A miracle - I ran?!
 

I am still amazed at my morning and I wanted to share :)

Let me start by saying I have very bad memories of running. I remember being in Jr High (mid to upper 200s) and being told to run, but I couldn't so I had to walk while others ran. Then I remember being in high school (at 300 lbs) and told to run. My gym teacher wouldn't accept that I couldn't and told me to alternate running and walking. I remember that it felt like torture even running 20-30 feet.

I have been walking every day though for a month. Every morning, I get up, grab my dog and go for a brisk walk. I had been thinking that I needed to up my intensity somehow. There are two ways to increase your intensity. You can go further or you can go faster. I have limited time so going faster seems like the better option.

Today, I walked by a full length soccer field and I decided that I'd try running it. I didn't think I'd get even half way before having to quit. I was wrong. I ran the whole thing (not a full out run though, a bit of a jog), then I stopped for a second, turned and ran the full length again. I was shocked. I then continued on my walk and as I got near the basketball court, I decided to do a full out run back and forth on that. I was again amazed as I was able to do a full out from one end to the other.

I won't say I was quick or speedy. I will say that I did do something that I didn't think I was capable of doing. I continued on my walk home and I felt good. My face was sweaty, my hair was a mess but I felt good.

So a miracle happened today. I ran and I felt good about it.

:bravo:

That is awesome!! Congratulations!!!

That's so AWESOME! Coming from someone who remembers those dreaded high school runs (they were also torture for those of us who weren't necessarily overweight but were VERY athletically challenged!!!) and now runs on a regular basis can I say that I know how you feel and I'm so happy you're feeling it!!! :D What a GREAT NSV!!!!!!!!!!

That's impressive Nelie! Good for you!

Nelie, that's great! Congratulations on not only accomplishing it, but trying something you weren't sure you'd succeed at. I've been 'running' on the treadmill for months now (though it's more of a jog than anything) and my progress is slooooow but I keep at it. Someday maybe I'll even be able to run for ten minutes in a row!

Nelie, that's just totally and completely AWESOME!!!

Gym was torture for me as well and I was only mildly overweight. TORTURE. But I was "athletically challenged" as well. I"m cringing right now with just the memories from gym class. I was always the last person picked for a team, I hated the horrible gym shorts with my fat, short stumpy legs, oh everything about it. I'm sure for you it was even more agonizing.

Yes, miracles do happen. But it sounds to me as if you made this particular one happen. Your hard work, determination and persistience has really paid off. Enjoy your remarkable day. :)

Excellent!!! :):):)

Nelie - That is fantastic!! I remember the **** of being forced to run (or at least them trying to force me) in gym class as a teen. It was so horrible. That is so great that you were able to enjoy running

:cheer: WooHoo! :cheer:

I started running in June and I haven't looked back - that's awesome, girl!

Heather :D

:carrot::carrot::carrot:
Congratulations!! That must feel so good!!!!
Cheryl

Good for you Nelie!! That is a *great* NSV!!!!!! You are doing so well!! Keep at it...cuz its working!! :carrot:

I can't wait until I can run...even jog again without hurting myself. :o I used to play two sports in high school even though I was only about 30 lbs overweight (I thought I was HUGE). Ahh...to be that size again!

WTG! That's awesome.

I had similar experiences with running in gym class, and this last summer I did 2 5k races. You're capable of so much more than you know. Keep up the good work!

Nelie, I have to tell you, THAT is very inspiring to me!! Congratulations :)

Oh Nelie, thats FABULOUS.

Two of the most meaningful NSVs I ever had were re-doing the runs that we were supposed to do in high school and I never could run all the way through. One was the 1 mile - I cried the first day I did it without stopping or walking. The second was the "Bridge Run" (1.6 miles - at my high school it was out of the campus, along a road, to a particular bridge, and back).

Isn't it amazing to realize that your body can do things that you NEVER imagined if you only let it?

Nelie, that's great :bravo: to you!

I have horrible wretched awful memories of the dreaded One Mile. For me, it was all about small feats, one step at a time. One block became every other block, from this stoplight to the one way down there. My DF says I need to learn to run 40 minutes straight. How do you tell that to someone who throughout childhood never learned to run (as a means to getting around or sports)? I think that's hogwash. Just do it your way, at your pace.

So who knows? This year soccer fields, next year a 5k? :carrot: