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I have a friend, let’s call her K, who I have been encouraging to take up running for over a year now. She’s inching closer. Last year she got the equipment (shoes and clothing). This past summer she went out on a couple of short runs. There have been starts and stops. Currently she is in stop mode. She’s convinced that her time has passed; that time and children have done irreversible things to her body and she could never be a runner or in the shape she was in 20 years ago.
I tell K that I only took up running 2 years ago. Yes, I dabbled in running before, but 2 years ago, I was Christine O’Donnell…I was not a witch runner. I ate healthfully, I exercised occasionally, but by no means was I a runner. Today, I will admit that I am a runner. I will also tell you that I am you (her). When I started running, I didn’t think that I could run a marathon.
K looks at me and says she could never run as fast as me. Maybe. But I have the same thoughts when I look at my fast friends Steve, Caleb, Kristen and Lam. I don’t let that discourage me though. I use it as inspiration. There’s always going to be someone faster and slower than you.
I tell K that because of running, I am in better shape at 41 than I was at 21.
Unless your name is Dean Karnazes, you don’t just wake up one day and decide you’re an Ultra-Marathon Man. It’s a progression. It takes time for one to go from the couch to the marathon. It goes faster for some, but the bottom line is, with little exception, we can all be runners, whether you top out at the 5K distance or progress to ultras.
K says over and over again, “no, I can’t.”
But I know she can say, “Yes, I can.”
Is it easy?
No.
Is it instant?
Never.
Is it worth it?
Absolutely!!!
There’s a reason why the Couch-to-5K and other walk/run programs are wildly successful.
So I ask you to leave a comment to tell K your story; tell my friend that she can turn back time and feel better than she did 20 years ago – that she needs to understand what we already know…yes, she can!
Run Luau Run 
Dear K,
Boy do I know how you feel! I’ve been where you are now. Ok mabey I haven’t had children but let’s just say; cancer + surgery + chemo.
Running changed my life and it will change yours too, if you let it work it’s magic – trust me! I’m healthier now than ever before and honestly I’m happier too.
It’s not about how fast you run or running fast at all for that matter – it’s about getting out there and doing something positive for YOURSELF.
You can do it – and you won’t regret it!
Gabi,
Thank you so much for sharing your story!
Dear K,
I’m going to start with a quote that I know Matt is fond of.
“Most things that seem impossible are achievable.”
Once upon a time, I knew a guy that weighed 350 lbs. He did a great job of losing much of the weight *without* running. But then, one night at an amateur boxing gym, a coach decided to push him to try a post-workout jog. After the introduction of short run sessions to his workouts, the rest of the weight melted off, and his fitness level and overall confidence shot up. Less then a year later, he completed the Kona marathon.
Then, something happened. He gained a significant portion of the weight back. By the time several years had passed, the stress of life, job, kids, etc had returned his body to a very poor level of fitness. Late last summer, he woke up again, and began a fitness regimen of – you guessed it – running.
1/2 mile, 1 mile, 2 miles, a 5k. The runs started to get easier. Started to feel less like work and more like, fun. In the last year he’s gone from sitting on the couch, downing brews and devouring chips, to completing another full marathon, and just one week later, tackling a 9 mile trail race.
Point is – you CAN change your situation. All it takes is a little bit of consistent effort. But believe me, the reward of the journey is worth every step.
Thanks Adam! And that definitely is probably my new favorite quote!
I can so relate to K! At 42 I really only started running when I was 38. I had always wanted to love it, but never quite got there. I remember a day that I finished a 5k run during my lunch hour…I was thrilled. E-mailed my sister and said “I actually ran a 5k during my lunch hour!!!”. Never, ever did I think I could do a marathon- NEVER! And I have now done 2 with 2 more planned for spring. It’s a journey and you can’t focus on the destination. You have to enjoy every little step through it. I am by no means a “fast” runner, but I’m a runner and at 42 am in better shape than I was 20 years ago!! K…take that first step…you will never regret it!
“It’s a journey and you can’t focus on the destination”
Love that!
