I RAN a mile...and no one was chasing me!

I have always joked that I would not run unless someone was chasing me...with a weapon. lol Well, I'm still no runner and it's hard to imagine being one, seeing as how I've never run, but something clicked in my mind last week while I was watching a mediocre program on TV about a girl who was trying to lose a lot of weight in a short period of time. Her trainer was very set on running being her best source of exercise. Seeing as how she was 260 pounds, I seriously think they should have consulted her doctor, but that's besides the point. His goal was to get her to run a whole mile in 10 minutes. She did eventually do it in 20-some minutes, stopping many times and even vomiting, but by the end of the summer, she did run that 10 minute mile. All the while she was red and miserable and huffing her brains out and holding onto the bars, but she did it! It just sort of sparked this little thought in my mind...."I wonder if I could run a mile?" I mean, I've lost 110 lbs, and I even weighed less than that girl when she ran the 10 minute mile, so what if I COULD? I'm consistently surprised by the new experiences I'm able to have now that I've lost so much weight, so what if it's just my attitude that's keeping me from thinking I can do something like that?

Well yesterday, instead of my usual routine, I got on the treadmill and just started jogging. I did try to keep my speed at a comfortable level (between 4 and 4.2). Time wasn't the goal here though, it was the distance. Well it took me 15 minutes, but I DID IT!!! I ran the whole mile and didn't even stop once!  Once I hit one mile, I cried right on that treadmill. lol Sucking wind and all! Everyone there probably thought I was insane but that was a HUGE moment for me! I don't think I've run since high school for those superfit tests! I certainly couldn't have done that for more than a few minutes at best when I was 300 pounds. I'm amazed every day at what this surgery has done for me and my health. WOW!

So what's next? I'd like to keep trying to get that time shorter. Or perhaps I should focus on running longer than a mile? I have no idea because I've never run in my life. I'll have to get some advice. My legs are like noodles today and I'm in terrible pain, lol, but I'll live. I might try to give my legs a day of rest today and then run tomorrow (do some other things today).

I just had to share this with you. Sometimes, I feel so different, I don't even feel like ME. I love my RNY!

You go girl... I do 2 miles a day and I hate every minute of it. I like you was not a runner but now that I don't have all the extra weight I can do it. I might not look pretty or sound pretty doing it but I get it done and after I feel really good about myself. Keep up the good work. 

that is freaking awesome. i have experienced that as well and it truly is awesome. if you are trying to lose more weight, i used to have a trainer tell me to do intervals. run as fast as you can for as long as you can, then wal****il you recover. and repeat until you can't do it anymore. it forces you to build indurance quickly and also burns a heck of a lot of calories.

good luck and be safe. make sure you got on the right shoes!

That's so awesome! You can do it!!!! That's an inspiration to all those who have this inner runner buried under all the fat, LOL

Kudos! Great job!

I haven't been here much...mostly lurking as I coast through my 6-months of NUT classes but they are now over and I'm just waiting on insurance approval and a date.

Anyway, one thing that has been on my post-WLS bucket list is to run a 5K. I don't know why but it's there and seems to be really important to me.  Whenever I hear/read about someone running it makes me cry.  Again, no idea why.  Laura, I sat here crying tears of joy right along with you on that treadmill and can see myself doing the same thing if/when I hit the goal.

BUT...the main purpose of this post is that even at my highest weight I started the Couch to 5K program. ( www.c25k.com) It helps you build up to a 5K in 9 weeks.  There are even ipod podcasts that will walk you through the intervals, etc.  There are BB and Droid aps for it too. It is awesome.  I was doing it until I fractured my ankle last year.  My ankle is fine now but I'm waiting until after my surgery to start up again. 

Check it out!  And once I'm on the loser's bench with you, maybe we can run a 5K together!!  :o)

Suzie - thank you so much for your message! I was so touched that you felt such empathy for me in that moment and it much feel that much better knowing you WILL be there too. By the way, Dr. Kligman is a genius and you are in great hands. I wish you well as you go through your preparations (they are in many ways the hardest part of it all). Thank you so much for this info on the couch to 5k! That's PERFECT and I intend to really look into that!

Thanks again for you post. Please keep us all posted on your progress and I hope to see you at the support group meetings (every 3rd Wednesday of the month at BWMC). :)

Laura