Running

5 years ago, if anyone had told me that I would be a runner, I would have laughed at them. I was never athletic when I was growing up.

When I lost weight 6 years ago, I didn't exercise. I did it all with diet changes.
In 2010, I had several friends who started running and I envied them. I wanted to run too. All the cool kids were doing it. But I didn't have the right shoes and it hurt my back, so I quit.

Then I started to notice my weight creeping up and knew I needed to start doing something. However, I didn't immediately start running. I started going to step aerobics and I loved it. One day, a friend asked me to run a 10k with her. I knew that was 6 miles and that I couldn't run 6 miles, but I knew that I could walk if I needed to. So, I said yes.

I finished that race in 1:23. It wasn't a very fast time, but something happened to me that day. I finished!!  I started something that was very complicated and I completed it.  I had something that I could be proud about!!  It was an amazing feeling!!  And I was forever hooked!! But, I knew if I wanted to be successful, that I had much to learn. I signed up for a beginners running class at Fleet Feet Sports in Tulsa. It was a 12 week 5k program. We trained during one of the hottest summers in Oklahoma. After that 5k, I pushed myself to see how far I could go and what I was capable of. I participated in the Pathways 10k program at Fleet Feet. 2 weeks after I finished that 10k, I ran a 15k and 3 weeks later my first half marathon.

To date, I have run multiple 5k's, 10k's and various other races. My goal is to complete 50 half marathons, 1 in every state, before I turn 50. I have run 8 half marathons in 6 states so far. I am now a certified running coach and I coach the Pathways 10k program that I once participated in.

I love running. It has truly changed my life!!