When I started the Couch to 5k program last year I couldn’t even run one minute without stopping. It was hard and I hated every minute of it. But I pushed through. There were many starts and stops for me as well but eventually I pushed through and did it. Nothing will ever compare to the first time I ran for 20 minutes straight. Then 30 minutes. The high is so unbelieveable. It is worth every second of hard work that is put in to it. There will be good days and bad days. We all have them. But eventually the good days will far outweight the bad days. I couldn’t run one minute without stopping and I just ran a half marathon 2 weeks ago. Believe in yourself. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
“[Last year] I couldn’t run one minute without stopping and I just ran a half marathon 2 weeks ago.”
-that’s awesome! Congrats!
I am the poster child for thinking I can’t do this running thing – I am too old, out of shape and the slowest one out there. After almost 2 years of running with my group I finally had a PB in a half marathon this March and am gearing up for my second marathon in a few days. There is a good possibility I will be the last one in as I am still pretty slow but as long as I don’t give up and own the finish….I now don’t care.
Good luck at the Road2Hope! Own it!
Dear K,
I have always said I’m not a runner. I’ve never had any inspiration to do it. I’ve sort of wanted to, but thought I couldn’t.
This year, I “met” Adam (above) via SparkPeople, and have been fascinated and inspired by his transformation. The other week I saw a sign for a 5K this past Saturday and decided to register on a whim. I thought I’d just walk it for fun.
When it started, everyone was running, so I ran. I ran as far as I could, then I walked. I got my legs back under me and ran some more. This was me, #notarunner, running! I ended up finishing in 35:32 which I could NOT believe.
I know now that if I want to be a runner, I can be a runner. I haven’t made that decision yet, but I feel the fever coming on. I’m 47 years old, so if I can do it, you can.
I heard on the news today about an 80-something year old lady running her 81st marathon which she says will be her last. She started running marathons at 66, and has run them on all 7 continents.
I hope the fever gets you!
K,
I was/am you, I have 3 kids, 10 months ago I weighed 250 pounds. I am now 70 pounds lighter, I started running about 6 months ago, I don’t run marathons but I can run a 5k without stopping and I am running my first 10k this weekend, I had to stop comparing myself to what others can do and make it about what I CAN do. I have found a sense of peace when I run, I take pride in what my body can do now, you can do this too running is something everyone can do and I have found runners to be some of the most welcoming people.
Best of luck at your 10K. You’ve made incredible progress!
Dear K,
I know exactly what mindset you are in. I was NEVER a runner, ever. Busy stay at home mom & wife and really never took the time to even see if I could try such a thing. Because, I knew I could not do it. Then one day I started the couch to 5k and then I ran a 5k and finished it and loved it! Then another 5k and then another. But the voices in my head got the better of me and I knew that I could never run more than 3.1miles. That was 2009. In 2010, my goal was to run and train ALL YEAR for the Tufts 10k and up my mileage to 6.2miles. Well, I blew that goal out of the water and ran the Worcester Half Marathon, a handful of 10ks and a few different mileage races thrown in the mix. Never did I think that a 10k would be a normal run for me some days. I am NOT fast, but I am runner. Your not alone and the support from the running community is like no other.
Good luck with your training that I know your going to start and we’re behind you a 100%!
~Melody
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”
Way to blow your 2010 expectations out of the water! Wow!
K,
This sounds so ridiculously oversimplified but it is truly just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other. While you are doing things theoretically for your body, you’ll do innumberable things for your mind and spirit. You’ll just have to trust this — it takes some repetition of getting out there but there will come a day when you come to the end of a run, be it a mile or 10, and realize that some niggling problem has resolved itself, some resentment has abated a bit, or you just plain feel the satisfaction of fatigue arrived at the authentic way: through hard physical work.
I am sharing a blog post with you that I wrote about incorporating myself back into the running community here in Tallahassee. For every moment of trepidation on my part, I received a welcoming gesture from the runners. http://waytenmom.blogspot.com/2009/10/writing-school-revision.html
It’s never too late, seriously — just ask some of our 80+ year old runners here in this town!
