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Learning The Hard Way...

guest — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 14:09:07 GMT

Thanks for sharing the story. Sounds like you just sort of dove in and did it...something not a lot of people can say nor do. However, you risked injury to yourself and

could of risked a DNF (did not finish) in the race or stop running altogether.

Please think about doing the simple task of going to a running store and get fitted for the right shoes

for yourself, and start a reasonable running regiment that works well for yourself.

About 19 years ago I did something similiar, started mainly for health and weight loss,

but had a running partner and a blueprint for running a marathon about 14 months out. And we did it.

Now I started running again for similiar reasons except my goal isn't to run a marathon but to run fast 5k and eventually 10k.

Final thoughts... nothing succeeds like success, yes? I love pushing myself and setting goals and doing things I wasn't able to do previously. I'm sure you probably feel the same way.

I think the beautiful thing about running is that everyone can have their own personal challenge, a goal to meet, could be a distance, or a time, or both. Or to just improve over the last race.

Or to just finish the darn thing. At any rate, I salute you sir and hope your next race is even more rewarding than the last.

Learning The Hard Way...

guest — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:48:44 GMT

Amazing story!! Love it!

Learning The Hard Way...

guest — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 19:28:08 GMT

Well, I'm inspired.

Learning The Hard Way...

guest — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 05:41:39 GMT

I love you man. That is a great story and am proud of you too. Your going to do BIG things in 2013. I gurantee it. Keep hustling brother.

Learning The Hard Way...

guest — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 18:57:17 GMT

You have such an inspirational story! I am a brand-spankin'-new runner, so I am looking for motivation anywhere I can find it! Thank you for sharing your story!

Learning The Hard Way...

guest — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:35:22 GMT

Very inspiring story! Thank you for sharing!

Learning The Hard Way...

guest — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:36:59 GMT

Hope y'all don't mind me putting down in words how I came to being here today...

Almost three years ago I was obese and unhealthy. I was on medication for cholesterol and blood pressure and on the "fast track" toward diabetes. My blood test back then bore it out and my doctor told me either I had to change my lifestyle or resign myself to a life of popping pills to control my ailments. I chose lifestyle. I knew what I had to do as I used to bodybuild back in the 80s. I was never a "runner", but we had an old treadmill in the basement collecting dust and I began walking for 30 minutes/day. Through diet and walking, the pounds started coming off and that motivated me to "push" myself further. Before I knew it, I was alternating between a fast walk and a slow jog. At the end of three months I had shed 45lbs and my doctor took me off all meds. My blood test was "spot on perfect"...so much so that my doc asked me for permission to show other patients what can be done in three months with a bit of determination.

It didn't stop there of course. I continued my cardio routines and incorporated weights along with it. Then one day it happened...I was pushing myself on the treadmill and at around 25 minutes with a pace of around 4.8MPH (fast for me at the time), I felt this "rush" come over me and it felt like I could keep on going...so I did. Before long, I was jogging one hour with little or no problem.

Now you see, I'm not a "runner". That being the case, I never bothered to look at shoes, technique, C25K stuff...nothing. I just...ran. Whether outdoors or treadmill, I just "pushed" myself to do better either by increasing the incline, increasing the duration, or increasing my speed (although I'm still not a fast runner). To coin a cliche, I just "did it". I'm not sure how I stumbled across the 2011 Oakland Running Festival website back then, but it intrigued me. Could I actually "run" a half marathon? I was only running at most maybe 5 miles/day back then. How audacious!!! But I signed up for it anyway.

So there I was, some 50 year old guy with no running background that just lost a lot of weight and just began walking/jogging entering into a half marathon!!! LOL! To make matters worse, again, I didn't bother to look into any training regimens other than keep running and trying to go faster/farther...and the marathon was 2 months away. About a week before the half I did my best run at 8 miles. I figured if I could do 8 miles on the treadmill, I "think" I can do 13 miles, ya know?

So there I was on race day...hoping I could do this...and I did. I ran the half in old heavy Reebok Runtones, and I completed my very first race in 2 hours 18 minutes...beating the race average by 2 minutes!! I was pretty proud. So proud in fact that I ignored the unbearable pain in my knees that started at about mile 9. I felt that pain for an entire week thereafter...ugh (thus the title of this thread). But I persevered and now have many high altitude mountain runs under my belt (I live in the mountains), two Tough Mudder challenges and a bit more knowledgeable on proper gear to minimize injury/pain. Maybe one of these days in the near future this "non runner" might even attempt a full marathon...One can dream, can they not? Be well my friends and don't give up...:)