Saturday (October 27) was my 1 year run anniversary.

I lost the first half of my weight by walking, at a very fast pace & high incline on my treadmill.

On October 27, 2011 while at the beach with friends I mentioned that my goal for that year (2011) was to lose the weight, the next year (2012) I’d focus on trying to run a 5K. My friend went out running and pushed me to complete a 5K run… and I did it. Thanks to her push even when I felt like dying, I made it through.

At that time although I had accomplished a 5K run, I was still just running to lose the weight. I started running 4 miles 5-6X a week. Once I lost the weight (December 2011) I started running to maintain the weight loss (a couple miles 5-6X a week). Then, that same friend came home for a visit and we went for a 4 mile run, I hadn’t tackled 4 miles in a few months but I was surprised how I still could. She was preparing to run another half marathon, and it inspired me.

A couple months later I ran my first 5K race. Then I ran a 10K a couple months later. Then, a couple months after the 10K, I completed my first half marathon. I don’t have to run to lose weight now. I run because it gave me my life back. No, correction, It gave me a life I never knew I could have. It reminded me I was strong, and nothing is impossible. It reminded me to dream again and not to accept less than the best.

1 year ago I ran 3.1 miles for the first time ever on Virginia Trail in the Outer Banks. On vacation in the OBX this past September I ran 4-6 miles almost every day. What a difference one year makes. 

October 25, 2012 - Out before a concert in Roanoke, VA