And one last thing–every moment that my kids see me demonstrating a fit lifestyle (even if I don’t look like a catalog model!) is to me a deposit in their “good habits” bank!
“every moment that my kids see me demonstrating a fit lifestyle (even if I don’t look like a catalog model!) is to me a deposit in their “good habits” bank!”
-so, so, so very true!!!
Dear K – If I can do it – so can you. I had paralytic polio at the age of 5 and then at the age of 53 I was diagnosed with post polio syndrome, a progressive neurological disease so why I am commenting on Luau’s blog? Because my dear I am a 2009 Boston Marathon finisher and had the blessing of meeting Luau at Lexs Run for Muscular Dystrophy this past year. To be blunt – you have no excuses. Running has helped me to overcome post polio syndrome — was it hard? OMG – I went from polio shoes and a short leg brace to running shoes and then to the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 14 months. Last October I was told that I would not run again; that I needed to hang up my running shoes. Being a woman of grace, I initially accepted my ‘fate’. But somewhere deep down inside my spark would not die. And as I stood at the finish line of the Tufts 10K last October waiting for my daughter to cross the finish line the announcer said, “Don’t you dare let anyone tell you you can’t do something.” And so I took the winter of 2009 to get strong – back into outpatient rehab, trigger injection to manage pain of cervical spine disease and spent the winter on the recumbent bike and doing upper and lower body strength training under the supervision of a physical therapist. In Spring I began to run again. I got up my courage to return to road races. On Halloween I’ll be running my 5th race in 5 months – ha and they said I wouldn’t run again. There is no love like the love I have found in the running community. When once I was taunted and teased for being different, awkward and slow, I am now celebrated and embraced for what I CAN do. So check out my blog http://www.newworldgreetings.blogspot.com to see what I have overcome and how running has helped to transform my life. Watch my you tube videos http://www.youtube.com/marysunshine100 and then tell me you can’t do it. So come on – as Chris Russell says on Run, Run Live – let’s go for a run! You’ll be so glad you did. I am stronger, healthier and have never felt better in my life – and I’ll be 57 on Christmas day. People compare photos of me from 3 years ago to today and say that I have reversed the aging process
You are an inspiration Mary!
Dear K,
You can do it! Running totally changed me! After having two kids, going to the gym a few days a week was not enough…many days i would wake up feeling blah, down, low energy, and just freaking heavy. My self confidence went down big time! This is coming from woman who was in great shape b4 kids, didnt know what depression felt like and self esteem was at its best…but i lost all of that when i decided to have kids and gained over 70 pounds, ya you can say it..i blew up!
It took a lot of mental work to get me out of the house, off the couch, out of the just here and there trips to the gym but i finally did it and the results have been beyond my expectations! i’m down 80lbs and feeling like a million $!!! my body is like a machine..i continue to eat right and here and there i have my fair share of eating the stuff people used to tell me to stay away from if i wanna loose weight and my body or running crush it like nothing! im in the best shape of my life! im turning 30 this coming may and feel like better than i did when i turned 21!!! YES, YOU CAN DO IT!!!! Now get out there and do what’s right by your body and spirit!!! Stand up and say it out loud, surround yourself with great friends to keep u motivated!!!
Dear K,
I was you! Not even a year ago, I didn’t think I could. I started running in March 2010. Yup, 7 short months ago, I ran / walked a couple miles. Then, a little at a time, I realized I could. But I also knew that I wouldn’t if I didn’t force myself (I am a lazy, procrastinating couch potato by nature) so right away, before I even KNEW if I could, I signed up for the Chicago marathon. And I spent all summer running. I did 2 5k’s and 2 half marathon’s along the way.
A little back story – I am 39, with 4 kids 11 and under. I don’t have a tread mill. I don’t belong to a gym. This made me get out of bed super early and go to bed super early. But I loved how it made me feel. Well, not every run. Some of them sucked. But I loved the sense of accomplishment that I had when I finished every run, even, maybe even especially, the sucky ones. Running is the only thing in my life that is JUST FOR ME.
