See that smile? I was thinking about running.
I love to run.
A lot.
For most people I meet, that’s enough. They automatically make assumptions about my lifestyle, wardrobe, attitude towards BBQ, and Saturday plans. And most of their assumptions would be correct. I try to be healthy, wear mostly Lululemon when I’m not at work or church, and spend most Saturday mornings running (I LOVE good BBQ, though).
Usually, they also assume that I’ve always been a runner. But I wasn’t.In 2005, I looked like this:
Click this photo to read the whole story on my personal blog, LauraLivesLife
I weighed 235 pounds. I was unhealthy. Unhappy. And I definitely couldn’t run.
One January night, after I was already in bed, I realized that I’d had enough of being overweight and miserable. I got up. I put on a pair of running shoes and headed down to the gym in my apartment complex. And I haven’t missed more than a week of exercise since! It took me five years, but I eventually lost over 120 pounds and ran my first marathons this year — two in two weeks, in fact, but that’s a story for another post!
As much as I love running now, my weight loss didn’t start there. Although I had always dreamed (literally, like at night) of running, I had never been healthy enough to run. I played soccer and swam in high school, but was never fit enough or dedicated enough to be truly good. I was a scholar, and publicly I pretended I didn’t care that I wasn’t an athlete. But secretly I wanted to run. I figured it would feel like flying. I dreamed it would feel like flying!
As I graduated from high school and entered college, I gained not just the freshman fifteen, but seventy pounds. I was good at school, good at work, but not good at exercise. I continued down that path until that night in 2006, when I started by walking. I walked a lot. And after three years and losing 60 pounds, I entered into a 5k for work in 2010. I think that 5k race was harder to finish than my first marathon, but I loved it. The feeling of accomplishment was so amazing.
I started running more and more. Once I was able to run 6 miles I signed up for a 10k. That year I ran my first 10-miler and two half-marathons. And this year, I completed two marathons, and plan to run my third in November (the Seattle Marathon). I’ve experienced running-related injuries, running highs and running lows, but I can’t imagine what life would be like without running. Sometimes, I feel like running is me achieving my childhood dream, just as much as pursuing my PhD or visiting Europe.
Last year, I was diagnosed with Celiac’s Disease, which means I cannot eat gluten. Running helped me to deal with the stress of figuring out what to eat – and eating a gluten-free diet allows me to keep running.
I’m more than my gluten-free diet though. And I’m more than my 120 pound weight loss. I’m also more than a PhD student.
I’m a runner.
We could be twins! Welcome! I can’t wait to hear more about you, and also to hear about what caused you to run 2 in 2. I have done it twice! :)
Thank you so much! Maybe that should be my next post?
Cilantro recently posted..Salty in Women’s Running Magazine!
Twitter: debra_serrins
says:
Welcome to Salty! I’ll be very interested in reading your posts and hope you’ll be taking gluten-free sometimes. I was diagnosed last year with gluten “intolerance” so I didn’t score high enough to hit Celiac’s but high enough that I need to avoid it. My homeopath instructed me to have gluten no more than every 3-4 days. I find it to be a challenge (I’m also vegetarian) but also can see the way my body reacts and it’s not pretty.
Welcome!
Debra recently posted..Workouts 10/15 – 10/21
Twitter: debra_serrins
says:
that should say “talking gluten-free…”
Debra recently posted..Workouts 10/15 – 10/21
Thank you so much – it is hard, but you definitely start to figure things out! Another idea for a post!
Cilantro recently posted..Salty in Women’s Running Magazine!
Eek! I am so excited to have you blogging for us and I CANNOT wait to see where your posts take us. And of course I am so excited to have someone else to root for this fall! Thanks so much for joining the rack!
Thank you for letting me – this is such an amazing group! I am honored to be part of it!
Cilantro recently posted..New Salty Bloggers: An Introduction to Cilantro!
Great post – congratulations on such spectacular weight loss. And OH you have nice hair!
Cathryn recently posted..A family run
Thank you so much – I have a love-hate relationship with my hair! Right now, I just want it to be long again!
Cilantro recently posted..Salty in Women’s Running Magazine!
Welcome!! I am excited to have you here at SR.
Thank you – I wouldn’t have known about it without you!
Cilantro recently posted..Salty in Women’s Running Magazine!
Wow! What an inspiring story! Welcome! I am looking forward to your posts. I, too, have to go gluten-free, so I would love to share recipes, tips, etc.
Vanilla recently posted..On Your Mark. Get Set. GO-Rilla
I would love that too – we need to start a gluten-free running alliance!
Cilantro recently posted..New Salty Bloggers: An Introduction to Cilantro!