How Running Changed My Life: Kirbey's Story

A marriage proposal and a forthcoming wedding motivated this week's Runner of the Week, Kirbey, to dabble in some running. It's been a couple of years since the wedding and she's still running. Read on to find out more about Kirbey and her story. 

My husband proposed to me in December of 2006. Immediately after he proposed, like any normal girl, I began scrambling to plan my wedding. The scariest part of all the stress of planning a wedding was finding the dress. During my first few years of college, I had gained weight and felt down in the dumps about myself. I wasn't happy with my weight, how my clothes fit, and the idea of putting on a wedding dress wasn't appealing. Your wedding day is supposed to be the one day in your life where you feel beautiful. So I made a plan. I knew of one girl that I admired because of how fit she was and I asked one of her friends what she did to stay so fit. She said "she runs... a lot." So I made that my goal.. to run a lot.

I started of running with my best friend. It was winter time when we began and we would bundle up in 30 degree weather and run from our house to the town square. Our longest run was never more than three miles, but I felt like I was really doing something good for myself. In addition to running I began reading about foods that would help me to run better.In general, I was learning how to be a healthier person which in turn made me feel good about myself.

I have not stopped running since. From January 07 until now I run every week. I find that the best way to stay motivated is to set a goal, like a racing distance, and stick with it. I ran my first half- marathon in October 09. I trained by myself the whole time running on country roads where I live. I can't express the feeling of finishing 13.1 miles. It was one of the first times in my life where I voluntarily set my mind to a task bigger than I could imagine and followed through. I love the feeling of accomplishment that running brings. I love upping my mileage and wondering if I can "really run that far" and seeing myself actually do it.

Running really is a confidence booster. I would recommend it to anyone. My next goal is a marathon. I really can't wait to see if I can do it, but I am sure I will surprise myself.

And the Winners Are.....

A big CONGRATS to Kirbey from Georgia and Sabrina from Calgary, AB, Canada, winners of the "How Running Changed My Life" RoadRunner Sports $50 Gift Certificates! I'd like to thank all the participants for sending in their stories.

I'd also like to thank all the readers who submitted their "How Running Has Changed My Life" stories during 2009. From Amanda's 98lb weight loss to Angie getting back in shape after the birth of her second child to Zoë dealing with the death of her mom, to Adam proving to himself and his dad that he's a pretty cool runner dude, each story no matter how similar or different has been a true inspiration to me and the hundreds of RunnerDude's Blog's readers all over the country, even the world!

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Be sure to check out Sabrina's and Kirbey's stories as well as the other entrants' stories in the coming weeks! If you've missed some of the 2009 stories, just key-in "How Running Changed My Life" in the search box at the top right-hand corner of the blog and it will pull up the links to the various stories.

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The stories submitted for this drawing is a great start for 2010! But with 52 weeks ahead, there's definitely room for more of your awesome and inspiring stories, so keep 'em coming! All you have to do is share with me how running has helped you overcome a life challenge or obstacle? Maybe you know a friend with a story. Encourage him/her to send it in! Email your stories to runnerdudeblog@yahoo.com and be sure to put "My Story" in the subject line.

Share Your Story!

I would like to thank all the readers who have submitted their "How Running Has Changed My Life" stories. Each story no matter how similar or different has been a true inspiration to me and the hundreds of RunnerDude's Blog's readers all over the country, even the world! Those of you that have submitted a story, you will probably never know how much of an impact you've made nor the number of lives you've touched and inspired.

If you've missed some of the featured stories, just key-in "How Running Changed My Life" in the search box at the top right-hand corner of the blog and it will pull up the links to the various stories.

With your help, I'd like to keep this regular feature of the blog going for 2010. All you have to do is share with me how running has helped you overcome a life challenge or obstacle? Maybe you know a friend with a story. Encourage him/her to send it in!

How To Enter:

All you need to do is email your story along with an attached photo (jpeg format) and/or a YouTube video link of yourself (suitable for posting on the blog) to runnerdudeblog@yahoo.com with the subject line "My Story" by midnight (EST) Thursday, December 31. Each email that's received will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win one of two $50 RoadRunner Sports Gift Cards! That's right two different names will be drawn and each will receive a $50 gift card! Each email will be assigned a different number based on the order that the emails are received. The winning number will be selected by The True Random Number Generator on Friday, January 1, 2010. What a great way to start off the New Year!

This is simply a drawing for the participants. The stories will not be judged in any way. Each week a different story will be featured on the blog. I look forward to reading, celebrating, and sharing your stories with all of the RunnerDude's Blog readers and seeing the powerful impact they'll undoubtedly have.—RunnerDude

How Running Changed My Life: Kathleen's Story

Kathleen from Albany, NY has a great outlook on her running as well as life. Check it out in her own words:

"I Could Never."

As a vegetarian and long distance runner, I have heard those three words over and over for more than a decade. “I could never give up meat.” “I could never run that far.”

“I could never” a self-limiting excuse masked as praise. “I’m not able to do that yet” or “I don’t have the passion to commit to that” is what many people mean to say. By saying “I could never," they subconsciously shut down their potential by telling themselves they're not capable of achieving anything they put their minds to.

When I finished my half marathon I officially crossed “I could never”off of the list of things I say. I can choose a goal, and I can commit the time to achieving it. If I am passionate about my goal, I have the motivation to succeed.

For me, running a half marathon means “I could never” limit myself again.—Kathleen • Albany, NY

Kathleen, your story reminds me of a saying I used to hear as a kid, "Can't never could." You're exactly right. A person definitely puts himself/herself at a disadvantage when he/she says, "I could never." Sometimes when you set a goal, you don't make it, but that's a part of the learning process. If you never try, your never learn and you miss out on a whole lot of run along the way! You just proved my theory! I'm thinking we should change the old saying from "Can't never could." to "Can't always should." Thanks Kathleen!