10/10/10, I finished the Chicago marathon with my family cheering for me. I am no Luau – it took me 6 hours and 9 minutes to do it, but I did it. I enjoyed it so much I’ve already registered for a Spring marathon.
You can too.
Holy Cow! 7 months from couch to marathon? That is hardcore Bobbi! Color me impressed!
Dear K –
I know exactly how you feel. I’m not a mom and I just entered my 30s, but I get it. I was in a bad marriage and it took a toll on me – emotionally and physically. I gave up on myself. It wasn’t until about a year after I ended my marriage that I was able to try to take care of myself, up until that point I was eating crap and drinking several nights a week. Sometime in March, 2009 I began the C25k program. I couldn’t run 1 minute without stopping to walk. In April, 2009 I went to cheer on a friend as she ran in a local full/half marathon. It was at that moment I set my sights on completing a half and five months later I crossed the finish line of my first 13.1 and never looked back! 13 months after finishing that first race, I have now completed 2 marathons, 8 half marathons, and a ton of shorter distance races. I am by no means a “fast” runner – and I will likely always walk some during marathons – but I’m out there for myself competing against only myself. Running has given me a sense of pride that I had been lacking for a very long time. In addition to that, running has brought some of the most amazing people into my life. The running community is a truly unique group of people who are there to lift you up, cheer you on, and give you a swift kick in the ass when you need it. I’m so glad I allowed myself to be vulnerable enough to take those first steps on this journey to become a runner.
All the best,
Jenn
“I’m so glad I allowed myself to be vulnerable enough to take those first steps on this journey to become a runner.”
-So is the running community! We are better for it!
K,
I often say, life is a process not an event. And in the process of living we all have our crosses to bear. Luau and I have something in common, we both have children on the spectrum and we are inspired each and every day to better ourselves for their sake. This Friday my son will defend his 1st place win in the mile run at his school. Who knew I had a runner? And am I proud, yep you betcha. Certainly if he can run, and Mary M can run, then you…yes you can too.
Now look at all the inspiraing things that have been written just for you. All of the people on this blog have your back K, all of us. It’s your mind that initially has to do the work, and then your body, it will follow. So get your mind right and run, and run like your hair is on FIRE:)
Sheila, Aidan’s mom
I better watch out or Aidan’s gonna take me down. 1st place? That’s awesome. I want one of those!
🙂
K, I may not be able to say anything about the age (I am only 27) but when I started running 4 months ago, I was 111 pounds overweight. So far I have lost 19 pounds. Yes I have a long way to go, but you know how I started? The Couch to 5K program! Before, I kept telling myself “Running is for skinny people, in great shape, who wear only sports bra’s and short shorts”. Well that’s just not true. Running can be for anyone. When I started, I had to run for 1 minute and walk for a minute….8x’s in a row. That first minute was awful! But I pushed through all 8 and came out energetic and VERY Proud of myself! It makes you feel so good once you hit another goal! You have to make your goal’s small. Even if it’s let me just run this one minute. Let me just run 1/4 mile. Once you do it, you will realize you can keep going!! It’s amazing! I do not have any children yet (I am actually pregnant right now and training for a half-marathon) but I know that I want to be a healthy mom and take the time out for myself. My children need to know that I take care of myself so I can take better care of them! And I HIGHLY recommend you start a journal or a blog to track your progress. Even if no one else ever reads it, it’s always amazing to go back and read all that you accomplished! And if you do get into blogging, the blogging community is absolutely AMAZING! Everyone is so encouraging! No one judges you, they are just as excited as you are that you have started the process! It’s great! I hope some of these people will be able to inspire you to start! 🙂 Good Luck!! 🙂
Dear K,
I agree with what so many have already written here. My story is in no way unique, but hopefully it will help.
I was a high school and collegiate wrestler. What does that mean? As an adult, I’ve always fought with my weight, and used all my old sporting injuries as excuses/crutches.
