made as a new runner was to join a local running group to train for my first half. I met so many amazing people and learned some much needed runners etiquette. Running with a training group makes the distance you are attempting to tackle so much more manageable. I would encourage any new runner who is on the fence about joining a training group to just do it!
As I have slowly started to take my running more "seriously," I have had to dedicate more of my time towards training. I work full time and although I don't have children yet I still struggle to balance work, fitness and time with my fiance and family. I think at this point have a pretty good system worked out so that no aspects of my life are neglected.
One of the best decisions I made as a new runner was to join a local running group to train for my first half. I met so many amazing people and learned some much needed runners etiquette. Running with a training group makes the distance you are attempting to tackle so much more manageable. I would encourage any new runner who is on the fence about joining a training group to just do it!
Fleet Feet Gaithersburg 1/2 Marathon Training Group
Since I can't afford to pay to join a group every time I want to train for a 1/2 marathon or marathon, I found a local running group that is free to join. We meet every Saturday morning at a local park. The distances vary depending on what everyone else is training for at the time. I love my group and have formed so many new friendships. I know that I would not have had so much success with achieving my running goals if I had not discovered this wonderful group of runners!
As I have slowly started to take my running more "seriously," I have had to dedicate more of my time towards training. I work full time and although I don't have children yet I still struggle to balance work, fitness and time with my fiance and family. I think at this point have a pretty good system worked out so that no aspects of my life are neglected.
I have been thinking about blogging for months, but haven't had the courage to start until now. I enjoy reading several other blogs and I wanted to become apart of this community too! I hope you enjoy following my journey as much as I enjoy sharing it with you!
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