On my walks each morning I see several runners passing me by. Most of the blogs I read about health, weight loss and fitness, the authors are almost all runners. I enjoy my walks but I really have a desire to run. But, I have to wonder if at my weight is it too much on my body? One day last week I tried to run a very short distance to see if I even could. Well, I hadn’t contemplated that “the twin girls” were improperly supported. So I quickly stopped. I had the same experience when doing the 30 day shred video as well.
When I went back to work Monday, I found this e-mail in my inbox sent to several ladies in the office from my friend and co-worker, Christina, (who really inspires and motivates me to want to run):
You know you’re curious….can YOUrun a half marathon? Last year at the women’s half marathon there were three women (from our office) who had never run a half marathon in their life and ran the race AND survived. They didn’t have to be picked up by the street sweeper or carted off in an ambulance. If they could do it so can you.
The race is November 4thand starts in Scottsdale and finishes in Tempe. Here are comments that I often get is
- “I can’t run that far”. The good news is you don’t have to run the whole thing if you don’t want to. You could run/walk the course and still enjoy yourself and get a finisher metal.
- “I can’t run even a mile”. When anyone starts running they can’t run a mile either. They run/walk and start to build up. After a while one mile is easy and then three miles is easy. With adding a little at a time, you build up so you can do the half marathon.
- “I’m not a runner”. You don’t have to run the whole thing and can run/walk it.
Did you notice the “I can’t” and “I’m not’s” in the statements above? You’ll surprise yourself when you say “I Can”.
If you want to participate but a half is too far, there is also 5K race (3.1 miles).
I love talking about running so if you’re considering it (even if you think it’s a super farfetched idea) talk to me or Trisha, Julie, Angelica, Jessie, Cheryl and Anne, all who ran a half marathon within the last year.
The seed was planted. But the question still remains, am I too fat to run? Will I do some kind of damage to my feet, knees, or other body parts. I don’t want to get hurt and be prevented from exercising.
So I did what I always do when I want to know more about something. I “googled” it:
I read several articles, blog posts and message boards. I found many people that had started running when they had about the same amount of weight to lose. So if they can do it, I can try it right? I know to start slow, stretch, give my body time to recover.
But I will never know if I don’t try. And if I have a 5K to shoot for, maybe that’s the push I need.
Lots to think about, but the wheels are spinning.