I’ve been over 300 lbs. at several different points in my life. In March of 2009, I weighed-in at 275 lbs. and decided to take control of my life. At the urging (neigh, pleading) of my wife I took up running to get healthy. She’s a runner. She also has an adult-onset form of muscular dystrophy. She runs to conquer the disease and manage her day-to-day symptoms. I always told her I couldn’t run b/c of my knees, etc. “I’m really not a runner,” I’d say. “Look at me, I’m 6’1, big-boned, bad knees, bad hips, bad back…” Excuses really. You see, to me, running was always punishment for screwing-up in whatever sport I was playing at the time.
So, the first time I headed-out the door for a run. I made it all of one block before having to walk to catch my breath. Then I ran another block, and so it went. Soon i was running a mile, then 2, 3, 4, and after I ran five miles for the first time, I told my wife “I think I can run a marathon!” She thought I was nuts. She said why don’t we focus on running “Lex’s Run” together this year (it’s a 5k run to benefit the MDA that we organize and direct). So I started training to race 3.1 miles…
I had no idea what I was doing. I just ran as hard as I could, fast as I could, and far as I could. Working up to 5 and 6 mile runs twice a day. Every day. Then I had an accident at work (I’m a firefighter) and blew-out my knee. I had to have surgery to repair a torn meniscus, and spent Lex’s Run on crutches that year. Very disappointing. Going through PT, my therapist got inside my head and realized i needed a goal. He was very astute and figured out that I wanted to run the Boston Marathon and said he would get me strong enough to run the marathon if that’s what I wanted.
During PT, I applied to run the Boston Marathon for the Children’s Hospital “Miles for Miracles” team and found training plan and a coach. On October 18, 2009 I was cleared to go back to work and start running again. October 29, 2009 I ran my first 5k race in 29:00. Since then I’ve run 14 races, including 3 Half-Marathon’s, a 16-miler and the Boston Marathon in 4:14:09. I started a blog and I call it “Really Not a Runner” for this exact reason. I want to share my story with all of the people out there who say that they aren’t a runner, or can’t run for some reason. You can do anything you set your mind too!
I met Matt through twitter, dailymile and our blogs. He is an inspiration to me! I witnessed his exhilaration at running his BQ at the Smuttynose Marathon first hand (and took the first picture of his finish), and it has served to help me believe that I can run faster and farther. I had never believed that I could run fast enough to run a BQ until then. Now I am sure that I am GOING to run a BQ, and I’ll be running my first Ultramarathon in September of next year at the Vermont 50 (50-miler)!
Get out there. Stop giving yourself excuses. Take control of your life. Believe in yourself and anything is possible. Make yourself accountable by signing-up for dailymile.com or at the very least open a twitter account and start following a bunch of runner’s. The running community is AWESOME! Not to mention a wealth of knowledge and encouragement.
Hope to see you out on the road!
Doug
Hi K-
I may not have as much life experience as some others, but honestly after graduating college 2 years ago and entering into the “real world” I realized that I needed to do something that I loved (I was a track and field athlete in high school) and do focus my time and energy on something that is solely for me. I ran my first 5K in July 2009 and even though it is over a year later, I know that I have a long way to go. There are so many races that I want to do and having these goals gives me something to aim for that doesn’t have to do with my career or professional aspirations. Running has also just given me more energy and allowed me to bond with some great people (both friends, coworkers and people on dailymile). In any case, you should never say you can’t. I know that’s easy for me to say, but yes you can do it. It might not be pretty at first, but I think if nothing else you will feel better about yourself!
Heaven knows if I can become a runner, anyone can. I guess I still would not call myself a “runner”, but I run. And it’s the one time of day that I feel free.
At Ironman Lake Placid this year, I watched a 79 year old man cross the finish line for the 18th time. He hadn’t done his first ironman until he was 59 years old. I watched a 60 year old woman cross the finish line. It was her first Ironman.
In 2009, I watched Matt Long cross the finish line at Lake Placid, after recovering from injuries sustained after being hit by a bus several years prior.
We are never too old. We are never to ill. We are never to unable. The body achieves what the mind believes.
It all starts by putting one foot in front of the other – walking, jogging, running. Don’t let imaginary barriers keep you from realizing your dreams – whatever those might be.
Thank you all for sharing your stories! I am amazed by the support and encouragement from everyone. I now feel like -I can do it! I will do it! Thank you Matt!
