From Fat to Marathon, Post One

Well there's no time like the present to get started on my new blog. I'm beginning a bit in the middle, as I've already lost almost 70 pounds. However, I will refer back to previous stories and feelings as I go along.

I'm writing this blog for me, to help me remember my feelings along the way. I'm also writing it for anyone who might gain any inspiration from anything I've done.

You see, in April of 2009 I weighed 307 pounds. I had gone up and down the scale for many years, but had never found any real motivation to get the weight off and keep it off.

I became inspired by a contestant on one of the episodes of Biggest Loser. Ron, from one of the seasons, was much larger than me, with trouble in both of his knees (like I was having), and yet he walked an entire marathon in 13 hours. I thought "if he can do it, so can I".

I was a bit misled by that feat, however, when I soon discovered that marathons usually have a much shorter cutoff time than 13 hours! I'm still thankful for that motivation, as I began to walk, and not just to the car.

I began to walk around the block, which was VERY hard at first. I was so swollen and out of shape that my knees had trouble handling even the shortest of walks. I would come home bathed in sweat and out of breath from even a walk around the block. I was discouraged, but kept at it. I had a dream of walking my first 5K in the Plum Hills 5K in Kaukauna, in May.

I was walking around the neighborhood to train and had many run-ins with dogs, people almost backing into me and such. I finally worked up to a slow 3 miles and felt ready to "compete".

Why didn't I realize that the words "Plum HILLS" would have a hill or two? During the hills of that simple 5K I thought I was going to die or give up. I didn't do either, and finished in 55 minutes. I came in under an hour and was so proud of myself!

That race was the only one I have done alone. My fiance has come with me ever since, staying at my slow pace. My daughter has even come on a couple of 5ks with us. We did a 10K and even worked up to doing a half marathon last September. I was still walking pretty slowly (NO jogging yet) and we finished in a blazingly-fast 4 hours and 40 minutes. I'm still very proud.

I am training for a full marathon now, which is coming up in just three months. This blog will help me focus, every day, on how far I've come, and what I need to do to make it across that finish line.

There will be lots of stories and pictures. Thanks for visiting! Sharon