Tale Of The Trail - My Journey Into Running

  

In the beginning
When I was in my early 30’s, I used running to escape a failed marriage. I was never particularly athletic and, frankly, I avoided sports like the plague. But for me, running was different. Pounding the pavement with my sneakers was something that I could accomplish, either with someone or alone. It gave me a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction and purpose. I fully embraced it. I ran the Philadelphia marathon, several half marathons, countless 10K runs and a gazillion 5K races.  

It also gave me some physical benefits. My body changed. The girl who was always a little pudgy went from a size 10 to a size 2. Now a size 2 is probably a little too extreme for my medium-sized frame, but I loved fitting into smaller clothes. It made me feel good about myself…finally.

Girl Interrupted

A few years later, I needed new goals. I went to school to pursue a graduate degree, changed my career, met a guy and married him and gave birth to two amazing sons. We relocated a lot because I kept getting better jobs with better pay and better opportunities. My focus on my career and my family left little time for running and I stopped completely.

When you stop running, you have a job where you are largely sedentary, yet you continue to eat like you always have, you inevitably gain weight. A LOT of weight. The size 2 girl ballooned to just shy of 200 pounds. In fact, I went to my job interview at Clemson University in a size 18 business suit.

A New Opportunity
Subsequently, I landed the job at Clemson and moved with my family to South Carolina. We found a home and I joined a gym because I was tired of seeing the overly large girl who stared back at me in the mirror. And I missed the time that was mine alone when I did something for myself.

It was hard. All that stamina that I had in my 30s was not present in my, um…”over 30s.” It was (and still is) much harder to get out there. My bones are older. So are my muscles. Luckily, so is my determination.

Little by little, I ran. One-tenth of a mile (seriously), a quarter, a half and then a full mile. And each run – no matter how big or small - was a victory. Sometimes I failed. I’d go for a mile and lost steam at a half. But failure is an opportunity for success. I was determined to succeed. And I did.

I ran 16 miles a week. No more, no less. And lo and behold, the weight came off. My closet boasted sizes 18, 16, then 14, 12 and 10. In my mind, my ideal weight was a size 6. I got to a size 4. In 2015, I wore my first bikini in 20 years. And it was AWESOME!

I ran for the weight loss. I also ran for the sanity it offered. When I run, I’m no one’s “significant other.” I’m no one’s employee, I’m no one’s mother. I’m just me – with doubts and faults and fears and hopes and dreams and determination.

When I was a younger runner, I had to be the fastest, the best. Now I just want to get out there and run.

You Got This

If you have ever considered running, but thought you couldn’t, I challenge you to reconsider. Being a runner does not mean that you have to complete marathons. Being a runner does not mean that you have to run a gazillion miles each week. You don’t even have to run fast. You just have to get past your doubts, your fears and your comfort zone-- and just run.

Things to remember

If you have never run before, here are a few tips:

1.   

          Start slow. You might think you can do more, but start slow and build yourself up. Doing too much too early will dissuade you from continuing.

2.     

      Invest in a good pair of running shoes. It might be cheaper to buy online or at a general sporting goods store, but specialty stores like the Greenville Running Company, Run In, and Fleet Feet are staffed by actual running enthusiasts who can help you select appropriate footwear to help you achieve your running goals – no matter how big or small.

3.     

      Share it with a friend. When you begin running, it’s easy to tell yourself that you can’t do it. However, it’s harder to quit when you have a friend who is pulling for you and/or who depends on you for motivation. Don’t disappoint them – or you.

4.     

      Celebrate your little victories. Each time you run, it’s a victory. Distance and velocity does not matter. If you run, you’re a runner. Celebrate that.

5.     

      Be accountable. I post each run on my Facebook account. And there are certain people who I can count on for a “Like.” Having written that, I offer many, many thanks to folks like Mark Thompson, Rob Parvi, Jack Henderson, Ronnie Fergie, Steve Greene and more who have no idea of how much their support inspires me.

6.     

      Do it for you. At the end of the day, you have to do what inspires you. If you give running a real try and you hate it, then do whatever inspires you. If you don’t run because you’ve told yourself that you can’t, please do not subscribe to that unimportant little voice. You can. You will. And you will succeed.

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     Jackie Todd

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