K, I know exacly how you feel. I’ve spent most of my life overweight and out of shape. Have managed to lose a lot of weight in the past couple of years, decided to give running another try…I’m still not what I consider a runner (maybe my view of a “real runner” is distorted by the many marathoners in my family and among my friends)…but I’m out there running…I truly believe this isn’t about being the fastest but about being the best that I can be…and who knows, maybe, just maybe, one of these days we’ll both be able to say “I’m a runner!”
One of my favorite quotes to pass along to K. “We can either watch life from the sidelines, or actively participate. Either we let self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy prevent us from realizing our potential, or embrace the fact that when we turn our attention away from ourselves, our potential is limitless.” Christopher Reeve
My husband just got his lab results – he was diabetic and had high cholesterol before running. His blood sugars have returned to normal as has his cholesterol and he has lost 25 pounds. He is stopping all of his medications. He gave me permission to write a blog post about his journey. Go for it K.
Hi K,
What a great friend you have to ask people you don’t even know to encourage you! Of course you have to want to do it for you and not your friend, luau 🙂
But…if you ask me, running changed my life.
I was an overweight mom of 2 and lost my weight but changing what I ate, not by working out. But then when I wanted to eat more, I realized I needed to move more.
I sucked at running. I hated it. I couldn’t run through a single song when I attempted running outside.
But then I started the couch to 5k. It was a plan and I liked checking off the days that I did it.
When that was done (Feb ’10 grad) I found a new training plan. For a half-marathon which I ran in June. Saw luau there too. Now, 10 months after I started running, I can’t imagine stopping.
Do it for you.
If you are a mom, check out runlikeamotherbook.com. Awesome advice!
To K —
I started running earlier this year. Well, jogging mostly, on the treadmill. I was so heavy that I actually turned off the treadmill’s by hitting the emergency stop with my stomach. I set myself up to a run a 5k. It turned out to be addictive. I did another. And another. Then I decided to do a 10k. (That’s next week!) Last week I committed to running a half-marathon in 2011. Maybe a marathon after that, who knows.
What I know is that don’t think you HAVE (or should) go from zero to marathon in a day, a month, or a year. Take baby steps and embrace them as each makes you feel better and more confident. When you feel comfortable, look for your next step.
First things first, get that gear on and just go out and start walking. Then jog a bit. Who knows where it will take you.
Danielle (Queen of Lean – queenoflean.tumblr.com)
Better late than never.
K, I am 33 with a full time job, 3 year old, no family around to babysit. I can only run when a) my son is in bed, b) my husband is at home to stay with him.
I’ve always hated running. Whenever I had to run in my dreams (and I run away quite a lot when I dream) my legs were like logs. I thought it was boring. I’ve never intended to run a marathon.
I started running two months ago, little steps with a programme I found on the internet. Week 1: 6 minutes walking, 1 minute running. Week 2: 5 minnutes walking, 2 minutes running. I got to 3 minutes running.
Then I went away, disturbed my undeveloped routine and still can’t go back to it.
Last week I had a dream. I had to run to meet my son. I was running efortlessly.
It was brilliant.
Going for a run tonight.
Ag,
I hope you are able to get back to your program! Whether it’s walking, running or walking AND running, movement is good.
Heard alot about runners. Many of my teachers say “my daughter/son runs and he/she is in great shape!” (Dont ask how that comes up in math, scince, and social studies). I am currently on a modified paleo diet and trying to take the “modified” away. In P.E I see many people that love to run. The thing is,
Around this time last year i had a close freind push me to run. On the third day, i got a strange cramp. It wasnt in my side, (were my cramps normaly are) it was like, above my stomach. It only came to me when i started running. Then i got dizzy. Then things went blury. Then i went o the nurse. By the time mom had come to pick my up, the cramp was constant and walking as torchure. My mom is a therapist, im pretty convinced thats close to a docter and she had absolutely no idea what that cramp meant, but after 30 minutes of TV, I felt completely normal.
Ever since i have been “afraid” of running for long periods of time.