How I moved from my couch to my first 10K and How You Can Too!
I’ve done two 10K’s in my life. No, it’s not 10 but it’s more than most people have done. What I realized very quickly is that RUNNING is a MIND GAME, more than it is anything. I also want to reassure you that it really isn’t as hard as you think. It does take some training, but I believe YOU can do it.
It Happened So Fast
I was the girl who ate everything and never gained a pound, but with the birth of my daughter and a new birth control medication, something changed. The pounds that I couldn’t wait to gain, were sticking to me and wouldn’t go away!
My young family, the pressure of finishing graduate school, balancing my full-time job and a crazy unpredictable schedule took it’s toll.
I spent my “free-time” studying, stay up late to finish homework assignments, and trying to keep my sanity. HOW IN THE WORLD did other women get all of this stuff done and still have time for themselves? I was drowning.
I NEVER wanted be a runner, did I mention NEVER!
It was the furthest thing from my mind. I had 3 goals. I wanted to
- BE HEALTHY.
- FEEL GOOD.
- AND TAKE BETTER CARE OF MY BODY.
Something HAS to CHANGE
I got on the scale and when I saw those numbers, I felt like crying. How did I gain 40 pounds? I felt terrible, my health was suffering, my clothes were tight and nothing fit right. I had to do something and I had to do it NOW.
I Started Small
I drank more water, cleaned up my diet, and got educated about food. My health was a TOP PRIORITY and exercising was my starting point. I got a Polar heart rate monitor and I monitored my steps, how many calories I burned and I made every activity count. I walked 4-5 times a week, and I walked as long and as far as I could.
Consistency And A Challenge
I started with 1 mile and quickly increased it to 3. My walks were good, actually they were great, but I was not doing enough. I used my Polar heart rate monitor whenever I worked out and it let me know if I wanted to burn more calories and see better results, I needed to make some changes.
I set bigger goals, I needed to burn more calories in less time. The only viable option, RUNNNG. At first, the idea of running was not appealing, but it’s what I needed. So, running is what I did.
As I pushed my limits, I started seeing sweat during my workouts. The hard work was paying off. Now, I could SEE AND FEEL the difference.My heart rate was changing and those hard activities got easy.
One day, I went out and instead of stopping at my usual 3.25 miles I pushed myself and I ran almost 5 miles. I knew that if I could get to 5 miles, I could get to 10K.
I signed up for a 10K that October and despite some setbacks during training I decided to go for it.
I Did It.
Well, I didn’t finish at Olympic speed, but it was the first time I had ever run that far in my life and that is a BIG DEAL. For me, that was winning!! During that 10K run, I wanted to give up more times than I care to admit. As I ran down those streets in New York, I wasn’t sure that I could finish. Every step I made was a struggle but I never gave up!
I can still remember trying to get ready. My Polar A400 watch was like my trainer, it helped me prepare and it got me moving. I used my watch, with my times and my heart rate to motivate me. Today, this beautiful medal is hanging in my office and it is a reminder to me, that anything is possible if you are willing to work for it.
Working Out is A Lifetime Choice
For me, running is not about the time. It’s not about being the fastest it’s about doing something that I didn’t think I could do and sticking with it. That 10K run was my goal and I reached it!
For the rest of my life, I can look back at my medal and think about how I overcame. I didn’t just start that run, I FINISHED it.
If you are looking for a great tool to help you reach your fitness goal, I can’t encourage you enough to take a closer look at Polar. Whether you need something for yourself or you are buying a gift for someone else they have great options.
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