Yesterday was my daughter’s seventh birthday. My kids’ birthdays are always causes for reflection. Afterall, they were the reason that I started this blog in the first place.
Get Fit Slowly has definitely slowed down this past year, but I have not. I have a difficult time writing every post that appears here now and I’m not sure why that’s the case. Sometimes I feel like I should just write whatever comes out of my head and hit “publish.” Then I start writing and inevitably hit “delete” instead. I’m not going to do that this time because I think I may actually have a small message with this post.
I met a new running buddy yesterday. We met on the Daily Mile–a social networking site where runners, bikers, and other active and healthy folk meet and cheer each other on as they work towards attaining their fitness goals.
We went for an awesome 10-miler that was pretty challenging and a lot of fun. But this post isn’t about the run either. We chatted a lot about ourselves as we ran and I learned that he too has lost 70 pounds. He too did it through calorie counting and increased exercise. He too started to lose weight when he had kids because he didn’t want to be a fat dad. He lost his weight a lot quicker than I did, but the end result was the same. We’ve both completely turned our lives around and now live to be healthy. What started out as an act of love for our kids has turned into a lifestyle for ourselves as well.
The most memorable part of our conversation was about our history as runners. We both started running when we were obese and running was really hard. We were really slow. But we didn’t give up and we’ve seen major improvements in both our speed and endurance.
I used to run slower than 11 min/mile pace and thought it was terribly difficult. In time my pace quickened to 10 min/mile and then 9. I hovered there for a long time, never thinking that I’d ever be able to break that 8 min/mile barrier. But last weekend I ran a half marathon PR at around 7:50 min/mile and this weekend I ran about 10 miles in a similar pace. Of course it wasn’t easy, but I did it and it was worth it. Just like I didn’t give up when I was running 11 min/mile, I didn’t give up last weekend or yesterday.
So I’m writing this today to remind you not to give up. Whatever you’re struggling with, be it weight loss or exercise, marital problems or debt, don’t ever give up. Keep fighting, push through that barrier and make it to the next level. When you find that success, it will be VERY sweet!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the post. You have to be one of the honest bloggers here, but you are right. Never give up and keep pushing harder. I wanted to scream on the dude on the TM next to me today to go faster, as I had intervals faster on an incline, while he was walking. But I didn’t. Hopefully after I left he bumped up his sweat free walk a little faster.
Even when you wanna “delete” I think publish anyway. That way we know you are alive and that post maybe even benefit us too.
tanya recently posted..Lake Lowell Marathon & Half
Thanks for this timely post. I’ve been fretting over the pace I have during runs. Although I’m now in the position to run – which I wasn’t a year ago – I have the feeling I’m very, very slow (13 min/mile). Good to hear that it will improve over time.
-Trisha
@ Tanya, I feel your pain when others are cruising and you are busting your ass. Makes you want to yell, but then you think about how good your results are compared to theirs and it makes you feel warm and fuzzy
Way to go Mac!!!
Just think about how much heavier/slower/less healthy you would be if you hadn’t pushed through the tough times.
A great lesson for everyone struggling with the New Year’s resolutions
Doug recently posted..Coming Soon: Best Body Workouts for 2012
Most blogs, unless they are written by professional writers, come to a point when the stream of thoughts you want to share trickles less. And professional writers, after a solid start, turn to writing for the places/organizations that pay them to do so (not surprisingly). It’s ok, Mac, don’t feel guilty, but don’t shut down either. Because sometimes this very blog becomes an outlet you need so much to put down what’s going on in your head, or tell a story, or send an encouragement to someone else. Keep on chipping those minutes away – and those pages turn.
olga recently posted..Small stuff, which we shouldn’t sweat, even if we sweat during it.
thanks for sharing and reminding us that every journey starts with the first step.