How Running Changed My Life: Amanda's Story

Amanda has a truly inspirational running-related journey to share. Like many, Amanda has discovered the importance of setting goals as well as the wonderful sense of accomplishment when you work hard toward those goals and achieve them. In her own words, here's Amanda's story:

How running changed my life? How hasn’t running changed my life is a better question. Let’s start from the beginning. January 2008 I walked into Weight Watchers weighing 276lbs. This is not the heaviest I have been but my brother was getting married in 8 months and I didn’t want to be the fat sister in all the pictures. My weight loss journey went well. By the time August came around I had lost 40lbs. I was still overweight but I felt much better about myself. Now that the wedding was over I was stuck. I thought; what next? I had a goal the first 8 months but now that I didn’t have something to reach for I didn’t know what to do with myself.

Around this time I came across the C25K program on the WW message board. The program intrigued me. Probably because my dad was a runner and I remember him running the NYC Marathon year after year. He was always super fit and loved to run. August 2008 I started week 1 of C25K. The program is 9 weeks long and it gradually increases your running up to 30 mins straight. You start with 60 second intervals of running and then walking. I wont lie the first week was pure torture. At 230lbs it was not easy. I kept with it and I completed the program October 2008. I signed up for my first 5k which would take place on Thanksgiving morning. At this point I was not running 3 miles yet so for the weeks after C25K and before the 5k I worked up to running 3 miles. It took me 45 mins but I couldn’t believe I was running! I ran the turkey trot in 39:02! I was so proud of myself. I ran the entire time!

Fast forward a little. I have run a bunch of 5ks and a 10k throughout the months. I decided that I would train for my first half marathon. I trained throughout the summer and I ran my first half marathon on October 11th. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. I wanted to cry several times during the race. I just kept thinking that a year ago I couldn’t run for 60 seconds and here I am running 13.1 miles! The best part is that I finished the race 25 mins faster then I expected! My finish time was 2:26:21!!!

In case you are wondering – I have continued to lose weight and I have lost a total of 98lbs to date. I know that if it wasn’t running I probably would have not lost this much weight. I owe my life to running.—Amanda

Go Amanda! You truly are amazing! Be sure to check out Amanda's Blog Manderz Journey to a New Life. Thanks for sharing your story, Amanda!

One Runner's Perspective on Running and Racing

I'd like to introduce you to James. James is a great runner and has a great mind-set about his racing. Even though I don't think I could keep a racing schedule like James, his approach and thinking about racing has helped me keep things about my own running in perspective. In his own words, here's James' thinking on racing.

I am no elite runner, however I do like to run. During the first five months of 2006 I ran seven marathons and three half marathons. January was easily my most busy month as I ran in the Inaugural Goofy Challenge (Half Marathon Saturday/Full Marathon Sunday) and ran the Houston Marathon a week later. February was also a two marathon month (Surfside/Tampa), but I at least had two weeks between them. March was my easy month with only one half marathon (and two 10Ks). April opened and closed with a marathon (Dallas Big-D/Oklahoma City) and in May I ran my last marathon (Green Bay) in that five month time period. I finished off with a half marathon in Madison a week later.

There are many different ways, other than speed, that we can challenge ourselves when we run.. The key to my accomplishment is that I balanced challenging myself with a goal of finishing each race as healthy as possible so I would be ready for the next one. I was still able to set 10K, half marathon and marathon PRs during that time frame, including lowering my marathon PR by eight minutes at Green Bay, the seventh and final marathon over that five month period.

A PR is a wonderful thing, especially because of the additional joy it gives us – although it is a bit fleeting. But what I took away from the experience is that a marathon is a great way to see a new city and that no matter where you run, there are wonderful people to run with.

Thanks James! Be sure to check out James' blog—Das Mixture.

Set a Goal and Go For It!

Just started running and find it a little daunting or have you been running for a while and find yourself in a rut? In either case, setting a running goal might be just the thing. Sometimes that little push of a commitment is all you need to get you going. Personally, I've found that setting a yearly goal of running at least one marathon a year, gives me the motivation I need to keep running year-round. Plus it gives me something to look forward to and strive for.

When you set a goal for yourself, be it a 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon, ultra, or whatever the distance, it gives you something tangible to aim for. Setting a goal, making a plan to achieve that goal, and monitoring your progress can help raise your self-confidence as you realize that you have the ability to achieve the goal.

Make sure you set a strong goal. Don't be wishy-washy. Goals like, "I'm going to run more this year" or "I'm going to train harder" really aren't very motivating and you'll quickly lose interest. However committing to running your first 10K or half marathon and announcing it to the world...now that's a goal. Sometimes making your goal something that's apart of something even bigger like a charity fund-raiser can help strengthen your commitment even more.

Make your goal realistic but at the same time make it a little challenging by selecting something that's attainable, but a little beyond your comfort zone. A challenge like this will give you something to work toward as well as build and increase your strength and endurance. Be careful though not to make your goal so challenging that you'll become discouraged and quit.

Making a long-range plan will often help you avoid picking a goal that may be out of reach at the moment. For example if you are a brand new runner and you'd really like to run a marathon, make the marathon your long-range goal and make running a 5K, 10K, and/or half-marathon your short-term goal(s). This may take a little longer, but it will help ensure that you reach the long-term goal you desire so much. If you're a new runner, achieving these smaller milestones will help build your confidence as you see the progress being made working your way up the ladder.

Post your goal for all to see. Let your family, friends, and coworkers know about your goal. Knowing that others are award of your goal will make you more accountable. This positive pressure will help you get out there for a run on those days that you're not so motivated to do so. Try to recruit a buddy to join you in your challenge. Running with a buddy can be very enjoyable and you can help keep each other motivated.

Reward your efforts! Attach some kind of treat to your successful completion of your goal. You will have worked hard, so celebrate the fruits of your labor and then get to work setting your next goal.

I'd love to know about your running goals. Email them to me at runnerdudeblog@yahoo.com.