While walking by the magazine stand in the grocery store, a story line caught my eye. A runner's magazine had an article about a 300 pound man who lost all his excess weight and became a marathon runner in the process, I bought the magazine and it got me thinking.........
I had never been athletic--not even as a kid. Could this be a possibility for me? At around this same time, someone told me about a program of The Leukemia Society called "Team in Training." Basically, you agree to walk, run or bike ride in a marathon and to raise money for leukemia research. They provide you with coaches, networking and inspiration.
Just in time for the new year, I signed on to run in the Marine Corp Marathon in October of 1998, and I pledged to raise $2,500 for Leukemia research. At that time, my feet and ankles were so swollen with fat and excess fluids that I could not get shoes on my feet. I shuffled around in slippers or men's moccasins. I had 10-months to transform myself into someone who could run for 26 miles straight.
I met with my coach who put me on a walking, stretching and strength training program. I joined weight watchers. During January and February, I was afraid of walking outside. I was afraid of falling on the ice and not being able to get back up. So, for the first two months, I drove to the mall everyday with my walkman and did "Mall Walking." On my first trip to the mall, I could barely shuffle my way through one circuit. It took me longer to drive there then it did to take my walk.
By the beginning of March, I could walk a mile in 14-minutes and I was doing three a day, six days a week. At 290 pounds, I purchased my first pair of running shoes and began to visit a running trail for my daily exercise. I started with a warm-up of 10-minutes of straight walking. Then I would jog for as long as I could, then return to walking until I caught my breath, then jog again, etc.
By the beginning of May, I could jog three miles a day without any walking. I was down to 270 pounds. My blood pressure was normal and I felt wonderful. The trail that I used was 15 miles from my house---but I was committed and went 6 days a week.
By mid-summer I was down to 230 pounds. I was running 6 miles a day with one longer run on the weekends. My arms and legs were beginning to take on a toned and healthy look that they never had before with any other type of exercise. My back and chest were powerful from using the rowing machine at the gym I had joined. I had lost a hundred pounds in just over 6 months.
As Autumn approached, I had to pick up the pace and add to my mileage or I'd never be able to complete the marathon. I signed up to do a local 5K race in July and another in August so that I could check my speed and learn about a racing environment.
My weight continued to drop and my body became more toned, fit and flexible everyday. I had never felt more wonderful. I had always hated exercise. Now, I couldn't stand it if something happened and I missed a run.
Right after Labor Day, about 6 weeks before the marathon, I was in a car accident and my van rolled across all four lanes of the highway. I had injuries to my left leg and my right ankle ---I wouldn't be able to run in the marathon. In fact, I needed months of recovery just to walk.
My weight remained stable for awhile but eventually began to creep upwards. I never seriously dealth with it again until this past year ---with my weight over 400 pounds.
If I did it once, I can do it again. I have a long road ahead of me but I am determined!
I hope to be running again by Spring 2005, if not before.
Stay tuned for updates.
